In the News – Fleet & Mobility – Engaging Upfitters
Better Fleet Outcomes Start with Early
Upfitter Collaboration
Fleet vehicles do far more than move people and products. They are critical business assets that help serve customers, support frontline teams, and drive productivity every day. To maximize the
value of these vehicles, fleets need the right specifications from the start, making early collaboration with an upfit partner
essential.
Bringing an upfit partner into the procurement process before vehicle
specifications are finalized helps ensure the chassis, equipment, and upfit are designed to work together. This proactive approach can improve efficiency, reduce complexity, control costs, and help avoid
costly delays later in the build process. Recently, Holman’s Jeff Klinghoffer spoke with Fleet & Mobility, highlighting why collaboration is essential to developing the proper vehicle and upfit specifications.
Fleet leaders should engage their upfit partner early in the procurement process, ideally before the vehicle specification has been finalized. The entire vehicle specification – chassis, upfit, equipment, etc. – should be planned in unison as each aspect of the buildout impacts the others.
In the article, Jeff explained that while early collaboration may not reduce the initial purchase price, it can help fleets avoid costly redesigns, production delays, and specification challenges that often emerge when upfit requirements are considered too late. From payload and wheelbase limitations to equipment compatibility and electrical concerns, fragmented planning can create unnecessary obstacles that increase total project costs.
Typically, the most expensive mistakes are specification errors, engineering changes after orders are placed, and production delays. In most scenarios, the biggest cost isn’t the modification itself, but rather having the vehicle arrive late or not able to fully meet the operator’s needs.
Jeff also recommended partnering with a strategic upfit partner that can support the majority of your fleet needs. He also shared that a strategic upfit partner can improve consistency, quality, and support across your entire fleet and explained how Holman’s vertically integrated supply chain ensures a seamless process from planning, to ordering, and finally, delivery.
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