Your fleet doesn’t always have time to wait for the next factory production slot.
Maybe your freight mix shifted. Maybe you landed a new contract that requires side doors and liftgates. Or maybe you have ten trailers arriving next month and no time to delay the order just because you’d like them spec’d differently.
That’s where trailer and truck body upfitting come in. Instead of waiting on the factory, fleet managers are discovering that Great Dane Service Centers can customize your equipment exactly the way you need it, without blowing the schedule or the budget.
At the basic level, Great Dane Service Centers routinely handle:
- Side door additions
- Interior lighting upgrades
- E-track and cargo control systems
- Vent doors
- Sensor integrations (ABS, PSI, door, thermal)
- Liftgate installs
Rear lift gate on a Great Dane Sahara Truck Body
But, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Let’s take a closer look at how post-production upfitting helps fleets move faster, stay lean, and still deliver exactly what the job demands.
One Trailer or Truck Body, Multiple Possibilities
When you start with a general-purpose truck body or trailer, don’t think of it as locking yourself into a compromise. In reality, you’re building in flexibility.
“These upfits allow fleets to quickly adapt stock trailers and truck bodies to meet specific operational needs without waiting for a custom factory build,” says Kevin Kotch, Service Operations Manager for Great Dane. “A general dry van can be transformed into a specialized delivery unit with the addition of e-tracks or liftgates, for example. This flexibility helps fleets reduce lead times and enter service faster, while still meeting the demands of their specific application, whether that’s retail delivery, foodservice, or parcel logistics.”
This is where Great Dane Service Centers can be your competitive advantage. By working with service centers for post-production upfits, Kotch says your fleet can adapt standard trailers to specific operational needs quickly, avoiding the extended lead times associated with custom factory orders.
This flexibility allows you to respond to market demands faster, minimize downtime, and improve overall efficiency. By integrating upfits directly at the service center, your equipment can be customized to meet your exact needs. Taking a strategic approach to upfitting not only speeds up deployment but also helps deliver better customer service and fewer operational delays.
Additionally, a trailer that goes into service two months sooner can start generating revenue faster, help secure new contracts, or fill temporary capacity gaps without overcommitting to permanent builds.
Want to learn more? Take a deeper dive into why fleet managers trust Great Dane Service Centers here.
Solutions for Complex Upfitting
Liftgates and lighting upgrades are frequent requests at Great Dane Service Centers, but Kotch’s team is also seeing more complex specs being requested. Think cold plate integration for frozen food hauls, multi-temp configurations, or full telematics and sensor retrofits tied into fleet management platforms like the FleetPulse telematics.
That’s why service centers can be a smart strategic partner for finishing out your trailers to match your exact needs. The job is done by OEM-trained technicians, with warranty-safe upgrades and a turnaround that’s much faster than waiting on a new build.
Measurable Savings, More Results
In today’s environment with a shortage of drivers affecting many fleets, easier loading, better lighting, and safer cargo control can make a real difference with driver retention.
“Upfitting at the service center level allows fleets to get on the road faster with equipment tailored to their specific needs,” Kotch said. “Strategic upfits like cargo control systems, lift gates, and lighting improve load security and allow driver efficiency and safety. This translates into fewer delays, fewer injuries, and better customer service for our fleets and their customers.”
Faster stops mean tighter route efficiency. Better load security means fewer OS&D claims. Improved safety features reduce both risk exposure and driver fatigue. When multiplied across a fleet, that translates into measurable savings in fuel, labor hours, repair costs, and customer satisfaction.
Build with the Future in Mind
Whether you’re responding to a new freight contract, modernizing your fleet, or simply trying more flexibility from your equipment, Great Dane Service Center upfitting gives your fleet the tools to move faster without compromising fit or function.
Ready to drive your business forward? Contact our team at your local Great Dane Service Center today.
Need new or pre-owned equipment that’s ready to go? Check out our stock trailer and truck body options here.
