When construction equipment goes down, the impact is immediate. Crews stall, costs climb, and project timelines shift. That’s why field service efficiency remains a top priority for equipment dealers and contractors across the country. However, in an industry facing rising equipment costs, skilled labor shortages, and tightening emissions regulations, many organizations are rethinking how they equip their service teams.
One such organization is Ascendum Machinery, a construction equipment dealer with operations across multiple states and a field service force of over 100 technicians. For Ascendum, the key to more responsive service wasn’t just better scheduling or additional training. It was a smarter truck design.
A STRATEGIC SHIFT
Over a decade ago, Ascendum began standardizing its field service trucks with a new configuration: Summit-manufactured service bodies equipped with Miller EnPak all-in-one power systems. The goal was simple, reduce chassis idle time, improve technician productivity, and extend truck life. What followed was a long-term shift in how Ascendum approached field service at scale.
“We equipped two identical trucks—one PTO-driven, one with an EnPak—and tracked everything,” says Patrick Overstreet, director of service operations. “Idle time, fuel burn, productivity. We saw over a mile-per-gallon improvement with the EnPak. That savings alone justified the investment, before even factoring in emissions or cost of downtime.”
PURPOSE-BUILT PERFORMANCE
That early pilot led to a broader operational strategy. Today, every new Ascendum field service truck follows the same foundational spec. Each unit is built to their requirements at Summit Truck Bodies, incorporating a tailored layout for rigging storage, drawer systems, and crane controls. The EnPak integrates seamlessly, providing power for welding, compressed air, battery charging, all without running the chassis engine.
“Idle time has always been the enemy,” says Overstreet. “The less the truck has to run, the longer it lives. With the EnPak, we reduce emissions-related issues and get more consistent performance in the field.”
Jeff Willbanks, operations manager says, “what we like about the Summit trucks is that all technician controls are consolidated. They’re not wasting time walking around the truck trying to start this or adjust that. It’s intuitive. Everything is where it needs to be.”
MEASURED RESULTS
Ascendum’s decision to standardize Summit-manufactured service trucks with integrated Miller EnPak systems was a strategic move. By aligning their fleet around this configuration, they have achieved gains across key areas of field service performance.
- Fuel efficiency – EnPak eliminates unnecessary idling, improving fuel economy by up to 1.5 mpg in some truck classes.
- Reduced emissions-related maintenance – Lower engine hours result in fewer DPF and aftertreatment service events.
- Chassis longevity – With less wear and tear, trucks remain viable in the field for seven to 10 years or longer.
- Technician workflow and safety – Summit’s layout minimizes unnecessary movement, while ground-level crane and EnPak remote controls reduce fall risks.
- Tool accessibility – Custom drawer, bin, and compartment configurations mean technicians spend less time searching and more time solving
- Field confidence – As Willbanks puts it, “there’s a comfort level when you show up and everything works the way it should. That’s what these trucks provide.”
Jeffrey Taylor, field technician says, “with the Summit body, I know where everything is, my crane remote, my rigging, my tools. I’m not second-guessing. I can get the job done faster, and that helps everyone.”
WHAT THE INDUSTRY CAN LEARN
What Ascendum has implemented reflects a growing trend across the construction industry, viewing service trucks not just as mobile toolboxes, but as productivity assets that require thoughtful design, integration, and long-term planning.
These aren’t custom one-offs. Summit builds each truck body to deliver consistent, high-performance results across the fleet, with the durability to withstand years of field use. The EnPak system, brings measurable operational value that aligns with the evolving demands of modern field service, especially as fleets face tighter emissions regulations, labor constraints, and rising costs.
“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel every year,” says Overstreet. “We’re investing in what works. And when vendors like Summit and Miller listen to what we need and evolve with us, it makes a difference. Our trucks show up ready—and that’s what our customers expect.”
for more information
To learn more, visit www.summitbodies.com.
