inventory on work trucks

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RobSarm

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I've seen in past threads that several members here seem to be using trucks and /or vans with massive storage capacities and carrying inventory that rivals that of small hardware stores. I personally have done this in the past, loaded my truck or van down with everything I might need, just in case I do actually need it.
The problem I see is that often times I might have most of what I need and still not have that one special item which then requires a trip to the supply house. So then I find myself carting hundreds (if not more) of dollars and pounds worth of stuff all over and still going to the supply house. Meanwhile my inventory on the truck is getting beat-up, disorganized and is not helping me make any money.
Since starting my own company last year I have focused on having all the tools I need and only the most basic and essential materials. By most basic materials I'm primarily talking about screws and fasteners, wire nuts, a small bin of misc. boxes and covers and a small bin of devices (especially a GFCI or two).
If I have an idea of what I will need for a particular service call based on the customers description I will bring those items but what isn't used that day is back in the shop that night.
Yes I do have to go to the supply house for what I need, but I was already doing that, and now I just have what I actually need.
Obviously this post is primarily concerned with service work as for new construction I have a materials list from my take-off and I stock the job accordingly.
Just wondering if any of you have any thoughts on this, thanks.
 
I have been beating myself up lately whether to get a new (bigger) truck. I only have a ford ranger with racks and tool boxes to do my service work. I have really wanted a bigger truck to haul more stuff around. Although with the price of gas going up again I am still undecided. I cover a large geographic area (60 mi) and I know I am in the minority driving a smaller truck, but it sure is nice to only spend 30 bucks to filler up, compared to 60 or 70 dollars. I am sure once my business grows more, I will look into getting a much larger vehicle and covering a smaller geographic area.
 
I have shelves with small "Rubbermade" bins that I keep materials in like one bin for receptacles, switches, coverplates, I keep one bin for each color Wht, Ivory and now Lt almond, I have a bin for WP boxes and covers a bin for blank covers for when J-boxes need to be made-up I have larger bins that are on the floor of the van one for and asundry of nail on boxes one for cut-in boxes one for metal boxes, I have 6 of the "Stanley" screw bin boxes that I keep everything from screws and anchors to wirenuts to football clamps you name it they are in there. I have a 6" PVC pipe on top of my ladder rack that has large # of different size pipe in it 1 1/4 " fits in the 2" and 3/4" in the 1 1/4" so we have lots of pipe in that sewer pipe. If I get to a job and don't have what I need it is not because I don't normally stock it in my van it is because I didn't fill it when it was low. Here is the method I use, When I go to get some materials at HD or Lowes or the supply house I check my stock real quick and fill the cart and stock the bins when I get to the job. It is important to keep a well organized truck you save yourself huge on time and money. It is great to save a little on gas by haveing a smaller truck but if you drive 20% more because you are running for a 3/4" pvc coupler that you don't have you are wasting more than gas.
 
RobSarm said:
I've seen in past threads that several members here seem to be using trucks and /or vans with massive storage capacities and carrying inventory that rivals that of small hardware stores. I personally have done this in the past, loaded my truck or van down with everything I might need, just in case I do actually need it.
The problem I see is that often times I might have most of what I need and still not have that one special item which then requires a trip to the supply house. So then I find myself carting hundreds (if not more) of dollars and pounds worth of stuff all over and still going to the supply house. Meanwhile my inventory on the truck is getting beat-up, disorganized and is not helping me make any money.
Since starting my own company last year I have focused on having all the tools I need and only the most basic and essential materials. By most basic materials I'm primarily talking about screws and fasteners, wire nuts, a small bin of misc. boxes and covers and a small bin of devices (especially a GFCI or two).
If I have an idea of what I will need for a particular service call based on the customers description I will bring those items but what isn't used that day is back in the shop that night.
Yes I do have to go to the supply house for what I need, but I was already doing that, and now I just have what I actually need.
Obviously this post is primarily concerned with service work as for new construction I have a materials list from my take-off and I stock the job accordingly.
Just wondering if any of you have any thoughts on this, thanks.
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One thing to take into consideration is TAXES. Is your state taxing your company for your stock sitting in your truck and at your storehouse? Florida does.
 
