According to the National Truck Equipment Association, production of work and cargo vans will continue to lag behind demand, and struggle to produce new vehicles through 2023 and into 2024. Lots of things are behind this including general supply chain issues and chip shortages.
But whatever the cause, this spells bad news for trades and fleet managers. Replenishing, outfitting, and adding to work van fleets is absolutely essential for sustaining and growing a business.
So, what are trade organizations turning to instead of work vans? Trucks.
Both new and used trucks are more available – and with the right customizable storage solutions, a work truck can be just as good as (or even better than) a work van.
In this guide from Messer Work Van Solutions, we’ll take a look at how work trucks are standing in for work vans during the van supply shortage in 2023 – and we’ll also discuss customizable storage solutions that can help satisfy the needs of your crews, and even enhance their daily productivity.
Why Should I Choose A Work Truck Over A Work Van?
There are a few reasons that more trade businesses are turning to work trucks over work vans. Let’s get into the details.
Availability
First and foremost, both new and used trucks are more readily available than work vans, as mentioned above. About 11.6 million light duty trucks and 451,000 heavy-duty trucks were sold in the United States in 2021 alone. Since the truck market is much larger than the work van market, manufacturers are prioritizing the production of these vehicles.
Flexibility
Just like work vans, trucks come in all shapes and sizes, and so do the storage solutions that are available for work trucks. You can get the exact right truck for your work crew – and build a storage solution that meets their needs and job requirements.
Resale
Many truck storage solutions that we’ll explore later in this guide attach to the existing truck bed anchors. In other words, it’s entirely possible to remove a truck bed or cap – and avoid permanently altering the vehicle. This means that you’ll have more opportunities for resale when it’s time to sell your work truck and upgrade to a new one.
The Most Common Work Truck Types
There are a few different types of work trucks, and what’s right for your crew will depend on a variety of different factors. The primary factors are hauling weight, towing weight, crew capacity, and overall storage volume. Here’s quick overview of each type of truck that’s available today:
Light-duty trucks
Light-duty trucks are the most common type of truck. These trucks weigh up to 8,500 pounds and have a payload capacity of up to 4,000 pounds. Common makes of light truck include the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F-150, RAM 1500, Nissan Titan and Toyota Tundra.
Medium-duty trucks
Medium-duty trucks usually weigh between 8,501 pounds and 10,000 pounds, and have a higher payload capacity compared to light-duty trucks. These include the Ford F-250, RAM 2500, and Silverardo 4500/5500 HD.
Heavy-duty (service) trucks
Heavy-duty trucks, also called service trucks, are even larger and more powerful than medium-duty trucks, and have higher payload capacities and towing capacities. A few examples include the Ford F-350 and Ford F-450, as well as the RAM 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks.
Box trucks
Box trucks can be built on a light, medium, or heavy-duty chassis. Rather than a bed, they have a “box “ in the back – a fully enclosed cargo area. They're a great choice if you can’t get a work van and need extra storage and shelving.
Storage Solutions For Work Trucks In 2023
Once you’ve purchased a truck for your work crew, it’s time to set up the storage solutions you need to hold their tools, cargo, and supplies. What are your options? Let’s go over the basics.
Full service body
Full service body solutions usually have a higher up-front cost. However, they are highly customizable and provide an all-in-one storage solution with completely customizable shelving options.
They also are removable – this means you can easily remove them from an old truck and install them on a new vehicle when it’s time to upgrade. Potentially, a full service body could even be used over the lifespan of three or more trucks, which can save a lot of costs in the long term. A few examples of full service bodies from Spacekap include:
- Compak Slide-In Service Body – This is a compact storage solution that’s ideal for trucks that need to maintain a relatively low height – such as trucks that must park in underground city parking or regularly travel under low bridges.
- Wild Slide-In Service Body – This is a larger service body that’s 53 inches in height, which makes it easier for workers to work inside the truck bed. This model also still allows access to side panels.
- Diablo Slide-In Service Body – The truck equivalent of a cargo van, this service body is the tallest at 75 inches in height, and provides maximum storage capacity for your work truck.
Truck bed caps
Truck bed caps are offered by many truck manufacturers and third-party companies like LEER and Snugtop. These are rigid shells that can be installed on the truck bed, sealing it off from the elements. Once you've installed a truck bed cap, you can install custom shelving in the back of your work truck to provide the necessary work truck storage solution for your crew.
Some truck bed caps also include side panel doors. This allows for exterior access to the interior of the truck, which is ideal when aligned with interior shelving. Tools, parts and equipment can be safely stored and organized, and then accessed without climbing into the bed of the truck.
Tool boxes
Tool boxes are another great option for carrying tools in your work truck, particularly if you want to keep the truck bed open for hauling cargo. Most truck tool boxes like DECKED tool boxes span the entire width of the truck bed. Inside, there are plenty of compartments that can be used to store tools, equipment, and supplies.
DECKED’s tool boxes even come with foldable ladders, which can be used to climb up to the tool box and access its contents without climbing into the truck bed repeatedly. Tool boxes are heavy-duty and weather-resistant, and include locking mechanisms so that they can’t be broken into when you’re off the job.
