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At Industrial Shelving Systems, we have the expertise in designing efficient spaces for heavy duty truck center parts and service departments. By offering storage solutions that can be customized to your center, we’re able to bring efficiency to your workflows.
Truck centers are busy places with many moving parts. That’s why our design and layout process involves examining your inventory to understand your current flow and then talking through bottleneck and pain point areas. A well-organized facility should have faster, more accurate, and optimized operations with tough and long-lasting solutions.
Explore truck center projects we’ve worked on and receive tips for making the most out of your space. Below, you’ll see how we can work together to achieve an optimal workflow for your truck center operations.
Efficient Solutions
Storage systems, lift solutions, and specialty racks that support faster, safer, and more organized heavy duty truck center operations.
High Density Drawers
Modular drawer cabinets work as high-density storage solutions for truck centers. By holding small parts, organized by dividers and partitions, these drawers can store many parts needed in truck centers. Based on your inventory, you can choose the height and number of drawers to include in your unit. All drawers open for 100% access and come in a variety of colors, including color matches to your company colors.
These drawers can come customized with shelving on top to store larger items and can be customized to include pegboards on the side to hang even more items.
Free-Space Mezzanines
Mezzanines allow truck centers to optimize storage space needs above service department bays and low ceiling environments. These storage platforms maximize clear height and allow you to use the space below for more work space or storage.
Rack and Shelving Supported Mezzanines
Mezzanines can effectively double the amount of storage space available. By adding a second level, truck centers can use the mezzanine level for storage or work space, and rack supported mezzanines can also provide shelving underneath. This high-density storage solution allows for a more centralized storage solution.
Crane Solutions
Investing in cranes helps your truck center increase efficiency and reduce workplace injuries by shifting the heavy lifting from workers to machines. There are several types of crane solutions available.
- Top Riding: Uses vertical space and allows for maximum hook height. Comes with single girder or double girder bridge design.
- Underhung: Suited for facilities that don’t have a clear height to allow for a top riding crane. Free standing versions available.
- Workstation: Can handle capacities up to 4,000 lbs. Workstation bridge cranes move material in a rectangular pattern, while monorail systems move along a linear direction.
- Jib: Moves in semi or full circles and is more compact than other models, saving floor space.
- Gantry: Can be used for indoor and outdoor environments with stationary and portable options available.
Service Writers
Having a designated workstation in a truck center is essential for creating a hub where drivers and fleet managers can be greeted and helped, repair orders can be created, and costs can be estimated. This service writer desk creates a centralized location where paperwork can get done and communication can take place. This also creates a designated area where records or repairs and services can be easily found.
Cantilever Leaf Spring Rack
Leaf springs are awkward, bulky items that don’t fit efficiently on standard racking. Having a cantilever rack for these items can allow you to store these items easily in your truck center. By fitting in the arms of a cantilever, the leaf springs can hang on the rack and can be easily taken on and off due to its open design.
Pallet Rack
Pallet racking is a classic storage system for truck centers. This racking is widely used because it is great for storing a variety of items, including larger inventory that won’t fit on smaller shelving units. Pallet rack can be customized depending on how many bays you’re needing, the color can be customized to your company colors.
Freight Lifts
Freight lifts, also known as vertical reciprocating conveyors, are designed to transport items (not passengers) from level to level. These pair well with mezzanines when heavy items are stored on the second level. This lowers the risk of injuries and overextension when workers are carrying items from level to level. Freight lifts take the load off workers and create a safe lifting solution.
Battery Storage
Battery storage provides a dedicated way to organize and store batteries. As they’re specifically designed for this purpose, battery storage creates a more streamlined storage setup. These racking units keep batteries neatly arranged, and the tilted shelves make it easy for batteries to slide forward for quick picking.
Tire Rack Units
Tire racks are also specialized storage units, designed specifically to hold and store tires. By supporting these tires properly, these racks can prevent damage to tires. As tires are bulky items and can take up a significant amount of floor space, storing them on dedicated tire racks is the most efficient way to keep them organized.
Automation In Truck Centers
Automation can improve tire handling, parts access, floor-space efficiency, and inventory accuracy in busy truck center environments.
