Utility Fleet Management Solutions

Tailored to Your Business Needs and Specifications

Merchants Fleet has the solution to all your utility fleet management needs. We’ve been serving utility companies across industries for more than 50 years and continue to offer the latest trucks, vans, and other commercial vehicles. We have customized solutions for all types of utility companies and work with you to create a successful fleet built for your needs.

There are numerous benefits to having a unified utility fleet, including faster deployment to job sites, improved fleet safety and lower costs. You can also monitor all your equipment, track fuel management, and driver behavior.

We understand that your company has unique needs and are ready to provide any upfitting, fleet leasing, and other utility fleet management that you need. We’ll work with you to find the best fleet for your utility business.

Power

For utility and infrastructure contractors, we know that unified fleet management is a large part of your success. From pickup trucks to specialized F-500s, we can upfit your fleet. We can customize lifts and cranes to various heights, outfit your pickup truck with flatbeds and toolboxes, and much more. We can also recommend the right tires and rims, which may vary due to terrain and climate. Merchants has the technical knowledge and industry experience for any size vehicle and fleet.

Water

Most water utility trucks need to be heavily upfitted. From the driver’s rig to the tank to the pumping equipment, each fleet is unique. Depending on weight, heavy duty tanks may require special permitting, safety precautions and adhere to specific regulations. Every driver must hold the right type of driver’s license and endorsements. Since liquid can easily damage a vehicle, maintenance is especially important for water trucks.

Oil & Gas

Oil and gas fleets tend to consist of pickup trucks and light to medium duty trucks. These fleets are servicing a variety of locations and carry equipment, piping, and workers. Most oil and gas fleets have light upfitting, with a special focus on tires. Since these vehicles travel on all terrains, lifecycle is an important consideration.

Service Providers

Cable, telephone, and internet fleets can vary from vans to bucket trucks. Since duties of service providers can range from in-house installation to working on cabling, so does the needs of their fleets. Service provider vans can be upfitted with boxes, storage for tools, and space to hold cabling. Trucks may be upfitted with a lift to work on telephone poles.

Utility Vehicles

Merchants Fleet can procure virtually any make or model for your fleet and help customize vehicles for your business needs. We have a wide variety of vehicles, including alternative-fuel vehicles. There is a growing interest in alternative-fuel vehicles and companies like BrightDrop, Ford and GM are releasing electric vehicle fleets. Depending on your business needs, upfitting may or may not be available for alternative-fuel vehicles. Contact Merchants to learn more.

Common Utility Vehicles:

  • Light Duty Pickup Trucks
  • Heavy Duty Pickup Trucks
  • Cargo Vans
  • Ford Transits
  • E-Transits
  • Delivery Vans
  • Box Trucks
  • Cargo Vans

Upfit Applications

Upfitting is not only critical to vehicle efficiency and importance – for utility fleets, it’s also a matter of safety. Ergonomics, specialized equipment like grounding features, high-visibility paint, and other features make sure your workers reduce their risk of accident or injury. Merchants can provide upfits specific to each industry and utility vehicle, depending on your needs. Some upfitting can be done at the dealership and at Merchants Fleet, while some is more specialized. Our national network of upfitting companies can help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Whatever your upfitting needs, we will work with you to get the job done.

Every fleet has unique upfitting needs. We take on projects of all sizes and complexities including:

Identity

  • Branding and Decals
  • Logos

Safety

  • Cranes and Lifts
  • Brush Guards
  • Safety Lights
  • Tires
  • Ergonomics

Practical use and function

  • Shelving Modules
  • Drawer Units
  • Ladder Racks
  • Partitions
  • Lift Gates
  • Hitches
  • Truck and Toolboxes

