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Maintenance Schedule Helps Achieve Peak Performance

Ledwell Maintenance Schedule for heavy duty loading ramp

Equipment can get run down just like we do. How do you feel without a bit of self-care now and then?

Tired?

Sluggish?

When our bodies aren’t taken care of, we tend to move less efficiently. The same goes for equipment. The wonderful thing about us and machinery is that we can become more efficient with some work.

That work looks different for everyone. For your equipment? It looks different for each product type. No matter which one you have, it will operate at peak performance when you have a maintenance schedule.

A proper maintenance schedule, including greasing, can keep your equipment’s operation points swift and smooth. Depending on the type, these schedules offer daily, monthly, and yearly service points.

Routinely performing these services will help the equipment operate more efficiently and maintain operation for longer. Reduce downtime. Reduce cost. Reduce stress.

In short, performing routine maintenance equals a lower cost of ownership.

Preventative maintenance schedules are readily accessible to you! You’ll find everything you need to know about taking care of your machinery and ensuring it’s in tip-top shape.

Strategic Partnership Helps Lonestar Truck Group, Ledwell Grow Together

Ledwell Water Tanker Truck For Sale

With 24 dealerships in eight states, Lonestar Truck Group isn’t your average truck dealership. If you ask Adam Arrington, Executive Vice President of Sales, there’s one central reason why the company has seen growth and success since it opened in the early 60s: people.

“We have a great team of people that live and breathe this business,” he said. “The culture of this company empowers our people to do their jobs, provide feedback, and make it a nurturing environment where everybody succeeds. Everybody says that, but when you can actually do it, it’s pretty impressive.”

Lonestar Truck Group is one of the largest Freightliner dealer groups in the country, and it counts third-generation family members among its leadership. With 1,200+ employees at its 24 dealerships, the company provides parts, service, new and used truck sales, trailers, finance and insurance, body shops, and more to its customers.

“We sell new and used trucks and trailers to a single owner-operator buying one truck, and we sell to some of the largest public companies in the country when it comes to procuring equipment and parts and service,” Adam said. 

And at Lonestar, every task is important, no matter how big the order.

“You’ll never hear someone at Lonestar say, ‘That’s not my job,'” Adam said. “Everyone is willing to roll their sleeves up and get involved, whether it’s working after hours to get a customer a part or getting a truck delivered on time. It’s all we do. It’s our livelihood.”

Adam said that between supply chain and staffing issues, this year has thrown its fair share of challenges at Lonestar. 

“This is my 21st year on the Freightliner/Daimler dealer side of the business,” he said. “I’ve never seen supply chains so broken. It’s been a huge disruptor.”

Bulk Haul Feed Trailer for sale by Ledwell with Lonestar Tractor
Ledwell Vacuum Truck DOT Certified

Relationships with longtime customers and partners like Ledwell have helped Lonestar weather what has been a challenging year for the manufacturing industry.

“For our true partners, like Ledwell, they know we’re doing everything we can to get them what they need and when they need it,” Adam said. 

He said his relationship with Ledwell began 20 years ago when he first met Steve Ledwell.

“I always heard stories, but aside from dropping a truck off, I didn’t know who they were or what they did,” he said. “My relationship with everyone at Ledwell has changed drastically over the last six years. Steve and I talk every day except Sunday. Lesley and I talk weekly. I talk to every salesman and engineer in the building at least once a week, whether it’s about inventory, or a project, or trucks that are being upfit for our customers.”

Lonestar Truck paired with Ledwell Feed Trailer
TMA Crash Attenuator Truck for Sale Ledwell

Adam said it’s not just business—it’s personal.

“Ledwell is our largest customer, but on the flip side of that, they’re also our friends,” he said. 

Ledwell buys a lot of trucks from Lonestar, but they count Lonestar as a customer as well—Lonestar buys truck bodies, rigging, PTOs, wet kits, trailers, and more from Ledwell. Lonestar also provides secure financing and lease options for Ledwell customers when needed.

Adam said his customers love Ledwell products because of their exceptional quality, endurance, service, and parts accessibility.

“They just take care of things,” he said. “We’ve had issues before, but every time, without fail, the first thing they say is, ‘Where’s the truck?’ No arguing, no complaining. They exhaust every single resource at their fingertips to get that truck, or trailer, or body fixed in a way that’s hassle-free for the customer.”

Adam hasn’t just worked with Ledwell in his current role. When he sold trucks, he said, he had the opportunity to see Ledwell’s hard work in action.

“It was New Year’s Eve in 2003,” he said. “I had a logger call me from Mena, Ark., who wanted to buy a couple of trucks and had to buy them that day because of tax reasons. Installing logging-specific equipment like trailer rides, headache racks, and digital load scales takes eight to ten hours. I called Ledwell at 10 a.m., and they said, ‘Bring it on.’ They had a team of people waiting for us, got it finished, and got it delivered. The customer was happy. I was happy. That’s the way the Ledwell culture is.”

