We’ve had of people download our Ottawa Kalmer Users Guide lately- have you?

Ottawa-Kalmar-Users-GuideAbout a year ago, we introduced a free guide on our website called the Ottawa/Kalmar User Guide. You can download it for free here.

This guide has been a popular download over the last year, but for some reason, it’s been really popular this winter. We’ve had several folks download it recently, and we wanted to give you a chance to do the same.

In the guide you’ll get three forms:

  • A pre operation safety checklist
  • A pre operation inspection list
  • An operator evaluation form

If you’re a safety manager, general manager, facilities manager, or owner of a distribution center, then this guide is for you. It will help you understand how Ottawa Terminal Tractors (aka yard dogs) can make your business more efficient and safer. We’re certain those are two hot buttons for many of you. This is a great conversation starter, if you’re just beginning to research Terminal Tractors. Take a few seconds and get your copy today!

With our leasing customers, and those who choose to purchase an Ottawa/Kalmar Truck from us, our sales manager Chris Troutt typically does an onsite training. In the future we may try and share a video from one of our sessions. With the permission of our customer of course.

If you’re beyond the research stage, the next step is usually an onsite demonstration of an Ottawa Truck. There’s no obligation.

P.S. In other news be on the lookout for our first ever Louisville Switching newsletter in February.

Winter, snow, and ice are approaching the Louisville area…be prepared

Last winter, Louisville Switching completed installation of our very first ice chain system. This installation was performed on a fire truck that operates in a rural part of Kentucky. The fire station needed the truck to be able to maneuver safely and quickly in almost any weather condition, especially snow and ice.

Check out videos from the instillation here.

Although it’s only October, you know as well as I do that the weather in our area can be very unpredictable. It can snow in March and be 80 degrees in November. However, as you’re also probably aware, it’s better to be prepared for the worst around here. Especially if you operate an emergency vehicle or other service vehicle, you need to make sure that you’ll be able to get where you need to go, no matter what the weather conditions are like.

Automatic ice chains are truly a time, money, and life saver because they allow large trucks to maneuver through snow and icy roads safely.

Here are just some of the key features and benefits of automatic ice chains:

  • Fit 1/2 ton trucks and up to class 8 trucks
  • Operate in forward and reverse with increasing traction during acceleration and deceleration
  • Far outlasts conventional chains because you only use them when you need them
  • They turn on at the flip of a switch
  • Spark resistant chains are available for gasoline and propane delivery trucks
  • They are D.O.T. accepted—applies to all states with chain laws
  • Reduces risks, incidents, and costs

Ice chains are ideal for: school buses, ambulances, fire trucks, semi trucks, tour buses, transportation buses, garbage and waste trucks, snow plows, utility vehicles, and even personal pick-up trucks.

You can use our simple online form to request more information about installing automatic ice chains for your vehicle.

Robinson Cartage, A Division of Louisville Switching

Robinson-Cartage, a division of Louisville SwitchingLouisville Switching offers many services beyond refurbishments, rebuilds, and new sales of Ottawa/Kalmar trucks. In fact, our cartage business, Robinson Cartage, is a division of Louisville Switching and offers many benefits and services to our customers.

Robinson Cartage started with the Greater Louisville area cartage authority. Our cartage services have grown to include customized cartage services for our customers. Years ago, authorities to perform trucking services could be purchased incrementally. The last authority that you could get would be for a metropolitan area. “Issuing authorities” was handled by the government, so you can imagine how smooth, convenient, and logical that process was. I don’t think that you can even get a metropolitan authority anymore.

Needless to say, our cartage services have grown over the years to include customized cartage services for our customers.

This service is great for short runs, especially if you need to move large equipment like backhoes, bulldozers, and similar equipment across town. Or, if your equipment suddenly breaks down and you need it transported somewhere for service, we can help with that as well. Steve, our dedicated driver, is an experienced professional when it comes to hauling equipment.

Check out some of the other out-of-the-box services we offer and contact us if our cartage services could be of service to you.

Louisville Switching welcomes aboard two new team members

Louisville Switching would like to officially welcome aboard two of our newest team members: Bill McCloskey and Patrick Crowe.

Bill is our newest Mechanic Specialist and Patrick is the Mechanic Helper. Both have several years’ experience in the trucking and transportation industries.

Bill McCloskeyBill has accumulated 24 years in the transportation industry. Driving trucks and working on trucks has been his life’s work as an adult. He really enjoys this business. Some of that time was spent living in Texas. He is currently living in Southern Indiana. It is believed that if we were to look in his closet we would find a nice selection of cowboy boots. His two children occupy much of his time at home. He also enjoys hunting and fishing.

 

 

Patrick CrowePatrick is a native of Hardin County in Kentucky. He still resides there. He grew up working on trucks belonging to his family’s paving business. He has also worked in an automotive service facility. He is one of those individuals that his passion is his work. He has 10 years of experience in the transportation industry. Three children (including a set of twin boys) occupy much of his time at home. He also enjoys hunting and fishing.

 

 

You can learn more about Louisville Switching’s staff by checking out the bios here.

Louisville Switching Travels South

Louisville Switching's visit to AlabamaLast week, Chris and I spent most of the week in Alabama. We went there to help get a new operation started with some of our trucks that were delivered on Wednesday morning. We also visited some of our current customers while we were there.

