According to A.R.E., Inc., manufacturer of fiberglass truck caps and tonneau covers for pickup trucks, every fleet manager has probably wrestled with the question of whether it is more advantageous to maintain a fleet of service vans or a fleet of pickup trucks outfitted with truck caps. "There are a number of reasons why we believe a fleet made up of pickup trucks with caps versus commercial vans makes better economic sense for a business," said Todd Roberson, vice president of sales and marketing, A.R.E. "It all comes down to economics and practicality." Roberson cited a company study, which concluded that pickup trucks outfitted with A.R.E. Deluxe Commercial Unit truck caps cost approximately $3000 to $5000 less than comparable vans in the same weight class. In addition to the start-up cost, pickups also yield a much higher trade-in value, he added. "On a buy, that means less overall cost-per-vehicle, and on a lease it translates to lower payments overall," he said. "Plus, drivers surveyed said they preferred the safety, comfort and quiet ride of a pickup over a van." A.R.E. says it makes two products specifically aimed at commercial fleets: the Deluxe Fiberglass Unit (DCU), and the EZ3 tonneau cover. According to the company, the A.R.E. Deluxe Commercial Unit is made with fully welded aluminum frame construction. And with more than 200 options including a variety of door and window configurations, colors, toolboxes, custom ladder racks, interior fabric liners, side panels and overall cap heights, A.R.E. says it has a commercial cap to meet virtually any job need. The EZ3 tonneau with three fully waterproof doors, is the ideal truck cover for those who need clear rear visibility from the cab, as well as full access to the truck bed from both sides and the rear, says the company. A.R.E. says it is particularly popular among pest control professionals, public utilities, and telephone and computer installers for their service trucks. Both product lines can be painted to match the vehicle's factory paint. The DCU caps come with the company's one-year warranty on materials and workmanship. The EZ3 is backed by A.R.E.'s limited lifetime warranty, wherein A.R.E. warrants to the original purchaser all fiberglass lids and caps to be structurally free from defects in material and workmanship for as long as you own it. The painted finish of the fiberglass cap or lid also is covered under warranty against defects in workmanship and abnormal fading for as long as you own the product and the original truck. A.R.E. Inc. has been a manufacturer of fiberglass truck caps and hard tonneau covers for the past 32 years with more than 700 employees at its three manufacturing facilities, and a network of more than 500 independent authorized dealers in the U.S. and Canada. The company is ISO-9001:2000 certified at all three of its manufacturing facilities. For more information, call 800-649-4ARE, or visit www4are.com.