In Florida, the cost of termite damage can rival the cost of a strong hurricane: a billion dollars a year or more. Keeping the little pests under control is a full-time job for many in Florida, and some of the best use Mitsubishi Fuso trucks to help them stay on top of the problem.
The termite problem in Florida is severe. In fact, more than 20 percent of all termite damage in the U.S. happens in Florida.
To help combat the termite problem, Florida building regulations stipulate that builders must pre-treat the foundations at residential construction sites for termites and other pests before any other construction work can proceed. It is not surprising, then, that the pest control industry is big business in the state.
Unlike many other types of companies, pest control firms need vehicles customized especially for their business. Pest control vehicles must be easily maneuverable through construction sites and narrow residential streets, must be easily fitted with special equipment and industry-specific features. Mitsubishi Fuso’s medium-duty cabover designs have proven to be a popular choice in this market.
Diesel Specialists of Orlando is a Mitsubishi Fuso dealer that specializes in pest-control customers. Owner Marie Lovell helps customers select the best vehicle for the business, saying that FE145 automatics (14,500 lb. GVWR) and FE180s (17,995 lb. GVWR) are among the most popular choices. Once the buyer clinches the deal, Lovell helps coordinate delivery of the cab/chassis to a body company that will upfit the pest control tanks, pumps, spraying units and other tools.
In this business, the dealer can make all the difference. Several of Lovell’s customers say that it is the top quality service they receive that keeps them loyal to her and to Diesel Specialists. For her part, Lovell says she realizes that these businesses rely on their vehicles to keep up with a high level of demand and, therefore, she and her staff try to handle service calls as quickly as possible.
“We know that if they come to us for service, they can’t just go out and rent another truck to fill in, because of their customizations,” Lovell says, adding that service calls are usually turned around within one to two hours.
It is this exemplary service that has made Diligent Environmental Services a longtime Diesel Specialists customer. “We are in a ultra-competitive service-oriented business,” says Hu Montague, president. “When we get a call, we need to be on the job site within an hour.”
Diligent Environmental Services has a 23-truck fleet, staffed by a team of drivers who cover the entire state of Florida, logging an average of 1,000 miles a week on each truck. Soon, six new FE180s will join the 12 existing Mitsubishi Fuso trucks in his fleet.
While Montague also cites the fuel economy and reliability of the Mitsubishi Fuso vehicles in the company’s fleet, chief operating officer Jim Arnone points out another important factor: appearance.
Arnone says that while performance and reliability are the key factors in the company’s decision to add more Mitsubishi Fuso vehicles to the fleet, he is also a fan of the professional image they project. And while the pest control business might not necessarily be based on looks, Arnone says it’s important to be aware of the image a company projects. “We say that what looks good is good,” Arnone says. “We want our vehicles to project a positive image and reflect the high level of service that our company demands from our employees.”
Another Diesel Specialists customer, Kevin Citarella, owns and operates Nature Coast Environmental Services. Citarella started with one pickup truck in 1980, and now has a fleet of seven trucks, including a Mitsubishi Fuso four-cylinder turbo diesel FE-SP with a 14,500 lb. GVWR.
Citarella ended up discovering Mitsubishi Fuso trucks by accident — literally. When his only truck, a used Isuzu, was destroyed in an accident, he tried to find another used truck to replace it. Unable to do so, he eventually settled on a demo model Mitsubishi Fuso that he purchased through Diesel Specialists. He soon discovered that the truck was ideally suited for his business.
“I love the Mitsubishi, it’s hands-down the better truck,” Citarella says. “More feature comforts, a better design, a nicer ride, more standard features that would have been options on other trucks … AND priced comparably to other, similar trucks in its class.”
Citarella, whose business includes termite pre-treats as well as full-service pest control, has seven drivers who log between 30,000 and 40,000 miles a year on the typical truck. Daily maintenance is handled by an on-staff mechanic. Twice a year, he travels to Diesel Specialists for larger service calls.
“The service they provide is far superior to any service I’ve ever gotten from any other dealer. They know my market and help me get the best for my needs,” he says, adding that he often gets help from the dealer by phone on how to fix any minor problems, saving him an in-house service call.
Citarella, like Montague, says reliability is a big consideration for his fleet. But he also says that the smaller turning radius of the Mitsubishi Fuso is important for his business because he works primarily in residential areas with smaller streets. Instead of having to perform complex maneuvers just to turn around, he says, the Mitsubishi Fuso trucks are capable of an easy turn to get out of tight driveways. He also says they are durable, and can handle the heavy loads of chemicals with no problem.
“I recommend Mitsubishi Fuso vehicles to my peers – even competitors,” Citarella says. “If you are in a service industry, it is the best vehicle. You can adapt it in so many ways.”
Montague agrees: “I wouldn’t even look at another truck now.”
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