When you work with Ledwell, he said, you aren’t just a customer—you’re becoming part of that family. 

“At the end of the day, they’re just good people,” he said.

Top 5 Qualities to Look for in a Water Truck

4000 Gallon Water Truck by Ledwell

Water Truck Buying Guide

2000 Gallon Quality Water Trucks For Sale

Are you thinking about buying a heavy-duty water truck?

Shifting from renting to buying is a significant investment, and the vast options available on water trucks can be daunting. Whether you need a customized water truck or a stock water truck, you must consider several important qualities before you buy. Our water truck buying guide has the top 5 things to consider when purchasing a heavy-duty water truck.

1. Tough keel
Opting for a quad-bent design in the tank’s foundation ensures you’ll have a heavy-duty, stout truck. Also look for scalloped, interior-welded seams. This makes it harder for the seams to crack, making the tank last a very long time—possibly longer than the chassis it sits on. Internal piping should be welded before the tank is installed, and your manufacturer should test it to 120 psi before it leaves the plant.

2. Heavy-duty liner
The thicker the liner, the better. Our standard is a 30-millimeter finished thickness, which is the thickest in the industry. A good liner protects the tank’s interior from corroding, so the thicker the liner, the longer your tank will live. Look for a tank that’s blasted inside and out for a smooth finish. And pay attention to the type of liner you’re getting. If you’ll be carrying drinking water, your tank needs to have a potable compliant liner.

3. Strong pump and valves
A water truck’s pump is like the heart of the truck—it keeps everything moving. Selecting a water tank with an American-made two-bearing system with at least a 1.25″ input shaft and 3″ diameter driveline will help to keep water flowing. Incorporating in-cab air-operated controls is the best choice to work in tandem with the pump for maximum spraying.

Ledwell Water Tank Trucks For Sale
4000 Gallon Water Truck by Ledwell

4. Sturdy, well-protected hose reel
Keeping your water truck’s hose protected is key to making it last longer. A good water truck will have a rear internal hose reel mounted inside a frame that protects it from the elements. Mounting the hose reel inside of a frame also reinforces the reel to be sturdier. When it comes to your reel, extra storage is always a plus. Look for a water truck that has a storage box for side nozzles, suction hoses, and other accessories right where you need them.

5. Dependable service
Ask about the water truck’s warranty, and ask about service after the warranty runs out. Will you be able to get parts quickly? Will the company be able to repair your equipment at a reasonable cost? Will the service team continue to help you troubleshoot issues with your equipment for the duration of your ownership? These are essential factors to consider when you’re talking with references and peers in the industry.

We hope these top five qualities will help you when looking to purchase your next water truck. If you would like more information on a Ledwell Water Truck, be sure to reach out to us.

Change in Season: Time For Preventative Maintenance

Ledwell 6 Yard Dump Truck

Season change means different behaviors for your trusted equipment. But you can make sure that this doesn’t affect your work on the job. There are a variety of actions you can take that your equipment needs to stay efficient and running. One of them is preventative maintenance. Not all equipment is as easy as your typical loading ramp – having to grease the landing gear only once a year. But maintenance is imperative for longevity.

We believe wholeheartedly that maintenance schedules will allow your equipment a long, happy life, no matter the piece.

We’ve devised several Preventative Maintenance sheets for your benefit. These outline how you can prepare your equipment for various conditions and what you must do to get the most out of your money. Preventative Maintenance checklists are available for the following equipment:

You can also tune into our social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube. We know it’s tough to remember when your equipment needs routine maintenance when you have a million other things happening on the job. That’s why we do our best to provide you easy access, like adding preventative maintenance questions and answers to those above-mentioned social media outlets.

If these aren’t enough for you, and you’re looking for something a little more specific, you can always check out our FAQ page on our website or give us a call. One way or another, Ledwell is determined to gain your satisfaction through equipment performance.

Employees Support ArkLaTex 100 Club at Annual Sporting Clay Tournament

Pull for Heroes Tournament benefiting ArkLaTex 100 Club

The Ledwell team loves to rally around a good cause. One cause we support each year is the ArkLaTex 100 Club, a nonprofit organization that’s sole purpose is to benefit our local police and firefighters in Bowie and Miller Counties.

The goal of the Arklatex 100 Club is to raise funds for the dependents of our first responders lost in the line of duty.

The remaining funds will be used to purchase any unbudgeted but necessary life-saving equipment and additional training.

The club also provides local agencies grants for necessary life-saving equipment and training.

This includes a thermal imaging camera for the Pleasant Grove Volunteer Fire Department. A K9 officer for the Bowie County Sherrif and Texarkana, Texas Police Department.

