Landscape Management, January 2019

Mowing Maintenance A truckload of tips and trends P urchasing a new landscape vehicle can be a weighty decision Thats why we spoke with experts Chad Femler director of product marketing for medium duty at Navistar and Brian Tabel executive director of marketing at Isuzu to get the lowdown on purchasing new vehicles The first factor for contractors to consider is the trucks application which will help determine the payload and most likely the truck model What are they going to do with the truck Femler asks If theyre just going to haul around mowers and mulch they may not need a high gross vehicle rating on the truck where as if theyre going to be hauling around gravel and large rocks theyd want to make sure they dont overload the truck Tabel adds that the intended mileage for the vehicle also should be factored in as this may determine whether a contractor chooses a diesel or gas truck Generally the rule is that if someone drives 25000 or fewer miles a year Isuzus gas truck is the better option for them as theres a higher acquisition cost with diesel and there are additional maintenance items as well Tabel says Most landscapers drive between 10000 and 20000 miles a year Other options to consider include the cabs size and seating capacity depending on a companys crew size an open or closed body determined by the weather and security level of an area fuel tank size and the size of the truck itself Femler and Tabel say that landscapers tend to prefer smaller sized trucks typically in the Class 4 5 range although Femler says some of the truck options creep into the Class 6 7 range Landscapers are mostly driving in neighborhoods and business parks so maneuverability is key Tabel says adding that visibility is also an important consideration As far as other trends go Femler mentions four by four drive configuration LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET JANUARY 2019 42 which allows trucks to travel off pavement and Navistars forwardtilt hood that enables easy access to maintenance points Both Femler and Tabel agree contractors should defer to their local dealers for the specifics surrounding their truck purchases The dealer is really the expert to help guide landscapers to the proper trucks Tabel says He adds that some dealers may offer incentives if a customer is a member of certain associations Customers who purchase multiple vehicles at one time 10 in Isuzus case may also qualify for special fleet incentives Regarding the ideal time to purchase Femler and Tabel say there is no best time but many landscapers tend to buy during the winter so new vehicles are ready to go come spring DOWN THE PIKE In the future Femler says telematics will gain more traction Landscapers can not only track the trucks location but they also can get an early warning if theres anything wrong with the truck he says Tabel says he thinks electrification for trucks will begin to catch on within the next 10 years As electrification dabbles in the car market and becomes more and more popular I think it will move into the truck market as well he says MAINTAIN YOUR EDGE PHOTO NAVISTAR What landscape pros should consider before purchasing a new vehicle BY SARAH WEBB LM ASSOCIATE EDITOR CHOOSE WISELY Contractors should consider a trucks application to determine what to purchase