Types of field work
- Scheduled yard work. PMs, inspections and repairs at a fleet yard, often at night or on weekends when trucks are parked.
- Job site work. Repairs on construction, mining or farm equipment that cannot easily move.
- Roadside and emergency calls. Breakdowns on the highway or at a customer site. See road call and emergency roadside repair.
- Overflow or specialist work for fleets with their own shop.
How field service differs from shop work
Field work adds travel time, setup, weather, lighting and safety concerns, and the technician can only use the tools and parts on the truck. A missing part can mean a second trip. That is why mobile businesses usually charge a service call fee or a mileage charge and often a separate field labor rate.
What field service needs
- A properly equipped mobile service truck, sometimes a crane truck.
- Stock control for parts on each truck.
- Dispatch that sends the right technician with the right parts.
- A way to capture the unit number, VIN, odometer or engine hours, photos and the customer's approval on site.
- Invoicing that does not wait for the technician to return to the office.
Records and rules
The same record duties apply in the field as in the shop. Under 49 CFR 396.3, motor carriers must keep records of inspections, repairs and maintenance for vehicles they control, and the shop's work order and invoice often become part of that record. Some states add rules for mobile repair. California's Write It Right guidance, for example, requires a mobile repair invoice to include the address or a description of the location where repairs were done.
Safety
Roadside work puts technicians near traffic. Use warning devices, high-visibility clothing and lighting, and stop work when conditions are unsafe.
See how to start a mobile truck repair business.
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