Built for the Field: Our Partnership with Summit Truck Bodies
Equipment uptime shapes how we run every job. When machines are running, projects move forward. When they go down, the ripple effects touch crews, schedules, and margins. That reality sits behind every decision we make about our service fleet, and it is the foundation of our partnership with Summit Truck Bodies, a relationship we have been building since 2016.
About Summit Truck Bodies
Summit Truck Bodies was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Wathena, Kansas. From their 132,000 square-foot production facility in the heart of the country, they serve contractors, equipment dealers, utilities, and other industries across North America with purpose-built service and lube truck bodies.
As a factory-direct manufacturer, Summit eliminates the middleman entirely, working with customers from initial concept through final delivery. That direct relationship keeps costs down and, more importantly, keeps the lines of communication clear throughout the build process. Their vertically integrated manufacturing approach means their craftsmen weld, paint, assemble, and test every body in-house, using state-of-the-art equipment and proven build practices. The result is a truck body engineered to hold up under years of real jobsite demand.
Summit's commitment to growth is visible in their recent expansion. In 2024, they announced a $50 million investment to construct a new 200,000 square-foot facility adjacent to their existing plant, along with dedicated office and showroom space. The project doubled their production capacity, a clear signal of where they are headed as demand for purpose-built service equipment continues to grow.
Safety is also a defining part of how Summit builds. Their Advanced Safety Electronics (ASE) control system represents some of the most advanced thinking in the industry, designed to reduce jobsite hazards and take the guesswork out of crane operations. From load monitoring to intuitive crane controls, every feature points toward one outcome: protecting the people using the equipment every day.
How Our Partnership Began
We first reached out to Summit in 2016. From that initial build, it became clear we had found a manufacturer who understood how construction fleets actually operate. The relationship took hold because Summit was willing to listen, ask the right questions, and deliver a truck built for real jobsite demands rather than a catalog specification.
Our first Summit truck, heading out to do a field repair.
Since then, Summit has built three trucks for our fleet. Each one has been shaped by direct input from our technicians and refined through hands-on field experience. We do not approach the spec process as a purchasing exercise. We work closely with Summit to translate what our crews encounter in the field into practical design decisions, and that collaboration has made every successive truck better than the one before it.
Working with Dave Thornberry, our Summit sales representative, has been central to how that process works. Dave's knowledge of custom service bodies runs deep, and his familiarity with our previous builds means nothing gets lost between projects. Communication stays tight, and our operational requirements get understood and executed the way we intend them. When you are building equipment that crews rely on every single day, that kind of continuity matters.
“Working with companies such as Lyons and Hohl helps provide valuable insight into how the product we’re quoting will be used in the field. Tyler Enck’s knowledge of build specifications and his keen attention to detail ensures that you receive the exact piece of equipment you requested.”
A Relationship Built on Collaboration
From Summit's perspective, what has set this partnership apart is the level of engagement our team brings to the build process. Our technicians understand exactly how our equipment needs to be serviced, fueled, and maintained, and that knowledge carries into every stage of the specification. Summit has noted that our input pushes them to think carefully about layouts, refine system placement, and make practical adjustments grounded in how the trucks actually get used in the field.
That back-and-forth creates an ongoing feedback loop between our team, Dave, and Summit's design and engineering staff. Ideas are exchanged openly, layouts are worked through in detail, and changes are made based on real operational experience rather than assumptions. The focus stays on building trucks that perform the way our crews need them to, day in and day out.
Summit's buying process supports that collaboration at every step. Using state-of-the-art 3D design software, their team works through as many revisions as needed until the specification is exactly right. We receive detailed 3D and 2D approval drawings before production begins, so there are no surprises when the finished truck arrives. Customization at Summit is built on a foundation of durability. Each truck is tailored to specific operational needs while proven materials, engineering standards, and build practices remain consistent across every build.
“Feedback is expected, ideas are exchanged openly, and the focus remains on building trucks that work the way their crews need them to, day in and day out.”
