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Work Vehicles

10 Best Work Vehicle (Trucks, Vans & Trailers) Organization Ideas

December 8, 2020

If you’re reading this article, there’s a good chance that your work vehicle is a mess. You may have cobwebbed together a functioning system that has so far, sustained you.

 

But you know deep down that you can do better. Much better.

 

Having well-organized work trucks, vans and trailers is the key to improved productivity, efficiency, security, and safety. Showing up to your customers with an orderly work van demonstrates that you are a serious professional.

10 Best Work Vehicle Organization Ideas
10 Best Work Vehicle Organization Ideas

Michael Meyer, the owner of the Mobile Locksmith company, took a combination of inspiration from others and his own experience to organize his van.

 

“When I started thinking about outfitting my van, I did a lot of online research. I looked at pictures online. Basically, I talked to other people and figured out in my head based on my experience and what I need and what other people were doing, and I came up with something that works for me.”

 

For Michael, the “key” to “unlocking” job site efficiencies starting with better vehicle organization.

 

There are two common themes from some of best work truck and van setups like Michael’s:

 

  1. 1) Efficient layouts that maximize the limited space

2) A simple yet effective storage system that can safely store tools and increase accessibility

“When I started thinking about outfitting my van, I did a lot of online research. I looked at pictures online. Basically, I talked to other people and figured out in my head based on my experience and what I need and what other people were doing, and I came up with something that works for me.”

“My setup helps me become better service providers, so I can come quickly in and out and help serve my customers better.”

Most frequently used tools should be placed near the doors for easy access. Equipment that you rarely use can be stowed further away.

You can even take it to the next level by installing a clever storage system near the access points.

 

Check out how this carpenter cleverly organized his work van by creating a DIY rack to store his sealants on the back door windows.

Well organized work van
Well organized work van
Storage ideas for a service vehicle
Storage ideas for a service vehicle

Service bodies can drastically increase the capacity to safely store and haul equipment to job sites.

Check out how an electrician utilized a truck service body to neatly organize his truck and prepare for any job.

Small tools on a board
Small tools on a board

Small manual tools are organized on the left side of the truck.

Power tool organizer for the side of a work truck
Power tool organizer for the side of a work truck

Power tools are on the other side of the truck.

How to store big bulky items in your work van
How to store big bulky items in your work van

Big, bulky equipment is stowed away inside the truck bed.

Service bodies may be one of the best solutions that truly push your vehicle’s capacity to the limit.

 

However, they can be expensive with a complete setup running upwards of several thousand dollars!

 

Truck bed slides

Truck bed slides make loading and unloading your truck a breeze. No more hunching, crawling, and cursing your way to finding the tool you need. Simply pull out the bed slides as you would with a drawer, and you have all of your tools within arm’s reach.

Truck bed slides are great for organizing tools
Truck bed slides are great for organizing tools

There are many commercial options for truck bed slides and we won’t go into that here.

If you are handy, you can build a basic bed slide that functions and looks great. Here’s a simple bed slide system made for Ford FX4 Truck.

DIY truck bed slide
DIY truck bed slide

Turns out, giant drawer slides are costly. So this DIYer cleverly used skateboard bearings and square tubes as slides to reduce the total cost.

DIY truck bed slide

Finish it with a paint job to make it look professional and sharp.

 

Modular storage system

Cargo vans and trailers typically are tall enough for you to stand and move about. This unique feature can allow the fitting of a storage system that can include a complex system of shelves, racks, and drawer units to drastically improve work vehicle organization.

Here’s how a mobile locksmith in Riverside, CA uses a modular storage system to organize his work van.

Slick electricians trailer with tidy storage options
Slick electricians trailer with tidy storage options

This carpenter's work trailer looks clean an well organized
This carpenter's work trailer looks clean an well organized

And how about this carpenter’s impressive DIY storage system for his trailer.
Keeping a saw secure and safe with a trailer pin
Keeping a saw secure and safe with a trailer pin

Notice how he used a trailer pin to keep the chop saw securely in place while making removing it quick and easy.
Another clean landscaping trailer with amazing organization options
Another clean landscaping trailer with amazing organization options

This landscaping trailer (2009 Haulmark Kodiak Landscaper 7×16) demonstrates that keeping it simple can often be the best way to go.
Keep your landscaping trailer looking pro with hanging tool hooks
Keep your landscaping trailer looking pro with hanging tool hooks

The wooden wall panels allow easy installation of racking and shelving systems.
Keep your tools together with these trailer organization options
Keep your tools together with these trailer organization options

A landscaping business work vehicle needs to store equipment of varying sizes and shapes like weed whackers, chainsaws, trimmers, mowers. Check out the clever use of the racking and shelving system.

After mounting all the equipment, there’s still room for a large mower or two to roll right up inside this trailer. And when you’re hauling this many pieces of equipment between job sites, it can be easy to accidentally leave something behind. That’s why we created the Toolie. Check it out here. 

 

Peg boards are a great way to keep your cargo van organized
Peg boards are a great way to keep your cargo van organized

Pegboards aren’t just for storing tools in the garage. For small tools you use frequently, pegboards can be a boon for your organizational needs.
Bins help keep your work vehicle organized
Bins help keep your work vehicle organized

No more frantically looking for that right-sized wrench or screwdrivers in a bin or a drawer.
Peg board and bins help this cargo van stay organized
Peg board and bins help this cargo van stay organized

And here’s an example of a mobile locksmith using pegboards to organize all his equipment inside his Ford Transit 250. Everything is easily within reach and in perfect order.

Now you know where all your tool and gear is, it’s time to organize your fleet. Learn how you can use GPS to track your vehicles, trailers, and light equipment.

 

We’ll continue to update this post with more inspirational organization ideas. In the meantime, you should steal any of these organizational concepts we’ve shared here.

 

Got any ideas of your own? We’d love to see them!

 

And if you’re looking for other insights to optimize your operations and generate more revenue, try Momentum for free. You can get started here.