In March, a team of employees participated in the ArkLaTex 100 Club’s annual Pull for Heroes Sporting Clay Tournament. Our team had fun participating and looks forward to the event again next year.

This fundraiser brings in $35,000+ annually – the one and only fundraising event the club has each year.

The funds raised from Pull for Heroes benefit multiple entities in Bowie and Miller Counties. As a result, grants are provided to purchase tactical/protective equipment, fund special training, and assist surviving dependents.

13 local entities in Bowie and Miller County benefitted from those funds. 

Learn more about this fantastic organization by following them on Facebook.

Pull for Heroes Tournament benefiting ArkLaTex 100 Club

First Response Team of America Responds to Natural Disasters

Ledwell Trailer loaded with First Response Team of America fleet equipment

In the face of devastating weather, communities unite, finding strength in support and assistance. When the worst strikes, the First Response Team of America emerges as a beacon of hope, dedicated to the task of rebuilding shattered lives and communities.

Their commitment knows no bounds as they meticulously track storm systems, anticipating their path and positioning themselves strategically to spring into action at a moment’s notice. With unwavering resolve, they work hand in hand with meteorologists and local authorities, ensuring a coordinated response that maximizes impact and efficiency.

Ledwell Trailer loaded with First Response Team of America fleet equipment

But their mission extends beyond mere response; it’s about restoration and renewal. In the aftermath of chaos, they bring much-needed aid, working tirelessly to pave the way for recovery and resilience.

At the heart of this remarkable effort lies individuals like their founder, Tad Agoglia, whose dedication and compassion inspire others to join in their noble cause.

Together, they embody the spirit of hope and resilience, proving that even in the darkest of times, there is light to guide the way forward.

Top 5 Tips on Telematics

The future is digital, and that includes how we keep track of equipment. Whether in the rental industry or construction, you want to know where your equipment is and how it’s performing. Rental Equipment Register put together a few industry experts’ tips on utilizing the most out of telematics and software.

What is telematics?

 

Telematics is a technology that monitors and gathers the logistics of a vehicle or an entire fleet. Telematics utilizes computer systems to collect data from various operation points, including location, driver behavior, fuel, and overall health.

 

Why should I consider using telematics?

 

There is always room for improvement, and we think these tips on telematics are just the way to help you do your job better. 

1: Make the right IT investment decision:

says Loren Carlson, operations manager, Star Rentals. “Once made, it is very costly to rectify,” Carlson says. “Make sure you have a clear understanding of the pain points of the current system, or lack of system. Establish a clear understanding of what you intend to improve, and how you will measure success. The best way to do this is to solicit input from every level and area of the company.” Once completed, this serves as the basis for evaluating IT options and helps to keep the evaluation discussion focused.

2: Create an implementation roadmap:

Once the IT decision is made, invest time in configuring it before it’s rolled out, to make the user interface as intuitive as possible, says Carlson. “It may be capable of great things, but if users struggle to adapt to it, your returns will be delayed while you waste time and energy pushing users to use it. The same applies with back-end system integration. Creating an implementation Roadmap ahead of time will ensure you realize the benefits as quickly as possible.”

3: Focus on impact, not just ROI:

As you evaluate IT options, think about who and what will benefit from technology first, says Martin Roath of ZTR Control Systems. “Some benefits will be easy to quantify, while others may be more financially intangible,” Roath says. “For example, technology benefits could affect culture or customer experience in undeniable ways that are difficult to measure in dollars.”

4: Consider application flexibility:

As time passes, requirements for IT can change so be sure to look for solutions that don’t limit your future, says Roath. “As you think about your people, processes, and other business systems, be sure to consider integration capabilities that connect your business systems together,” he says.

5: Develop a training support structure:

Make the structure accessible to everyone in the company. “This can be scaled to any size business, but the key is to have expert level assistance readily available,” Carlson says.

These five tips are just the beginning. Over two dozen experienced industry professionals helped put together 50 telematics tips. We hope these help your company become more effective. Learn how even the slightest change with telematics and software can make a world of difference.

Read about all 50 tips from Rental Equipment Register.

All’s fair in love and tours

Our community workforce is something Ledwell strives to inspire and build confidence in. That’s why we’ve kicked it up a notch with our community’s schools. During the last year, we traveled throughout the Ark-La-Tex area to attend local school career fairs. We’ve enjoyed educating students about one of the many vocational career opportunities that are available in the area.

We also increased tours of our plant for middle and high school students to explore the possibilities of manufacturing. Sometimes knowing your options is everything. These tours and fairs are opening minds to the idea of manufacturing as a career and the many skill sets within it that are needed. We want to help the next generation discover their love of manufacturing! To schedule your next school field trip with Ledwell, contact us to request a tour.

Ledwell offers school tours for local students
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