Nobody ever wakes up in the morning thinking they'll be in an auto accident. It's not something most people plan for or even think about until it happens. The statistics are in your favor that it won't happen, but what if it does? And even if you’re not in an accident, most veteran dealers have had to deal with mechanical breakdowns. Usually that will only have you down for a few days, but what happens when a few days stretch to a few months? Every distributor should have a plan 'B' in case something happens that prevents you from using your typical mobile showroom.

Creating your plan 'B’

Recently, I had not one, but two of my closest friends, Jay Hashagen and Elias Valdovinos, involved in accidents by motorists who simply were not paying attention to their driving. Along with those accidents, a third close friend, Sean Fenton, was without his truck the entirety of November and December. He had a failure of the third member in the rear end of his truck. Luckily, his truck was under warranty, but the parts were on an extended backorder.

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The first accident was a total loss for Hashagen. His truck was only 14 months old when a driver blew a stop sign and hit him head-on. It moved the front frame rails over 14”. He was lucky that he was able to walk away from the crash. The collision happened in the afternoon, and it was late by the time Hashagen got home. He immediately got on ToolTrucks.com to see if he could possibly find an older, inexpensive truck to use as a bridge until he could get a new truck built. He found a used 20’ M2 for $20,000 in Atlanta — he lives in Washington state.

The next morning, his district manager called to let him know he had just talked to a dealer in his district, who was leaving the business. The exiting dealer agreed to rent his truck to Hashagen while he was waiting for a new one. Hashagen immediately called Tim Herr of Herr Display Vans, the maker of his previous truck, and explained his situation. When he asked Herr how long it would take to build an identical truck to the one he just had built, Herr’s answer was, “As soon as possible.” The accident happened June 18 of 2025; Hashagen took delivery of his new, replacement tool truck on August 8.

I applaud Herr and his crew for putting a 911 on a replacement build for Hashagen. It was an enormous amount of work for Hashagen unloading and re-merchandising three tool trucks, one right after another. Even though his truck was totaled, he only missed two days on his route. His customers never experienced a lapse of service.

Ask for help

Valdovinos was on his way home after a long day. He had his cruise control set at 55 mph on a two-lane rural road. A distracted driver came up behind him, hitting the back of the truck. Valdovinos was unhurt, but the lift gate on his truck was left inoperable. One thing I found over the years, if you're a dealer who provides exceptional service, when you’re in need of repairs, shops will go completely out of their way to help you. Valdovinos called a body shop owner that night and explained what had happened. They had him come in at 6:00 AM the next morning, and the entire crew worked to straighten the lift gate frame enough to enable the lift gate to function.

The body shop ordered new framework for the lift gate, and the following weekend the entire crew came in and worked all day Saturday to repair the truck. They all agreed to work their day off and worked on Saturday so Elias wouldn't miss a day on his route. That's called earned respect.

Utilize what’s at your disposal

Fenton's mechanical breakdown over November and December was frustrating. His truck was under warranty, but the warranty isn't of much use if the parts aren't available. Fenton ended up using a neighboring dealer, Jason Neil's, enclosed trailer. Though Neil had his trailer set up to haul toolboxes, Fenton has nearly 30 years of experience, so he knew which items to make a priority and stocked the trailer accordingly. While many dealers complain about business during the holidays, Fenton has made sure to turn his tool truck into a store where even Santa shops. It's how he finishes every year phenomenally. Even with his truck down, Fenton went on to finish second in the nation with his flag.

Maintain contact with customers

The only way to recover from an accident or prolonged breakdown is to continue maintaining weekly customer contact and service. Hashagen was fortunate to find an idle tool truck in his district. Before he realized the truck was available, he was planning on traveling all the way across the county to buy a used $20,000 truck and drive back home to Washington. In other words, the accident wasn't going to stop him from taking care of his customers.

Although the odds are in your favor of not being in an accident, it's not uncommon to have a mechanical issue with your truck. That's the reason every flag must approve a used truck for a new dealer. They all have a requirement regarding the age and miles on used trucks. I've always advised dealers to purchase an enclosed trailer, set up with carpeted bunks and e-tract for hauling toolboxes. It's a great way to deliver or pick up new or used toolboxes without having to unload display toolboxes to make room on your truck. An enclosed trailer ensures you'll always have a plan “B” should your tool truck require body or mechanical repairs.

Check your insurance coverage

Make it a priority to contact your agent and find out exactly what your insurance covers. Do you advise your agent of the dollar amount of your inventory as you grow your inventory? Do you have enough coverage to replace your truck and inventory? Do you have coverage for loss of income? If you're injured in an accident, will your insurance take care of your medical costs?

If you’re self-employed, you need to have safeguards in place whether it's through your vehicle insurance or a separate disability policy. The mobile tool industry has its own unique insurance needs, and your recovery from an accident might hinge on the coverage you have. You have to be proactive. The time to find out what your tool truck insurance covers isn't after a collision.