Tire Carousel
Tire storage can be made to be more efficient with automation. A tire carousel rotates tires directly to a picking area, eliminating the need to reach or lift awkwardly for a tire, creating a safer work environment. Tire carousels also maximize storage capacity by using vertical space rather than taking up more floor space.
Vertical Lift Module
Vertical lift modules, specifically the Hanel Lean Lift, are automation solutions that store parts on trays and can be called to a pick window. This automation solution allows for more inventory accuracy, over 60% floor space savings, provides a solid security system, integrates ergonomics, and allows for higher productivity.
Carousels
Carousels, specifically the Hanel Rotomat can offer truck centers an effective storage solution. All inventory can be stored in one central location that offers access to select personnel. Trays can be badge or key-controlled access, and a log of all activity is kept.
Truck Center Layout and Design
Once we’ve identified your pain points and slowdowns, we’ll create a mix of storage solutions to support your workflow and future goals. Using AutoCAD, our design experts will create an efficient layout to make the most of your space.
The layout below shows how multiple storage solutions can come together to create an efficient truck parts department.
Case Studies
Click through three truck center projects to see how challenge, solution, results, and imagery change together.
Case Study: How a 5S Metal Pegboard Created a Versatile Tool Room for a Truck Center
Challenge: This Nussbaum transportation shop was in need of a tool room upgrade. They were currently using plywood shelving, which required labor each time a new tool was added. This truck center team wanted a more durable solution that could keep specialized tools organized and accessible.
Solution: Our team constructed a Rousseau 5S metal pegboard inside one of the truck center’s existing racking bays. The team chose several accessories for the pegboard, including various types of hooks that would hold their tools.
Results: This truck center now has a solution that will allow them to spot tools easily and take accountability for tools that are missing. They are able to provide quick and efficient service with their new solution.
Read the Full Case StudyCase Study: Heavy Duty Shelving and a Free Standing Mezzanine for a Truck Dealer Group
Challenge: A heavy duty truck dealer group needed a new parts department setup. They wanted a layout that would streamline workflows and maximize their storage capacity to meet their growing operations.
Solution: Using AutoCAD to determine the most efficient layout, our team used a combination of pallet racks, a free-standing mezzanine, and high-density storage cabinets to create a storage solution. The storage cabinets fit under the mezzanine and included open shelving above for even more storage.
Results: By combining these three storage solutions, this truck dealer group had the solution they needed to enhance their workflow and ensure their team would be able to access parts quickly.
Read the Full Case StudyCase Study: A Custom Solution Delivered in Under 4 Weeks
Challenge: A busy truck center needed a new storage system for their truck inventory. This group was specific about the racking being their custom company color and needed the racking in four weeks to meet their opening deadline.
Solution: After taking careful measurements, we worked with our vendor to match the customer’s size and color requirements. They were able to powder coat this racking in their custom red color, and we were able to deliver the racking in under four weeks.
Results: This truck center was able to have their facility opening on time with their new custom racking. They were pleased with receiving a high-quality solution within a tight timeframe.
Read the Full Case StudyPro Tips: Heavy Duty Truck Center Blogs
Three related reads that support tool organization, wall-mounted storage planning, and space-saving mezzanine strategies for truck centers.
Metal Pegboards for Tool Organization
With all the hustle and bustle in truck centers, having a high-traffic tool room can be susceptible to disorganization. Having a designated space for all your tools can keep the chaos from ensuing. Metal pegboards offer just that. A durable space to keep track of each and every tool. Find out how metal pegboards can offer an efficient and customized solution.
Read Blog
How to Customize Wall-Mounted Storage
Wall mounted storage offers a designated space for all your tools, offering high visibility. These are especially useful when they’re customized to your space and the type of tools you have on hand. Take a look at accessories you can include to enhance functionality for your truck center tool room.
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Make the Most of Your Space with Mezzanines
Building up instead of out can save you some serious space in your truck center. By adding a second level, you can maximize your storage and work space without the cost of an expansion or relocation. Take a look at the different types of mezzanines you can integrate into your truck center and understand how these can be a space saving solution.
Read BlogReady to get started on your truck center parts and service department?
Reach out to our automotive team to get started on your new storage solution or full storage design of your truck center.