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When choosing a work truck upfitter, fleets tend to focus on equipment, pricing, capabilities and lead times. One part of the process that can be just as important is what happens after the equipment is installed.
A strong quality control process helps ensure the completed truck matches the original build specifications, functions properly and is ready to work when it reaches the customer.
Here are some of the areas a thorough upfit quality-control process should address.
One of the first things to verify is that the completed truck matches what was ordered.
That includes the correct body and equipment, proper equipment placement, storage configuration, lighting, accessories, controls and other customer-requested options.
This becomes increasingly important as builds get more complex. A truck can contain all of the right equipment and still be wrong if components are installed in the wrong location or the finished configuration does not match how the truck was designed to be used.
Equipment also needs to be properly integrated with the chassis.
Mounting hardware, brackets, clearances and component placement should be checked to ensure equipment is secure and does not interfere with factory systems.
The same applies to electrical work. Wiring should be properly routed and protected, connections should be secure and added equipment should operate within the capabilities of the vehicle’s electrical system.
OEM body-builder guidelines from manufacturers such as Ford, GM and Ram provide specific requirements for modifying commercial chassis. A quality upfit should account for those requirements rather than treating the chassis and installed equipment as separate systems.
Installation is not complete just because the equipment is physically on the truck.
Functional equipment should be tested before delivery. Depending on the build, that could include:
Operating these systems before delivery can identify problems that may not be visible during a basic inspection.
Upfitters also need to consider how modifications affect the completed vehicle as a whole.
Vehicle weight, lighting, visibility, safety systems, equipment placement and modifications to the original chassis can all create safety or compliance concerns if they are not handled correctly.
For certain vehicles, an upfitter may also serve as the final-stage manufacturer and be responsible for certifying that the completed vehicle complies with applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Quality control therefore goes beyond fit and finish. It is also about making sure the truck has been properly completed as a vehicle.
Before delivery, the completed truck should receive a final review.
That means looking at the truck as a complete system rather than inspecting individual components in isolation. Equipment operation, workmanship, wiring and hose routing, mounting, vehicle condition and the overall build configuration should all be reviewed.
The goal is to catch issues in the shop rather than after the truck has already been put into service.
A problem discovered before delivery can usually be addressed before it affects the fleet.
The same problem discovered after the truck enters service can mean downtime, another trip to the shop and a truck that is not doing the job it was purchased for.
That is why quality control should be part of the conversation when evaluating an upfitter. Ask how completed trucks are inspected, what is tested before delivery and how the upfitter verifies that the finished vehicle matches the original build.
At City Truck Upfitters, every completed truck goes through quality assurance before delivery. Because a work truck is not truly finished until it is ready to work.
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