Month: September 2021

Looking for safety tips, fleet information, or advice on how to operate your equipment? We’ve got you covered with ten pieces of key information for your bucket truck and fleet operations.

In this compilation of crucial industry info, you’ll find the answers to many questions, including – how to view fleet information, when to replace bucket truck parts and more.

Topics:

• Altec Aerial Platform Inspection – To Repair or Replace?
• Aerial Devices Best Practices
• View Invoices, Report Claims and More
• What Does an Altec Extended Warranty Plan Cover?
• Bucket Truck Parts: Is it Time for a Replacement?
• How to Find a Product Manual
• How a Load Monitoring System Can Help Aerial Device Operators and Fleet Managers Improve Performance
• 5 Steps Toward Becoming a Safer Bucket Truck or Digger Derrick Operator
• What is Physical Damage Insurance for Equipment, and How Does it Work?
• 4 Boom Tip Continuity Tips to Consider for Safer Live Line Work

 

Is it Time to Repair or Replace your Bucket Truck’s Platform?

Improper platform inspection and maintenance can put you and your crew at risk and could lead to serious injury. Inspecting the platform for wear and damage is an important step in the pre-operational check, and should be completed every shift.

Learn more about inspecting your aerial device when you read, Altec Aerial Platform Inspection – To Repair or Replace?

Best Practices for Operating Your Bucket Truck

OSHA and ANSI have established guidelines to decrease the risk of injury when using an aerial device; a link to the OSHA site is provided for current updated information.

For guidelines on how to avoid harmful risks in the working area, check out Aerial Devices Best Practices.

How to View Invoices, Report Claims and More

Save time managing your fleet by viewing invoices, report claims and other information online.

Learn how to see your equipment information by reading, View Invoices, Report Claims and More

Altec Extended Warranty Coverage Options

Because we know each customer has different needs and resources, Altec offers various extended warranty coverage options. From parts to travel and labor, our plans help each customer protect their equipment investment.

The Altec Extended Warranty plan protects an Altec-purchased vehicle for up to an additional four years beyond the end of the standard one-year Limited Warranty.

Learn more about this coverage option by reading, What Does an Altec Extended Warranty Plan Cover?

Figuring out When to Change out your Bucket Truck Parts

Operators should always be aware of any parts or components on their trucks that need to be replaced or repaired. Whether it’s due to weather, constant wear-and-tear from traveling on roads, or to various job sites, bucket trucks will require maintenance and replacement of parts during the vehicle’s lifespan.

Find out more at Bucket Truck Parts: Is it Time for a Replacement?

Find your Vehicle-specific Manual in Altec Connect 

Altec Connect can be used to view product manuals for any equipment you own or rent.

To learn how to find your vehicle-specific manual, check out How to Find a Product Manual.

Improve Performance with a Load Monitoring System

Whether you’re an operator or fleet manager, overseeing your aerial devices’ safe and efficient operation and maintenance can come with its fair share of challenges. Load monitoring is no exception.

Check out how using a quality load monitoring system can help avoid overload incidents, extend equipment life and more by reading, How a Load Monitoring System Can Help Aerial Device Operators and Fleet Managers Improve Performance.

Guidelines for Bucket Truck and Digger Derrick Safety

According to ANSI standards, being properly trained means you’ve had general training for a category of equipment, and you’ve been familiarized with the specific units you operate. General training and familiarization are the two major requirements for operator training.

Check out ANSI-recommended aerial device familiarization tips at 5 Steps Toward Becoming a Safer Bucket Truck or Digger Derrick Operator.

Why You Need Physical Damage Insurance

Physical damage insurance covers the cost to repair or replace equipment if there is damage to it through events such as a: Wreck, fire, flood, etc.

For more on how this type of insurance can help you and your business, check out What is Physical Damage Insurance for Equipment, and How Does it Work?

Understanding Safety When it Comes to Boom Tip Continuity

Understanding boom tip continuity is one of the most important safety considerations when performing live line work from an aerial device.

For safer work practices, check out 4 Boom Tip Continuity Tips to Consider for Safer Live Line Work.

Support from Start to Finish

At Altec, we pride ourselves on maintaining consistent relationships with our customers that continue beyond your initial purchase. From the day of your purchase through the life cycle of your equipment, Altec is here to support you every step of the way with service, financing, safety training, tools, parts, fleet management and more.

Are you interested in seeing what an Altec aerial device can do for your business? Call 800-958-2555 or contact an Altec representative online.

When asked what Altec value she relates to the most, Altec Associate Sarah Lubash points to financial stability.

