Exclusive Online Coverage: Notable Entries

This coverage is in addition to the Tops in Trucks report that appears in the June 2010 issue of HVACR Business.

Green Machines
This year, Tops in Trucks received more green-themed entries than any other year. Of course, this reflects the trend in our industry to emphasize how using energy-saving equipment and keeping that equipment properly serviced will reduce energy consumption and carbon impacts.

Here’s a sampling of some these “green” machines and what their contractors have to say about them:

Walton & Company
York, PA
130 vehicles

The trucks actually say, “Walton & Company is Going Green” and portray three different types of plants as well as the filter products the company installs.

“We have chosen to go green with our preventive-maintenance materials, thus protecting the environment and our technicians,” explained Bill Vervaeke, Building Services Manager. “We service large facilities such as Alcoa, Glatfelter Paper, Comcast, Becton Dickenson, the U.S. Army and many more large-scale companies.”

Logan Heating and Air Inc.
Winston-Salem, N.C.
34 vehicles

Logan touts the ability of its geothermal systems to “reduce your carbon footprint” right on its vans.

“We have people approach our drivers in parking lots, restaurants, gas stations, and elsewhere to inquire about our geothermal systems,” said company spokesman Scott Boyles. “We’ll be sitting in a restaurant having lunch, and we’ll see people walk to our vans and study the ad. We are getting great feedback from our customers (new and repeat) with our green concept.”

Evergreen Home Heating & Air
Seattle, WA
7 vehicles

Evergreen gives a straightforward message about its commitment to environmentalism with the most ubiquitous “green” symbol around — the recycle triangle.

“In the Seattle market, being environmentally conscious is a must,” said marketing manager Jamey Stephens. “We used our new logo, which incorporates the recycle symbol, to reinforce the ideals we stand for: energy efficiency, environmental consciousness, and green solutions.”

GreenHomes America
Irvine, CA
50 vehicles

GreenHomes America itself is part of the green push in HVACR. The company falls under the growing field of Home Performance Contracting, which views a home as a singular energy-consuming unit and seeks to maximize energy efficiency through a total-systems approach.

“The bold green color is probably what makes our trucks stand out on the road,” said Tracy Freed, a company spokeswoman. “With the wraps, our fleet — and our company — appear innovative, focused on quality, eco-friendly, and fun. People remember our name and our brand.”

Mix ’N Match

Branding experts might balk at the philosophy of Blanchard’s Refrigeration in Houma, LA, but the company says its fleet of variously designed trucks gets attention. Each of the company’s seven trucks has a unique design.

“They definitely turn heads, and customers remember the name on the trucks,” said James Nelton of Blanchard’s. “We took bits and pieces from different online artwork, and with the help of our wrap company, we came up with some pretty cool designs.”

As for the “consistency” mantra in branding, Blanchard’s just doesn’t see it in their market.

“Everyone thus far likes them, and they are always asking who does our artwork and wraps,” Nelton said.

Face Time

Our judges noticed that many HVACR contractors include people in their fleet designs. Sometimes it’s the owner(s) of the company. Sometimes it’s a cartoon character. And sometimes it’s a family or kids with that generic happy look. Here’s a sampling of some of the more interesting images of people and why contractors use them on their trucks.

Jupiter-Tequesta Air Conditioning and Heating Inc.
Tampa, FL
12 vehicles

Jupiter-Tequesta says that “we saw your truck” is one of the top reasons people call the company. The fleet portrays cartoon images of the company’s two owners, which the company says customers “love.” Although, notes the Tops in Trucks application, most people think the two men are brothers, instead of father and son.

Hobaica Services Inc.
Phoenix, AZ
30 vehicles

Hobaica Services Inc. was going for a “friendly, personal-relationship look” when it incorporated photos of its owners into the company’s fleet design. The company says that a common comment regarding its fleet is that there must be a lot of vehicles because “I see your picture two times a day!”

 

Jansen’s Heating & Air
Effingham, IL
12 vehicles

Is there a doctor in the house? There is if you hire Jansen’s Heating & Air. The company has the image of its imaginary mascot, Dr. Comfort, on its trucks. The company says customers always react positively to seeing the doctor (unlike a real doctor), and in fact, the company owner dresses as Dr. Comfort when attending home shows and other events.

 

Cook Heating & Air
Crawfordsville, IN 47933
6 vehicles

Cook Heating & Air uses the classic “happy family” motif to convey the message that comfortable homes make for happy families. Interestingly, Cook relied on input from Nexstar marketing coaches as well as its on-staff designers and a marketing firm to come up with this design. Seeking outside input is a great idea for deciding on a new fleet design.