We surveyed service centers to uncover the
thoughts behind dealerships that service both
truck beds and trailers.
What do your technicians’
billable hours look like when
comparing trucks and trailers?
Lewis: We bill out by the job. Eight
hours for each bed install. Two hours to
remove the bed and one for camera or
backup sensor install.
Are all your technicians equally
capable at both truck bed and
trailer servicing or do you find
yourself needing specialists?
McLean: Our technicians are trained
on both truck bed installation and trailer
servicing.
Allen: Yes, we cross-train our
teammates and don’t see a need for
specialists.
Lewis: Truck bed installers must be
better at electrical work and pay more
attention to the finished product. Yes, it
would pay to have a specialist.
How do customers react to
pricing, service hours and overall
experience with both truck bed
servicing compared to trailers?
Do you find more difficulty with
one over the other?
Allen: No difference, really.
Lewis: Some customers are in shock on
the installation price. Others just don’t
care. I find most shops don’t know the
actual cost of installing beds.
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Do you have more competition
with either truck bed or trailer
servicing in the area?
Allen: We are in a very small market
and have been here for over 40 years, so
we don’t have any real competition.
Lewis: Truck beds are more
competitive. Truck dealers are only
worried about the bottom price.
How easy is it to cross-train a
technician in one category to the
other?
Allen: We don’t have much difficulty
cross-training. All teammates do any and
all work that comes into the shop.
Lewis: It’s not hard but being good at
electrical work is the key.
What’s the average installation
times for truck beds?
Allen: Four hours.
Lewis: Eight hours for the most part.
Is there a common list of
parts or accessories dealers
should consider when bringing
truck beds into their servicing
offerings for the first time?
Lewis: Fuel hose, filler neck, light plug
adapters, bed conversion harnesses from
the bed manufacturer. Also, C-channel or
flat plate for mounting brackets.
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