Workhorse
FasTrack program makes walk-in trucks easy for
vending companies to acquire

The Workhorse FasTrack program has been a boon for vending companies and other businesses in getting the right kind of truck for their operations, assert two truck dealerships.

Workhorse Custom Chassis manufactures chassis for motor homes and walk-in trucks. But its unique contribution to the trucking industry has been making the purchase and sale of walk-in trucks into a simple turnkey process. Workhorse makes what has been considered a "specialized vehicle" into another truck that a business can quickly buy right off the lot. Or the business can order and receive a walk-in vehicle in 30 days, the quickest delivery time in the industry.

"FasTrack is a great program," says Kevin Gardner, fleet commercial sales manager for Harmon's Inc., in Provo, Utah. "With vending companies, a lot of them don't know what's available and what's best to order. FasTrack simplifies that process. Companies also like getting their trucks in relatively short order with the 30-day turnaround time. That one-step process has been just absolutely marvelous for us."

Jon Gould of Husky Truck Center in Seattle concurs. He stocks two or three FasTrack trucks most of the time, so customers can appreciate the benefits of the vehicle first-hand. The truck's easy stand-up access to the generous cargo area from the driver's seat, easy entrance and exit through the side steps, and its aluminum body all make the vehicle excel in terms of productivity and longevity.

Once the customer has settled on the basic truck, the dealership can usually assist in upfitting it with the requisite shelving and cargo configurations for the particular business. Workhorse also offers QuickSpex upfit packages for common vocations, which include bakery and snack food delivery, that can be installed right at the factory.

For vending, Gardner typically orders trucks with 12-foot and 10-foot cargo lengths and GVWRs of 10,000 to 12,000 pounds, although some may go larger. He notes that vending companies also like to use such vehicles for hauling their machines on the low cargo platform.

Two years ago, Keith Howard Smith started a vending company in the St.Paul, Minn., area. After some Internet research, he chose a Workhorse FasTrack model with a 10-foot six-inch loadspace as the main duty truck for his new business.

There were two factors uppermost in his mind. First, the truck needed to be versatile, capable of performing a variety of tasks for his fledgling business, from moving equipment to delivering snacks. Second, it needed to be a vehicle "that wouldn't kill my driver's back. Pop and snacks can bet pretty heavy and can hurt you working out of a van."

A walk-in, he concluded, "would solve a lot of bending over and work-related injuries."

"I looked at others," he continued. "But I couldn't handle that much product (with them). When you have fewer vehicles, you need one that's flexible." He also saw the advertising he could put on the truck's sides as a big plus for his new business.

Two years later, "it's worked out pretty well," he says. He just wishes he would have put more shelving in. With the truck constantly in use there's not enough down time to add more at the moment.

"FasTrack is a whole new way to sell this type of vehicle," said Shane Terblanche, Workhorse director of sales engineering. "Some dealers weren't sure about it at first. But now an increasing number are seeing the advantages of having ready-made walk-ins available for their customers."

Specializing in the manufacture of chassis for motor homes, walk-in trucks and buses, as well as integrated walk-in trucks, Workhorse Custom Chassis is ISO 9001 certified and considered a leader in the motor home and walk-in truck industries. Its manufacturing facilities are in Union City and Hagerstown, Ind., and its corporate headquarters are in Highland Park, Ill.

For more information about walk-in trucks, Workhorse dealers and trucks in stock, call toll-free 866-467-7300 or visit www.workhorse.com.