Drawer systems
Drawer systems are a unique option for work trucks. The DECKED drawer system is installed directly into the truck bed, and looks sort of like a tonneau cover. But in this case, the cover has a 2,000 lb payload capacity and includes fully-functional drawers that can be pulled out to almost the full length of the truck bed.
This drawer system is fully weather-resistant and attaches to the existing truck bed anchors, so no drilling is required. It also still allows for the full use of the truck bed, which is perfect if you’re handling big jobs.
Decked drawer systems also provide plenty of storage space while remaining highly secure. The drawers themselves include locks and when the tailgate of your truck is closed and locked, security is doubled.
Tool Access For Work Truck Storage Solutions
It’s important to create a work truck storage solution that allows crews to have easy access to their most frequently-used gear. Depending on the storage solution that you’ve chosen, you've got a few options for work truck tool access.
Exterior panels
Exterior panels that open up are ideal for accessibility, particularly if your shelves are fully accessible via these exterior panels. Depending on the height of your truck, your crew may not even need a ladder or a step stool to access these exterior panels and get to their tools.
Cap door shelving
If you’ve chosen a truck cap, installing shelving on the cap doors themselves is a great way to keep commonly-used tools and equipment handy. By simply opening the back panel doors, your crew can grab the gear they use the most frequently.
Cargo Glide system
The Cargo Glide system from DECKED is another great way to ensure that your crew can access the tools and gear they need. It has a payload of 2,200 lbs, and extends either 70% or 100% of the length of the truck. Not only that, but it can be installed directly on a truck bed, or on top of the DECKED drawer unit, providing maximum flexibility for your work truck.
Ladders
Truck beds tend to be much higher off the ground than work van cargo areas. For that reason, ladders or steps in and out of the truck will be much appreciated by your crews (especially those with many miles on their knees).
Ladders are important for getting crews in and out of the truck to access their tools, equipment, and other materials.
Tailgate ladders attach to the tailgate of the vehicle, and allow easy access to the contents. Some tool boxes also have standalone ladders that fold into the toolbox, eliminating the need for another ladder.
Tailgate steps are similar and may also be an option on some work trucks. They do not fully reach the ground, but provide an extra step that makes it easier for workers to get in and out of the vehicle.
Ramps
Ramps can attach to the tailgate or Cargo Glide system. Ramps make it easy for crews to get into the back of the truck, and are also ideal for lowering heavy loads from the back of the truck bed.
Many box trucks come equipped with ramps stored below the cargo area.
Hydraulic lifts
For the heaviest loads, you’ll need a hydraulic lift. We recommend Tommy Gate. These liftgates can attach to just about any truck, and come in all sizes and strengths. They replace your existing tailgate with a hydraulic lift that can be used to help get equipment, materials, tools, and crew in and out of your work truck.
If you’re using a truck bed cap with full back door panels or service body, the hydraulic lifts can be installed so they fold and store inside the cargo area.
Tool organization
So, you’ve got your work truck storage solution worked out, and you’ve also thought about how your crews will access their tools and equipment. But what about organizing it inside the truck? Proper organization is essential for effective work, so here are a few tool organization ideas for your work truck.
Shelves
Adrian Steel truck, van, and trailer shelving solutions are highly versatile, and are designed to be available in just about any size, shape, and configuration. Whether you’re carrying bulky supplies or just a small assortment of tools, you can get the right shelving for your needs.
Bins
Once you’ve got your shelves, storage bins are a must-have. Storage bins allow for the clean storage of smaller items, and can be removed for portability on the job site. With storage bins, you can also keep the contents of your truck out of sight, which adds extra security and creates a more professional look.
Drawers
With cargo drawers, you can store even the smallest items efficiently, and Adrian Steel’s drawer retention system means that you won’t have to worry about your drawers opening and spilling their contents in transit. And with lockable drawer units available, you can also add another layer of security to your work truck.
Dividers
Adrian Steel offers both composite and steel dividers. Dividers can help separate different gear and equipment, and work together with bins, shelves, drawers, and door trays to create a more efficient workspace for your crews.
Tool boxes
A dedicated tool box can be used for a specific type of materials, tools, or other equipment that’s required for a particular job – for example, one tool box could contain all the gear that a technician needs to troubleshoot electrical issues with heavy diesel machinery.
Individual tool boxes are easy to store on shelves, drawer systems, and even directly on truck beds, making them a great storage solution for certain tasks and industries.
Racks and ladder racks
Ladder racks may be necessary if you’re working in an industry that requires the use of ladders on jobs. Depending on the size of the rack, a ladder rack can be installed either across the truck bed, or on top of the truck cap. Adrian Steel offers drop down ladder racks, grip lock ladder racks, and interior ladder storage solutions.
Conduit carriers
Depending on the situation, conduit carriers and pipe storage solutions can be either installed using a racking system, or attached directly to the truck cap. Shorter conduit carriers can also be installed inside a truck bed cap for additional security and protection from the elements.
Messer Work Van Solutions Can Help You Build Your Work Truck
At Messer Work Van Solutions, we do more than just outfit work vans. We can also help design and develop custom work truck storage solutions for contractors and businesses of all types.
Whether you’re feeling the strain of the work van shortage, you’re replacing or overhauling an old work truck, or you’re just interested in the benefits of choosing a work truck over a van, we’re here to help. Contact us now to learn more about what we do, and get what you need to get the job done.