What has worked for us is we print the workorder which has all the items needed for that job, then we stock the bin for that job, if we don't have all the items in stock, we can pick them up in the am for all the job, bins missing a material item, saves time, and trips, good service software also helps, identify the needed items for different service tasks.
 
add to that there are almost always 3+ ways to get something done. If you are missing that "One Key Piece", I would lean towards thinking outside the box. You be surprised at the code legal installations you can make using parts that are on your truck.

Our service trucks are stocked quite well. If there are 2 trips to a supply house per truck per week to get a normal part that is not on the truck, that's alot. each truck averages 15-20 calls/week.

If you are doing service work (average ticket $400 +/-) you can not afford to go to the supply house all the time. It's the difference between 3 calls a day and 2.
 
There is one more key point, and that is: "You can't sell what you don't have"

If you don't stock you trucks well, and you are doing service work, your average invoice $ will go down because your electricians will not try to upsell or suggest needed repairs if they don't think they have the parts available.
 
I don't care how hard I try or in which manner I try it, I can never seem to have what I need when I need. The hardware store has regrettably become a good friend of mine.:grin:
 
romexking said:
There is one more key point, and that is: "You can't sell what you don't have"

If you don't stock you trucks well, and you are doing service work, your average invoice $ will go down because your electricians will not try to upsell or suggest needed repairs if they don't think they have the parts available.
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that is correct. we make good money selling additional GFCI's for $48/ea when we are on site. 15 min, 3 gfci's - do the math. We don't do so good if the tech has to spend an hour going and getting those GFCI's.
 
If you are running multiple trucks in service it really pays off to have at least one man, non electrician or retired one, who keeps the trucks stocked up and ready to go in the morning. And this guy has to be dedicated to his job, precise in stocking, and smart enough to look ahead. If you are flying solo, you struggle with this issue, no if's or ands or but's. One good friend who is solo has his van so loaded up to past the windows with junk, he can't find or get to anything very well. My van is typically underloaded, but I try to figure the materials before dispatch.
 
I do primarily service. I have at least two of everything, or at least that's what I tell people. I'd feel "naked" if I had to drive some of the seemingly empty vans some guys drive that I see at the supply house. I have my actual truck stock list. I'll try to purge out the prices and post it here when I get a few minutes.
 
mdshunk said:
I do primarily service. I have at least two of everything, or at least that's what I tell people. I'd feel "naked" if I had to drive some of the seemingly empty vans some guys drive that I see at the supply house. I have my actual truck stock list. I'll try to purge out the prices and post it here when I get a few minutes.
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I'd love to see someone post a truck stock list like this. I wouldn't mind if it had a price list with it. Understanding it is a service truck list.
 
I carry nothing, with exception of tools. But I have an unfair advantage I always take an electrician with me, if there is any "WORK" to be done.

I have always figured you can not have everything. So it is off to the supply house or back to the shop.
 
I started a post awhile back about the things I hated about my job. Someone else responded with something like this.

I hate when I get down in the crawl space and remember the other thing I forgot.

I resemble that.
 
-marty said:
I hate when I get down in the crawl space and remember the other thing I forgot.
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I hate it when I've crawled out of the crawl space, and then remember what I've left down there. :mad:
 
LarryFine said:
I hate it when I've crawled out of the crawl space, and then remember what I've left down there. :mad:
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I found my "Old Timer" pocket knife last week.
I lost it about 5 years ago under a house. I knew at the time exactly where I had last used it under the house, but the location was so hard to get to and the crawlspace was so low, I said the heck with it.
I finally had the opportunity (actually the need) to go back under that house again.....sure enough, there it was.
Blade was a little rusty, that's all.
steve
 
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