In 2021 we purchased our second service truck from Summit.
Our third Summit service truck came in 2022
Learning from Every Build
Every truck Summit has built for us has informed the next. Our fleet includes service trucks equipped with cranes and air compressors for equipment repair, alongside fuel and lube trucks built for preventive maintenance and refueling. Each type has evolved over time as our crews brought real-world feedback back into the specification process.
Our previous Summit fuel and lube truck performed well, and Summit builds are engineered to last. Their proven body mount system ensures rigidity, strength, and safety, and it is one of the reasons many Summit customers have transferred their bodies from chassis to chassis rather than replace them. Durability is built in from the start, not added on top of the design.
That said, field experience surfaces things that no design review fully anticipates. The limitation we kept running into was compartment space. A crowded workspace on a fuel and lube truck costs time at every single service stop, and on a job that involves dozens of stops per shift, that adds up quickly. Addressing that was the primary driver going into the specification for this new build.
The New Fuel and Lube Truck: Built for Efficiency and Uptime
This truck will play a significant role in keeping our operation running smoothly day to day. We complete all preventive maintenance in-house, and while our other technicians are capable of performing PMs, the operator of this truck handles the majority of that work during third shift while also fueling equipment. Our crews arrive each morning to machines that are already serviced and ready to run, without any production time lost to mid-shift service windows.
Keeping fueling and maintenance outside of active work hours is fundamental to how we operate. Pulling machines from production for routine service creates inefficiencies that compound across the job and the day. By completing that work off-shift, we keep projects moving and make full use of every hour in the field.
The fluid configuration on this truck is built for comprehensive, high-volume field maintenance. With four new-product delivery systems in 90-gallon tanks, a 200-gallon waste oil evacuation system, a 220-gallon DEF system, and a 90-gallon antifreeze delivery system, our operator can complete a full preventive maintenance cycle without leaving the job site.
The truck is also designed around the reality of off-shift work. Extensive compartment and jobsite lighting allows maintenance to be completed after hours safely and efficiently, ensuring equipment is ready when crews arrive the next morning.
Key Improvements That Make a Difference
The combination of the new chassis and the Summit body represents a significant upgrade in how fueling and preventive maintenance get handled. The chassis brings better power and improved operator comfort compared to what we were running before, which matters for someone working a full night shift every night.
On the body side, several upgrades address the specific workflow limitations we identified in the previous truck:
• Electric retract hose reels for fuel and DEF eliminate manual winding and reduce physical strain on the operator across a long shift.
• A dedicated heated and washable DEF compartment protects the system through cold weather and makes cleanup straightforward.
• Larger compartments with pull-out trays replace the cramped layout that had been slowing our operator down, giving everything a clear and accessible place.
These are the kinds of details that get used hundreds of times per shift. The improvement in each individual interaction is small, but across a full night of work and years of service, they add up to a meaningfully better operation.
How Our Fleet Works Together
The fuel and lube truck operates alongside our service trucks, which are equipped with cranes and air compressors for equipment repair. The two types work together through direct coordination between our teams. When a service truck completes a repair on a machine that is already within its service interval, that technician handles the PM on the spot. We do not wait for a separate lube truck visit. That flexibility keeps the maintenance program running efficiently and helps us avoid unnecessary downtime regardless of how the day unfolds.
Across our Site and Paving divisions, we run more than 100 pieces of heavy equipment, ranging from Caterpillar D8 dozers to CAT 259 compact track loaders. More than 80 percent of our fleet is Caterpillar, a deliberate decision that pays dividends in parts standardization, technician training, and a shared understanding of how the machines are engineered and operate. All of that makes the job of keeping equipment running more efficient at every level.
Built for Durability, Not Just Customization
Many of the most important details in a Summit truck are not immediately visible. Structural design, system routing, compartment fitment, and material quality all determine how a truck performs over years of demanding use. Summit's body mount system is built for rigidity, strength, and long-term safety, and the durability of their bodies is one of the reasons customers regularly transfer them from chassis to chassis rather than spec a replacement.