“I don’t have that worry. I don’t live check to check. I’m lucky. I’m so grateful. Even on my worst days, I can always step back and say, ‘I wouldn’t trade this for the world,” Sarah said.

Sarah worked in the sign industry for almost 10 years doing graphics, design and fabrication work. She came to Altec because of the encouragement of a family member who was also an Altec associate.

“I got introduced to Altec because my brother-in-law actually worked at Altec for such a long period of time. He said that I could spread that knowledge to the finish section that I work in. It’s impacted me because I was able to take the knowledge that I had before I started working here to help me develop a niche here,” she said.

Sarah has now been at Altec Roanoke for five years and is the group lead over dress out, a section of finish near the end of a truck’s completion.

Since coming to Altec, she has been able to help her team members grow by sharing her skills and experience.

“Now that I’ve got people coming in and they’re under me, I’m able to take that knowledge that I’ve gained and help them learn how to do the same thing. It’s kind of nice to be able to feel like I’ve played a good part here.”

Her advice for those looking to work at Altec? Be willing to learn.

“You don’t need to have any former experience. You can learn everything that you need here. As long as you come here with the right attitude and a willingness to learn, then you can make it. Easy,” Sarah said.

Once associates get to Altec, she wants them to know they are more than just an employee, they belong.

“You’re not a zombie. You’re not just a number when you come here you are, I hate to sound cliché, but you’re part of the team,” she said.

In addition to encouraging both present and future Altec associates, Sarah says she enjoys seeing the products Altec makes out in the world.

“It’s nice to be able to see those trucks out there and see people actually using them,” she said.

Altec Careers

At Altec, we know if we put our minds and hearts and backs into something, we can do anything. We care about people. We look after each other.

And no matter where we go, across the nation or the globe, we know one thing holds true: our equipment, our services, and our solutions are used to advance our communities and improve other people’s lives.

Does a career at Altec seem like the right fit for you? If you’re interested in joining Team Altec, check out our current job openings here.

If you’re looking for a way to improve your cable installation process, Altec’s AT238P offers improved working height, side reach, controls, and an enhanced two-way communication system from the platform to the cab. The AT238P is a telescopic articulating non-insulating aerial device with a hydraulically extended boom and a platform capacity of 400 lbs.

Working Height & Side Reach

• Working height: 42.6ft
• Working height of 20ft at maximum side reach of 26.5 FT

The increased working height and side reach on the AT238P make this unit ideal for placing cable. In urban environments, operators can set up between two poles and reach both poles without moving the truck.

In rural areas where poles would typically require off-roading the vehicle, operators can easily leverage the increased side reach to easily get to the pole.

Controls

• 4-axis joystick
• AXIS Service Interface

The AT238P’s ergonomic joystick allows the AT238P to provide features like:

• Intuitive one-handed operation
• Improved multi-functioning controls

Operators can now boom up, extend, and rotate simultaneously, letting them get into position faster and maneuver the boom smoothly while the truck is driving.

Larger Platform

• Platform: 29” x 30”

The AT238P’s 5″ larger platform gives operators more room to store tools and more space to maneuver with tool belts while in the platform.

Operators have more room to perform routine tasks without having to put themselves in uncomfortable positions. They can quickly reach tools and parts inside the platform to perform cable placing operations while the truck is both stationary and moving.

For operators installing 5G or broadband, the additional height and side reach and increased platform capacity allow for better tool storage and more accessible operating capabilities.

Intercom System

• Smaller, more versatile installation options
• Enhanced audio, clear & crisp

The updated intercom system on the AT238P provides clear and crisp audio with an independent microphone and speaker.

Brad O’Rourke, a former ground crew member at CTS Communications, says the intercom system on the AT238P makes it easier to hear what the operator is saying when installing cable.

“Before, on past intercoms that I’ve used, it’s very difficult to understand exactly what the operator is saying and to be able to orient the vehicle to the position that he needs. But, with the new ones, I’m able to understand every word that he says, and I’m able to do my job better so he can do his job better,” O’Rourke said.

This updated communication system features:

• Microphone and volume control within reach of the operator
• Can mount speaker out of the way inside the cab

In addition to these features, the AT38P offers:

• Additional platform capacity of up to 400 lbs for personnel use
• Fork arms equipped with adjustable pinning positions for pulling eye/fairlead
• Newly designed pedestal that protects reservoir and DC pump

Overall, the AT38P can help your crew improve efficiency and safety on the jobsite.

Are you interested in seeing what the AT238P can do for your telecom business? Call 800-958-2555, or contact a local Altec representative online.