Family-owned Windsor, Wis.-based Neesvig's Food Service and its Milwaukee-based sister company, Empire Fish, provide top quality meats and seafood to restaurants, hotels, country clubs, hospitals, and universities across the Upper Midwest. A fleet of 15 leased Kenworth K270 and K370 Cabovers with refrigerated van bodies serves hundreds of customers, mostly in urban areas. 

"Drivers have as many as 25 or 35 stops a day," said Neesvig's Facility and Equipment Services Manager Mike Nasinnyk. "Delivery is often in an alleyway to a restaurant. Our drivers need good maneuverability and visibility to operate on narrow streets populated with cars, people and garbage dumpsters. Our trucks have to make really tight turns while getting in and out of tight places." 

The company updated its fleet to Kenworth in 2013, desiring more durable and cost-effective cabovers than the Class 5 trucks it used to own. During the vetting process, Neesvig's invited Kenworth, along with three other manufacturers, to compare features and benefits of each truck. "Wisconsin Kenworth - Windsor brought a K270 over to test drive," said Nasinnyk. "We fell in love with it right away. Everything we wanted - power, visibility, handling, tight turning radius - is in the K270. Drivers especially love the extra power and torque."

The trucks in Neesvig's previous fleet were a little undersized, said Nasinnyk. "With a heavy load, going up a hill, drivers had to do a lot of downshifting. We don't have that situation with the Kenworths. With plenty of power, drivers can do a lot of things quicker, faster and safer." A 6.7L PACCAR PX-6 engine with 250 hp and 660 lb.-ft. of torque powers all 15 Kenworth cabovers.

"Drivers love the creature comforts, too," said Nasinnyk. "The mirrors around the cab give drivers better visibility. Handling is superb. And of course things like the heated mirrors and air-conditioning make a big difference, especially for our longer haul drivers.

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