If you need to upfit your trailers or truck bodies, whether it’s adding cargo control systems, liftgates, or telematics, you’re definitely not alone. More fleets are now ordering standard trailer builds and relying on Great Dane Service Centers to dial in the final details. It’s a faster, more flexible alternative to waiting on a fully custom factory order, and with the right planning, it’s every bit as tailored to your exact needs.
According to Kevin Kotch, Service Operations Manager at Great Dane, the most common upfits include e-track installations, cargo control upgrades, liftgates, side doors, vent doors, and enhanced interior lighting. These modifications are frequently requested to increase cargo safety, improve access, and streamline day-to-day operations.
That kind of post-production flexibility is a game-changer for fleets that need to respond quickly to new routes, new freight profiles, or changing customer expectations. So how do you take advantage of the service?
Let’s find out.
One Piece of Upfitting Advice You Can’t Skip
If your fleet is planning to upfit at the service center level, timing and communication are everything. Kotch’s advice?
“Plan early and collaborate closely with the service center team during the spec’ing process. Sharing the full scope of the trailer’s intended use allows us to recommend optimal configurations and prepare the necessary parts and labor in advance. This avoids delays, ensures compatibility, and ultimately results in a more efficient and effective upfit that aligns with your operational goals.”
Planning ahead helps avoid issues like incompatible components, back-ordered parts or installation delays.
Why Fleets Rely on Service Center Upfits
There’s a reason these upfits are in such high demand. They help general-purpose trailers become task-specific, without eating up weeks or months of production queue time.
“Service center upfits let fleets convert standard trailers into job-specific units — like turning a dry van into a delivery trailer with e-tracks or liftgates — without waiting on a custom factory build. This helps fleets hit the road faster while meeting industry-specific needs,” Kotch said.
The impact of these installations can potentially be a huge boon to a fleet’s bottom line. Whether it’s a liftgate that saves a driver from injury or a cargo control upgrade that prevents overage, shortage, and damage claims, every component supports operational uptime and safety.
Kotch says this approach reduces downtime while also directly supporting a safer, more efficient operation. When upgrades like cargo control systems, liftgates, and improved lighting are installed before the trailer enters service, they enhance load security and streamline loading and unloading. These improvements also reduce the risk of driver injury, leading to fewer delays and stronger overall performance.
It’s tough to argue with results like that. When a few changes to a trailer makes loading faster and safer, drivers stay productive, freight stays intact, and dispatch isn’t fielding late delivery calls or injury reports. Multiply that by 50 or 100 trailers, and the operational value becomes impossible to ignore.
The Rise of Smarter Upfits
Kotch notes that the next wave of upfitting goes beyond physical parts. It’s now about data and connected components.
“Some of the new trends we are seeing have to do with telematics. With more data, now fleets are asking us how they can get more out of their equipment,” he says. “Great Dane has been at the forefront of connecting our equipment to help the customer maximize their ROI. Some examples are door sensors, thermal sensors in reefers, wheel-end heat sensors and wheel PSI sensors, as well as ABS.”
When installed correctly and tied into platforms like the FleetPulse smart trailer telematics system, those sensors unlock a full telematics profile, helping fleets catch issues earlier, improve safety, and drive down operating costs.
Want to dive into how fleet management can be optimized with trailer telematics dashboards? Take a few minutes to read our blog. Or take a closer look at FleetPulse telematics.
Service Centers Can Be a Fleet Manager’s Secret Weapon
Customization doesn’t always have to start at the plant. Service Centers can build-in custom functionality post-production without compromising performance or warranty integrity.
When it comes to upfits, think of Great Dane Service Centers as bridging the gap between production and performance. We help fleets act on opportunities without the delay of full rebuilds or long factory lead times. And when you’re supported by teams that know how to spec, install, and validate these upgrades, every upfit becomes a step toward better uptime, safety, and ROI.
Ready to upfit your trailer or truck body? Our service centers are standing by and ready to help. Contact your local service center today.
