Stop Running Your Truck to Power Equipment: PTO vs. All-In-One Solutions

Save space and weight

Unplanned service truck downtime can cost utility and municipality fleets hundreds of dollars per day in lost work and productivity. And that doesn’t include the hidden costs that can result from truck downtime, such as delayed timelines and unhappy customers.

Service trucks must be ready to work whenever and wherever the job calls. When a truck is down, work doesn’t get done.

Don’t settle for machines that aren’t the right fit for your service truck or that contribute to additional downtime. Organizations that are funded by taxpayer dollars also must juggle public perception about equipment purchases. An all-in-one solution can help optimize reliability, minimize downtime and reduce costs — so technicians are ready for anything.

Learn more about the benefits of engine-driven all-in-one systems and how they compare to PTO-driven machines.

PTO vs. all-in-one?

Work truck fleets may choose PTO-driven equipment because it’s what they have traditionally used. It may also be an issue of choosing the solution with the lowest upfront cost. Some fleet managers or techs may also be worried they will lose capabilities if they transition from a traditional PTO system to different equipment.

But there is an all-in-one solution available that maintains the power capabilities of a PTO system, and you don’t have to run the truck to get them.

PTO-driven systems can’t operate unless the truck engine is running. But the EnPak® A30GBW system from Miller provides compressed air, generator power, battery charging/crank assist, welding and power to support 12-volt DC needs — all with the work truck engine turned off.

So, what are the benefits that an all-in-one solution can provide?

Minimize downtime

The more a diesel work truck idles or runs at low rpm to power a PTO, the more frequently it needs maintenance and repair. Tier 4 Final work trucks use a diesel particulate filter (DPF) that requires periodic regeneration to maintain emissions compliance and performance.

When a truck goes down for repair or emissions-related issues, it’s typically in the shop for at least a week. This can significantly delay project work in the field and impact utility customers and municipality taxpayers.

An EnPak system eliminates the need to carry a separate PTO-driven air compressor and engine-driven generator. An EnPak provides compressed air, generator power, battery charging, crank assist and welding capabilities in one machine.

When you have fewer engine-driven machines on a work truck, it also reduces the overall time spent on maintenance.

Decrease maintenance and fuel costs

A work truck that utilizes an all-in-one solution also reduces fuel costs and engine wear.

An all-in-one solution can reduce truck engine idle time by up to 75% and save more than $50,000 annually for fuel and maintenance (for a fleet of 10 service trucks) compared to constantly running the truck engine to power PTO-driven systems. Customers who switched from PTO systems to a Miller® EnPak A30 system on their trucks report reducing fuel use up to 30%.

“The less the truck is running, the lower the maintenance costs and the fewer issues we experience,” says Fleet Manager Kelly Klemisch.

Compare the benefits of an all-in-one

EnPak power systems also use two industry-exclusive technologies to deliver even more benefits. Auto-Speed™ technology automatically adjusts the engine to run at the lowest speed to match compressed air, battery charge and weld demands of the job — providing 100 amps of welding power at idle. Auto Start/Stop automatically turns the engine on and off based on demand.

These all-in-one solutions deliver the versatility and power to tackle whatever jobs technicians encounter — all with the truck engine turned off. Significantly reducing unnecessary run time and truck engine idling helps reduce the time and money spent on maintenance and helps minimize unplanned downtime in your operation.

This is the second article in a three-part series about utility and municipality service trucks. Read article one to learn more about the hidden costs of unplanned downtime on your truck fleet. Read article three to learn how to select the right all-in-one solution for your service truck.