Spartan Fleet Vehicles and Services, a business unit of Spartan Motors, Inc. which also encompasses the Utilimaster brand, launched its Spartan Upfit Services, a modernized fleet upfit assembly operation opening in a new 146,000 square-foot facility, located in Kansas City, Missouri.

The facility will be dedicated exclusively to providing tailored upfits of cargo vans and other fleet vehicles. Spartan Upfit Services streamlines the fleet customization process for vehicles like the Ford Transit. Located adjacent to Ford's Kansas City-based Transit manufacturing facility, Spartan Upfit Services customers benefit from Ford's "Ship-Thru" program, which delivers the vehicle to the customer's dealership of choice.

"Our Utilimaster brand has a long history of designing and building solutions for virtually every kind of fleet delivery and service business, including some of the largest fleet brands in the world," said Daryl Adams, President & CEO of Spartan Motors. "Spartan Upfit Services is born from that pedigree, and we believe the insight we've garnered over the years will benefit all fleets, specifically those using cargo vans. We will add value through a single point of release, one-time freight expense, and custom designs that meet the precise needs of individual fleet managers."

According to company officials, Spartan Upfit Services will focus on upfitting cargo van fleets, including those serving the utility, telecom, health care, construction, food and beverage, and parcel delivery markets.

"Our team has conducted hundreds of ride-alongs in the field with drivers from all types of vocations in an effort to better understand the unique challenges they face," said John Forbes, President of Spartan Fleet Vehicles and Services. "This understanding has driven the Spartan Upfit Services design process and has resulted in our ability to provide informed base upfit packages and specialty options that not only do the job, but do it in the most efficient and effective way possible."