When work truck fleets talk of names like Sprinter, ProMaster, and Transit, the thoughts that come to mind are of work vans making deliveries or transporting tools, equipment, and more to job sites. However, with special upfitting, these workhorses can deliver something truly unique — mobility.

This week, the July 26 observance of National Disability Independence Day marks the 34th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

So, Work Truck talked with Master’s Transportation to explore how those same platforms that serve as work vans can be modified to provide mobility for individuals in wheelchairs. 

Master's Transportation is one of the nation's leading providers of rental, lease, and purchase of transportation vehicles and offers a full range of commercial vehicles, including shuttle buses and vans, school buses, multi-functional school and activity buses, motor coaches, and used commercial buses.

Among the commercial vehicles sold by Master’s, which has 12 locations across the nation, are some that are ADA-compliant for transporting passengers.

Master’s earlier this summer moved into a new 252,000-square-foot headquarters and production facility in Kansas City, Missouri. In terms of upfitting, the new building contains three production lines, which operate under Master’s Motors.

“We've got three lines where we can flex when we need to for more orders as we continue to get awarded more contracts and customer orders. We can customize the flexibility, like we can have all-passenger vehicles, or we can have the lift-equipped for ADA,” explained Amy McCall, director of new business for Master’s Transportation.

Significance of Providing Mobility

“Just because somebody is in a wheelchair doesn't mean they don't want to go places and do things,” McCall said. “This just really gives them the ability to continue to live and get out and do the things they enjoy.”

Many of Master’s customers, she explained, are departments of transportation, cities, colleges and universities, limo companies, assisted living facilities, and others.

“We sell lots of vehicles with lifts, and we sell other vehicles that we don't outfit ourselves, such as minivans and shuttle buses that have ramps and lifts that then allow people to still do the things that they want to do,” she added.

Upfitting to Provide Mobility

Master’s upfits two varieties of wheelchair lifts, either side-mounted or rear-mounted. The choice is made based on what a customer, or fleet, needs.

One advantage of a rear-lift upfit is that the side door of the van is left unblocked to allow easy access and egress for ambulatory passengers. Master’s can even install a bus-style entry where passengers can walk up steps to enter the van from the side. In that case, the wheelchair lift can only be installed on the rear.

The lifts tend to be available in up to 800-pound or up to 1,000-pound lifting capacity, and Master’s can upfit a wide range of different platform sizes. Lift manufacturers stipulate installation procedures to maintain a focus on safety.

“We adhere to all the best practices of the lift manufacturers,” McCall said of the installs.

Ensuring Wheelchair Passenger Safety

Equipping a van to be ADA-compliant requires more than just installing a system to lift a wheelchair-bound person into the vehicle.

Just as safety is a priority in work truck fleets, it is also important and required when transporting individuals in an ADA-equipped vehicle.

McCall said Master’s installs an aluminum modular floor system that allows customers to move seats around. 

“You can install seat bases for fixed seats, and you can also use that same track to attach wheelchair securements,” she explained.

After a wheelchair passenger enters a van via a lift, their wheelchair is secured to the floor by a clamp system that anchors into the L-track. However, safety is more involved than that.

First, of course, the OEMs have conducted safety and collision testing on the vans. However, beyond that, the floor and securing systems must also pass safety testing.

Plus, just as ambulatory passengers must wear seatbelts, so do those in wheelchairs. Master’s ADA-compliant vehicles provide lap belts for wheelchair passengers, plus a shoulder harness is secured to the side wall of the vehicle.

The final layer of ensuring safety is the driver. 

“When you have an ADA-accessible vehicle, the drivers are trained to get the passenger into the vehicle and get them secured,” McCall explained.

As Master’s Transportation continues to grow and add employees at its new location, the company said it will continue to strive to make a significant and positive impact in the transportation industry through a commitment to quality and safety and with a singular goal to “Move People Forward.”