Utility Fleet Features from Merchants Fleet

  • Fleet Leasing & Funding
    • Customizable Financing Terms
    • Options Available for Companies of Any Size
    • Combine Fleet Management Services into One Package
    • Truck Rental Program
      • Convert Your Trucks to a Long-Term Lease Without Taking Them Off the Road
      • Order Long-Term Vehicles
      • Different Leasing and Funding Options Offered
    • Fleet Fuel Management & Fuel Card Program
      • Track Fuel Spending and Streamline Expense Management
    • Maintenance
      • Control Costs, Reduce Administrative Burdens, and Minimize Downtime
      • Eliminate Unpredictable Expenses
    • TotalView
      • Cloud-Based Fleet Management Platform That Allows You to Track Your Fleet’s Performance Data
    • Telematics and GPS Tracking
      • Gather Measurable, Actionable Data About Your Fleet
    • FleetShare
      • Technology Platform and Program Enhances Productivity and Efficiency through Vehicle Pooling & Sharing
    • Accident Management
      • Merchants Provides 24/7 Driver Support
    • Lifecycle Management
      • Vehicle Selector Optimization
      • Vehicle Ordering
      • Replacement Policy Review

Client Success Story

A large utility company was frustrated with multiple contracts of different lengths and prices. The company had a mix of long-term leased assets and rental units, but the rental units cost almost twice as much as the leased assets.

Merchants was able to put a rent-to-lease option in place so the company could easily convert rentals to long-term leases once contract positions were solidified. These vehicles were then converted to long-term leases when a contract was extended. The company incurred a depreciation credit for each month a vehicle was rented that was applied to the cap cost at conversion, which further lowered the long-term lease payment. Rentals that were no longer needed were returned to Merchants for extra cost savings.

The company is now on track to save nearly $100,000 annually in lease payments, plus $853,000 annually in rental vehicle cost avoidance. In addition, they have saved on administrative costs from rental vehicle turn-ins.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Benefits of a Utility Fleet Management Solution?

With a fleet management solution, you can streamline processes, improve fleet safety and maintenance, and enjoy faster deployment to job sites. You can also monitor all your equipment, track fuel management and manage driver behavior.

Do I have to take care of vehicle maintenance?

Merchants Fleet will cover all maintenance over the life of the vehicle through one of its Maintenance programs. We have vehicle repair partners throughout the country and will be able to recommend one near you.

What utility upfits do you offer?

We provide vehicle upfitting services for any type of vehicle — Class 1 to Class 8 trucks; light, medium, and heavy duty vehicles; commercial buses, vans, and shuttles; and passenger vehicles. No matter your industry, our truck and van upfitting services will be tailored to your business, fleet size, and goals.

How long does the upfitting process take?

It depends on the number of vehicles and which types of upfits you’ve chosen. Contact Merchants to discuss your upfit needs, and our team can provide more detailed information about potential costs and timeframe.

How Long Does It Take to Get Vehicles From OEM?

Delivery timelines vary depending on the make and model selected and the level of upfitting required. Our acquisitions and upfitting teams will work with you closely to keep you apprised of vehicle production timelines for your orders.

When is the Right Time to Take My Utility Fleet to Electric Vehicles?

Our consulting team can help tell if EVs are right for you through AdoptEV, our EV adoption solution that helps you get from concept to execution. We’ve made significant commitments to OEMs, and we’re on the front lines to get vehicle allocations and ensure there is EV availability for our clients.

What Are the Makes and Models of Your Utility Fleet Vehicles?

Trucks Include:
  • Ford Transit and Transit Connect
  • Ford F150
  • Ford Super Duty (F250, F350, F450, F550)
  • Chevrolet Silverado (1500, 2500, 3500)
  • Dodge RAM (1500, 2500, 3500 HD)
  • Kenworth T370
  • Isuzu NPR & NQR
  • Toyota Tundra
  • Mitsubishi Fuso
  • Freightliner M2106
  • Peterbilt 567
  • Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
  • Hino M Series
Vans Include:
  • Ford Transit
  • Ford Transit Connect
  • Chevrolet Express Cargo Vans
  • Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
  • Nissan NV Cargo
  • Nissan NV 2500 High Roof
  • Nissan NV 200
  • Dodge RAM ProMaster
  • RAM ProMaster City
  • Freightliner Sprinter
  • Toyota Sienna
  • Eldorado Buses
  • Dodge Grand Caravan
  • Chevy Suburban
  • GMC Savana
  • Mercedes-Benz Metris

What kind of fleet leasing and funding terms are available?

We provide a variety of leasing and funding to meet your needs. Closed-end leases offer a fixed monthly payment. An open-end lease gives you complete leasing structure flexibility. If you have purchased your own vehicles, we can add fleet management services.