We always love to visit in that area. The people are very nice and friendly, the food is always wonderful, and we almost always find some time to get a round or two of golf into our schedule.

Our trips to Alabama are always a combination of business and pleasure. Chris and I are always glad to visit with our customers or others in this industry to offer our knowledge and build relationships.

How good it is to have a career that we can offer helpful solutions to peoples needs and have fun at the same time? We love what we do.

Wrecked truck rebuilt and restored by Louisville Switching

We wanted to share some before and after pictures of a rebuild we recently completed. This unit had been wrecked and was in pretty bad shape.

Specifically, the truck suffered damage to the cab, the sliding rear door, the hand rail, the battery box, and the trailer stop. The back of the cab was damaged by the front of a trailer. The cab was thought by some to be in need of complete replacement.

We chose the repair route for our customer instead and managed to return the truck to our customer in nearly new condition at quite a cost savings. Our customer was pleased and we had a chance to showcase the talents of our repair technicians.

If you’ve experienced a similar situation, please give us a call at 502.935.5838 or contact us through our website. We can talk about your specific situation and decide on the most cost-effective way to fix the problem.

Maxxima LED lighting

Maxxima LogoLouisville Switching has recently became a distributor for Maxxima LED vehicle lighting products. Maxxima is a division of the Panor Corporation and is headquartered in Hauppauge, Ny. LED lamps offer extended life (100,000 hours), energy-saving characteristics, and intense glow.

These features, coupled with Maxxima’s specially-formulated proprietary lens designs, have provided some of the most exciting new products in the industry. Maxxima offers a 10-year limited warranty on their sealed LED lamps.

We carry a good selection of LED stop/turn/tail lights, LED work lights, compartment and dome lights, warning, and marker lights.

We’re really excited about being a Maxxima distributor and being able to offer even more products to customers and potential customers. If you want to learn more about these products, please contact us today. We can answer any questions you have and hopefully fulfill any LED vehicle lighting needs.

Our deepest sympathy to the family of Jearl Eckart Jr.

Sympthy to the family of Jearl Eckart JrLouisville Switching has lost a member of its family recently.

Retired employee Jearl Louis Eckart Jr., passed away on Friday, May 27, 2011. We would like to take a minute to send our deepest condolences to Jearl’s family.

Jearl worked as a mechanic at Louisville Switching for 19 years. Jearl was one of the most creative mechanics I have ever seen. He could receive a call out in the middle of the night and he could get the truck back up and running regardless of what the problem was. He could just about fix anything with nothing. We have shared many laughs with Jearl about being able to make emergency repairs with wire and a piece of wood. He did his work prior to the day of big service trucks with many Ottawa parts on board. He was a craftsman and he was my friend. I respected him immensely. He will be missed by all of us at Louisville Switching.

All the details can be found here in the obituary.

Need a truck part?

Louisville Switching truck partsMost people know of Louisville Switching Truck Sales as an Ottawa/Kalmar truck dealership. That’s true, of course, but guess what else? We also have an inventory with thousands of truck parts in stock at our Louisville plant and can ship parts out all around the country and even over seas. We once shipped parts to the Azore Islands and have shipped parts a number of times to several different Caribbean Countries.

Over the next few months, we’re going to spotlight some of the different dealerships we represent. We think it’s important to get the word out that we can supply parts for any number of manufacturers including Cummins Engines, Weller Reman, Jasper Engines, Interstate Batteries, Insta-Chain, and Authorized Transmission Remanufacturing, Inc. Although Ottawa may always be our pride and joy, we do offer a diversity of products and services for the commercial truck fleet. Keep us in mind. Our mobile service abilities are a nice complement to our parts business. They often go hand in hand.

We’re also exploring additional opportunities for new dealerships in order to broaden the scope of what we can offer to customers and potential customers. Although we work with several manufacturers now, we are focused on growth and meeting our customers needs. You’ll be the first to know when we add a new dealership.

For now, if you need to order a truck part, you can do so by filling out our online ordering form or calling our office at 502.935.5838. Connie or Butch would be glad to help answer your questions and get you the right part for your needs.

Prefer to preserve your cash and still have a practically new Kalmar/Ottawa Truck—take the refurbished route

We all know the economy has been tough the last several years. Are we turning the corner? Your guess is as good as ours. So in our mind, it’s still a great time to buy used and to refurbish. Or why not let us re-power and refurbish your existing truck. Are the frame and cab good? If you’re thinking about going that route, it’s one of our specialties. It’s in our bailiwick as they say. Our sweet spot. It’s almost our favorite thing to do, besides play golf.

There are many benefits to working with Louisville Switching Truck Sales to acquire or refurbish a used Ottawa. We’ve listed a few below:

  • We have a constant stream of incoming used trucks.
  • We know where to find used trucks.
  • We have a loyal customer base that looks to us to sell and service their used trucks.
  • We keep a constant watch for used trucks.
  • Working with us to buy or lease a refurbished Ottawa saves money up front.
  • Working with us to refurbish a used Ottawa terminal tractor allows you to avoid some of the regulations that are required for a new engine and truck.

We recently finished a refurbishment of an Ottawa, and we have provided some before and after pictures below.

Dead set on a new unit? We can sell those too.

Louisville Switching before picture Louisville Switching before picture

Louisville switching after picture Louisville Switching after picture