Written by Industrial Stores Staff 02/06/23
As a plumber, electrician, or HVAC/R technician, you'll often use a work van. The van is an essential part of your business, and keeping it organized greatly impacts your productivity.
Some of the ways an always-organized work van improves your productivity include:
So, how do you keep a van tidy? How do you ensure it’s always organized and enjoy the benefits that come with it?
Well, at Industrial Stores, we’ve compiled five of the best, easy, and most applicable tips to help you. These tips also double as rules for organizing your service van to keep it clean and safe.
Our first tip is always to ensure the interior workspace of your van is well-lit, both at the front and the back. This helps you see clearly in the dark spaces created by shelves, drawers, or cabinets.
The best way to light up your work van is to install LED lights. LEDs are energy-efficient and long-lasting, making them perfect for your van.
If you already have some lighting systems, ensure they’re fully functional by checking if they’re:
Whether you’re an electrician, HVAC technician, or plumber, there are tasks that you perform regularly and always require the same specific tools. Therefore, it’s a good idea to build toolboxes that house these tools and make them easily accessible.
The table below shows an example of a common repair in air conditioners, electricals, and plumbing, alongside their common tools. You can use these examples and customize your toolboxes depending on the tasks you most frequently handle in your profession.
Working with these tools increases the potential for injuries such as burns, shocks, and back strains, especially when carrying heavy equipment.
That’s why your van needs a fully stocked first aid kit with all the tools needed for quick relief in case of minor injuries.
Another important tip is to identify key spaces in your work van and partition for dedicated purposes. Spaces such as where you store tools and supplies, where you place your folders and paperwork, and where you have room for frequently used tools need to be clearly defined.
For starters, every work van has two main areas: the driver's section in the front and the storage space at the back of the vehicle. Usually, the back section is where most of the organization occurs. However, it's important to keep both areas clear and defined.
Driver’s section: In the driver's section, only keep office-related items, such as work phone/tablet, laptop, administrative documents, invoices, and relevant paperwork.
Back workspace: The back of the van is where you’ll store all your mechanical tools. This area needs to be clearly defined in partitions to ensure everything has its place. A few ideas on how to define spaces at the back of your work van include:
Expert tip: Frequently used tools should be near the storage space entrance where you can reach them quickly.
Labelling might seem obvious, but most people take it for granted. It’s one of the easiest and most efficient ways to keep your work van organized.
For example, if you have a storage shelf in your work van with several crates or drawers for HVAC tools, label them, so you know which one holds what items. This would be especially efficient for when you're on call.
There are several ways to label things in your work van, including:
Labels are great because anyone, including new colleagues, can find what they need without much hassle. It’s also easier to store items in their rightful places without reorganizing everything constantly.
If you are going to use labels like adhesive papers, make sure to take proper care of them to ensure they last longer. Also, remember to replace or re-label spaces with labels that have worn out/faded over time.
Expert tip: Always be consistent with the places you store different items. It makes it easier to remember where an item is always stored.
Consistency when organizing must be observed across all vans if you’re a company with more than one van. As a manager, how you organize the first van must be identical to all the others.
Organization does not stop at cleaning your van and organizing your tools. You need to secure the tools in place to prevent them from flying around while traveling.
The drawers, cabinets, shelves, and toolboxes will do a good job of securing most of the tools in place, preventing them from flying around; however, other tools, mostly power tools, that are big or oddly shaped and can’t fit into the drawers or cabinets.
To store and secure the power tools in place, use hooks, straps, or bungees to hang them from the walls of your van.
At Industrial Stores, we are committed to supplying you with the HVAC tools you need for your business.
Clients will judge your business from various points of view, including the cleanliness and organization of your work van. You may be asking yourself, how can a clean van lead to more business and make a better impression on clients? Well, this is how:
If you want to be taken seriously as a professional contractor, then it’s good to keep your work van organized.
You also need to always have the necessary tools and equipment ready. If you don’t, then feel free to visit Industrial Stores for more tools.
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