STORM PREPARATION

Making sure your equipment is always ready to handle challenging work environments— no matter the time of year— is essential.

● Tires: Tires should also be inspected closely, including any spares, plug kits and air compressors. Remember, your trucks may be out in the field for extended periods with no access to repair shops, so anything to keep them self-sufficient on the service front is important, as storms can leave debris on roads that can damage tires.

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● Maintenance Schedules: Consistently follow your own internal preventative maintenance schedules, or whatever has been provided by the chassis manufacturer; and consider proactively shortening any recommended maintenance timeframes to help address problems early.

Enhance Your Platforms Though most manufacturers offer similar base packages, there are several additions you can make to your bucket trucks that enhance the safety and / or work environment for your crews. For example, storage solutions can be added to accommodate commonly used accessories during storm work. This might include various grips and hand tools, along with chainsaws, ropes, hoists and additional forms of emergency safety equipment such as safety cones, flashlights, batteries, flares, winches, PPE and personal voltage and current detectors.

Additional truck-mounted lighting, both interior and exterior, is always an option to help facilitate better working conditions, as is adding additional batteries and / or an inverter. This allows you to charge batteries or run laptops, coffee makers, dryers,

Telecom & Utility Construction | Fall 2024

Bucket trucks play a crucial role in power restoration and storm cleanup.

basic power tools and more.

Installing upgraded non-skid materials, like tread plate, grip strut or positional flood lights are always good when it comes to creating a safer work platform for your workers, as can the addition of window guards for a truck’ s back glass or brush guards on the front of the truck.

Plan for the Future Taking care of immediate training and maintenance-related needs is always important. However, planning ahead is also critical, as the need for cleanup and repair is not going to end once hurricane season is over. As recent storms have shown, some cities impacted this summer have not kept up with infrastructure improvements, which has led to bigger problems than anticipated. Likewise, you need to make sure updates and improvements to your own fleet are not delayed, as you want to be certain your equipment is fully operational and able to deal with the outcomes of future storms.

When it is time to replace equipment, work with companies that have work-ready bucket trucks available and be sure to check availability and lead times when making purchasing decisions. Take time to also forecast your future crew-related needs, as it is important to have enough workers lined up and fully trained to operate your equipment safely before the next round of storms call your crews into action.

Chris Shallenberg is the Outbound Product Manager for aerial work platforms at PALFINGER North America. He has worked in the utility equipment industry for 16 years, most of that time in sales operations and training. Through his involvement with aerial, body and derrick equipment in utility and tree care applications, he worked with all levels of custom truck specification and what customers need from their equipment in the field. He is passionate about developing and improving equipment to bring customers the solutions that they need to be safe and successful.