A Missouri utility company is deploying mechanics trucks in the field to minimize downtime with machine failures.
Empire District Electric Company, based in Joplin, now relies on four mechanics trucks to makes fixes in the field, instead of hauling faulty equipment back to the shop for time-consuming repairs.
Mechanics trucks are used as mobile service shops. Besides performing repairs on the road, the trucks also perform preventive maintenance service calls on underground pullers, digger derricks, aerial devices, drum pullers and line tensioners.
Two of Empire’s older mechanics trucks were recently replaced by new Iowa Mold Tooling (IMT) Dominator I mechanics trucks, according to utilityproducts.com. The trucks feature a welder, removable lube skid, custom storage for tools and parts, a 3203i telescopic electric crane and a CAS40P compressor.
“A lot of brands build a lube truck or a mechanics truck, and we do both off of one truck,” Dave Russell, Empire manager of Transportation explained. “We needed a layout that could fit a removable lube skid, and I see the value in the setup and layout of the options that IMT offers.”
Custom Truck and Equipment (CTE) in Kansas City helped Russell select options for the trucks.
Empire provides 218,000 customers with electric, natural gas (through its subsidiary, The Empire District Gas Co.) and water service in Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas.