The longer anything takes to build, the further from standard it is. Custom bodies have traditionally been produced in a bay rather than an assembly line, despite truck body makers’ efforts to emulate the Ford assembly line method for conventional goods. Many truck body manufacturers have been able to reduce the build time for custom bodywork thanks to more advanced manufacturing techniques. The lead times between regular bodies and custom bodies are still very different.

The price rises as the product becomes more specialized. Truck bodies are no different from any other product in that this is true. The pricing will reflect the fact that the body will require more labor to create and that the pieces are not mass-produced. Far from a basic model, customize your next body, and be prepared to pay a hefty premium.

You can either focus on a short life cycle to try to maximize your resale value, or you can run your work vehicle to the ground to lengthen the life cycle. No of how long you keep your service trucks, the resale market will be smaller if they are more specifically tailored to your needs.

Commercial Dealers: This is probably a straightforward idea, however the more customized the vehicle, the less tempting it could be to the “general” buyer seeking a straightforward “work truck.” Nonetheless, it’s crucial to take into account what sells in your market and properly stock it. If you have the solution in-hand and the following dealer doesn’t, you’ll probably close the deal.