The Interior of a Route Vehicle

Customizing the interior of a route vehicle to maximize the efficiency of inventory handling is an important element to running an efficient operation. To do this, Antares operators often debate doing the work themselves or utilizing the services of vehicle design specialists.

First consideration: Soft drinks

The layout of the interior hinges on the volume of beverages an Antares operator will move on a route will center on the drinks. Soft drinks always take up a lot of room and need to be located for a good weight distribution. A simple rack won’t do when there is a mixture of ounces of cans.

Design specialists encourage operators to only carry what they need on a vehicle. It minimizes weight and extends the life of the truck. There are operators that have claimed that on a majority of routes, there are cases that are wasteful. This is not only because of the weight factor, but today’s incredibly thin can walls, proper inventory turnover is one of the essentials to prevent nasty leaks. If there is too much weight on the front end of the vehicle, it will wear out prematurely. If there is too little weight, the vehicle will bounce and the tires will wear early.

Step two: Snack shelves

After the number of beverage racks is determined, the snack shelves are considered. The amount of shelving required will again depend on the quantity and variety of products the operator wants transported. Chips, for instant, are light. They won’t affect the center of gravity or hurt the driver’s back, so these can be stacked on higher shelves.

Antares operators also need to consider if they plan to transport perishable products which might necessitate coolers. A candy cooler should be considered for chocolate so that the Antares operators won’t get a “blooming” effect. Blooming is the result of temperature changes.

The biggest mistake some operators make is underestimating their vehicle weight requirements. Cost and the ability to control the configuration of the space, are the two major concerns Antares operators have about getting a “professionally” customized vehicle interior. Each operator usually tries to do something different when it comes to installing an interior.