From chassis selection through body design, Summit's sales and engineering teams work through as many revisions as needed until the specification is exactly right. Once a truck enters production, it is held to the same exacting standards as every other build in the shop. There are no shortcuts and no compressed timelines. The quality of materials used throughout plays a significant role in long-term performance, even when those details are not visible at first glance.
“Much of the craftsmanship in a Summit service body isn’t immediately visible. Structural details, system routing, compartment fitment, and overall build precision are all designed to withstand years of real-world use. These details may not stand out visually, but they are what allow the truck to perform reliably day after day in demanding environments. ”
Why We Keep Coming Back to Summit
Summit's ability to customize each build, paired with their communication, customer service, and overall product quality, is what keeps us coming back. Having run multiple Summit-built trucks, we have the track record to make that investment with confidence.
Summit's perspective on long-term partnerships like ours is straightforward: when a customer returns for multiple builds over many years, it reflects trust in the process and alignment between what the customer needs and what the manufacturer delivers. That trust is earned through consistency and follow-through on every single truck, and Summit has been clear that they do not take it for granted.
Summit's support also extends well past the point of delivery. Their factory-direct parts and technical support departments are available 24/7. When a question or issue comes up, we are dealing directly with the people who designed and built the truck. That means faster answers and more accurate solutions, which matters when a truck has a job to do every night.
“When a customer returns for multiple builds, it speaks volumes. It reflects trust in Summit’s process, confidence in the product’s quality, and alignment between the customer’s needs and Summit’s ability to deliver. Repeat business isn’t taken for granted. It’s earned through consistency and follow-through”
Featured at CONEXPO 2025
Before this truck came to work for us, Summit asked whether we would allow it to be displayed at CONEXPO 2025, the largest construction trade show in North America. We were not immediately certain. Any delay in delivery is a delay we feel in the operation. The timeline turned out to be manageable, and the opportunity to have our truck on display at that scale was one worth taking.
We sent a group of our people to Las Vegas to see the truck unveiled and take in the show. We have seen firsthand how much value comes from engaging with the broader industry, and CONEXPO is the best venue in the business for that. We are proud of what this partnership with Summit represents, and our hope is that other contractors who saw the truck come away with a clearer picture of how purpose-built service equipment supports uptime, efficiency, and the people relying on it every day.
Looking Ahead
The truck is now in service, and the measure of success is straightforward: consistent nightly fueling and scheduled preventive maintenance, completed reliably and without disruption to the operation. Having the truck configured exactly as designed, and knowing we can depend on it shift after shift, is already making a difference in how our equipment and crews perform across every project.
A successful day is one where our crews arrive to equipment that is performing the way it should. When that happens consistently, it reflects well on the service and maintenance teams and lets everyone stay focused on the work in front of them.
As construction equipment grows more complex and uptime demands continue to rise, Summit is expanding to meet that moment. Their $50 million facility investment demonstrates a commitment to staying ahead of industry needs while holding to the quality and customization standards that have defined their reputation. For us, this latest truck is another step forward in a partnership we expect to keep building on for years to come.
About Lyons & Hohl: Lyons & Hohl began in 1978 as a utility contractor focused on installing sewer laterals. Over the years, we've grown into a full-service site contracting and paving company serving the southeastern Pennsylvania market. Today, our crews handle everything from bulk site excavation and underground utilities to roadway grading and asphalt paving. No matter the scope of the work, we take a great deal of pride in our people and in doing the job the right way every day.
About Summit Truck Bodies: Founded in 2003 and based in Wathena, Kansas, Summit Truck Bodies is a leader in custom service and lube truck body manufacturing. Operating from a 132,000 square-foot facility (with a major expansion underway), Summit delivers factory-direct, purpose-built solutions to contractors, equipment dealers, and other industries across North America. Their commitment to customization, quality, and safety, backed by 24/7 customer support, has made them a trusted partner for companies that demand reliability in the field.