June 14, 2023
The fleet industry stares down at perhaps the biggest challenge it’s ever faced in the 21st century: electrification.
A trend that is rapidly spreading across the globe, and North America is beginning to witness the influx of electrified fleet upfit solutions from Europe. As these solutions make their way into the North American market, they hold the potential to revolutionize fleet operations by offering cleaner, more sustainable, and cost-effective alternatives to traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles.
It is a major transition. A transition which Ranger Design has been preparing for. From a legacy of innovation and one of the first-to-market breakthroughs in the EV space, the company seems to offer a unique combination of benefits that their customers simply can’t get elsewhere.
A Focus on Innovation
Ranger appears to be one of the first work vehicle upfitters to introduce lighter, strong aluminum products at a time when other players were using heavier, mileage-draining steel.
Ranger’s all-new composite aluminum shelving unit. Tough and lightweight.
Today, Ranger is taking the lead in the white-hot EV space with a line of innovative products and solutions that maximizes payload and extends range. This includes a first-of-its-kind no drill “E-Floor,” which keeps workers safe during installation, repair and maintenance. It’s also led to Ranger’s newest innovation – composite aluminum shelving units that are tough yet 30% lighter than its current steel lineup.
“Design is in our name, so everything we do, every person we hire, starts with a focus on innovation,” says Peter Young, VP of Business Development, who’s also Director of Strategy for the AFLA Board. “Our goal is to always move forward, always be first to market, and the only way to do that is to keep raising the bar on innovation.”
Fast Lead Times
“We know that customers are losing money, for every day they don’t have the products they need,” says CEO Ron Cowie. “That’s why we’re so committed to keeping our word when it comes to on time delivery.”
As proof, Ranger boasts a 98% on time delivery rate by positioning factories in key areas across North America. This strategically placed network allows the company to quickly react to customer needs no matter where they’re located. In addition, Ranger‘s “Quickship” service provides guaranteed 5-day shipping.
Putting Customers First
Because the Cowie brothers started out as upfitting customers themselves, providing a world-class customer experience is something the company takes seriously. So much so that it’s ingrained in every Ranger associate from their first day with the company, according to Ron Cowie, who started stacking boxes in Ranger’s warehouse as a teenager.
Ranger Design’s steel upfit features the popular black steel shelves and drill-free E-Floor. Other storage units include a locker, Partskeeper, bottle holder, aluminum workbench and a sliding-door partition.
Besides the guaranteed 5-day delivery, Ranger offers a 10-year warranty on most everything it sells.
Ranger prides itself by providing a dedicated account management team for every customer. Peter Young said the company has also spent the past three years curating a highly experienced sales and account team, yet another reason he believes Ranger’s customers are getting the best service in the industry.
For many years, Ranger has been busy preparing to “turbocharge” its EV efforts, especially as the company prepares to expand its upfitting capabilities with a brand-new operation set to open in North Charleston, SC, in July. The 62,000 square foot facility – Ranger’s first in the Southeast – is the company’s third expansion in 10 years and will allow its current distributor network to participate in local fleet projects while helping it better serve its North American Mercedes-Benz fleet.
“The world is changing faster than it ever has,” said Cowie. “We want the industry to know that we’re poised, ready and actively working to help our customers take advantage of those opportunities for years to come.”
