toolsandshopequipment_april2022 - 4

WELCOME
Placing the right pieces in
the maintenance puzzle
Finding skilled shop technicians is the first piece.
Getting them the right tools and equipment helps
the rest fall into place.
By Tyler Fussner
M
aintaining commercial vehicles
takes a lot of work. It also takes
more than a staff of qualified
technicians to get the job done and the
vehicles back on the road. Supplying
them and their service bays with the
right tools and equipment will make it
easier to increase efficiency, throughput,
and uptime.
The goal of our annual Tools & Shop
Equipment Supplement, which offers a
plethora of the latest in vehicle maintenance
tools, technology, and equipment,
is to make finding the tools that fit your
operation easier. You may even discover
that last missing piece to solve your current
efficiency challenges.
In this supplement, you'll find five
distinct categories of tools and equipment,
each with a range of products and
purchasing considerations:
Diagnostic
With the industry continually advancing
in electrification, the rise in sensor
adoption, and digital connectivity, little
work can be done on today's vehicles
with a wrench alone. Whether looking
for
tire
pressure monitoring
system
readers, bidirectional scan tools, or electrical
troubleshooting equipment, this
section has it covered.
Power
Power tools are a tech's best friend. And
when it comes to this category of products,
personal preferences play a big
role. Seeking the freedom provided by
battery-powered drills? Feel the need to
speed up the manual process of torqueing
bits? You'll find answers here.
Hand & Specialty
From personal lighting options to innovative,
job-specific problem solvers, this
section features a range of products that
can remedy a technician's in-bay needs.
4 Tools & Shop Equipment * April 2022
Shop Equipment
Whether looking to equip the shop to
take on and provide new services, update
outdated pieces, or further furnish
the floor, Shop Equipment covers the big
pieces of the maintenance puzzle.
Tool Storage
Avoid safety hazards and boost efficiency
with storage solutions that ensure
technicians have the right tools within
reach to complete the task at hand, and
all without taking up a large footprint.
Tool Reviews
We can share the latest product details
and specs from the top brands in the industry,
but their true worth is proven by
the techs who use them every day.
That's why we included several reviews
from your industry peers who
have tested how these tools and equipment
stand up to the rigors of commercial
vehicle maintenance.
For example, Chris Groff, a diagnostician
who reviewed the Autel BT608
battery and electrical system analyzer
(p. 12) " was able to quickly verify
failed alternator diodes in a late model
Freightliner truck " and also confirm he
could salvage the discharged batteries.
Shop owner John Baumgardt III affirmed
the AIRCAT 115 degree Angle
Die Grinder (p. 18) can " get into awkward
spots, " which saves the shop time
and allows him to move to the next job
faster, and get trucks on the road faster.
Technical instructor Rich Falco noted
the KNIPEX TwinGrip Slip Joint Pliers
(p. 22) do the job ojhf several different
pliers, saving him " some time by not
having to go back to my toolbox. "
We hope these aid you in your
search. And if you have a tool or piece
of shop equipment you want to review,
please feel free to reach out to us at:
Editor@FleetMaintenance.com.
Inside
6 Diagnostic Tools
* Purchasing considerations
* Products
* Diagnostic tool reviews
14 Power Tools
* Purchasing considerations
* Products
* Power tool reviews
20 Hand & Specialty Tools
* Purchasing considerations
* Products
* Hand and specialty tool reviews
24 Shop Equipment
* Purchasing considerations
* Products
* Shop equipment reviews
29 Tool Storage
* Purchasing considerations
* Products
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Cover photo provided by Rotary Lift
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toolsandshopequipment_april2022

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