Our company’s new Isuzu cab-over spray truck from Sprayer Direct USA has made a significant impact on the efficiency and production capabilities of our plant-health-care (PHC) department. From the first time we saw the completed truck, our reaction was simply, “Wow!” The combination of its sleek appearance, thoughtful design and overall functionality has made it an excellent addition to our operation.

Function in every detail

Hunter Townsend of Altitude Arborist and Mark Schneider of Sprayer Direct USA review the completed PHC spray truck during customer pickup. The custom build was designed around Altitude Arborist’s treatment programs and workflow, from tank capacities and plumbing configuration to pump systems and hose-reel capacity. All photos courtesy of Bryan Flannigan.

One of the biggest advantages of this truck is its capacity and flexibility. It features five tanks: a 500-gallon freshwater tank and four mixing tanks with capacities of 250, 100, 50 and 30 gallons. With a total capacity of 930 gallons, this truck holds 500 gallons more water than our previous spray truck. The ability to transfer water from the freshwater tank into the mixing tanks, either individually or simultaneously, makes preparing applications much easier. Having multiple mixing tanks also allows us to mix and hold several different treatments at once, which has dramatically improved our ability to move efficiently from one application to the next.

The truck’s design is particularly impressive, because the tanks are built directly into the truck rather than using prefabricated tanks inside one large cabinet. This allows for more liquid capacity with less unnecessary weight, helping maximize what the chassis can safely carry. It also creates natural separation between the different compartments for products, personal protective equipment (PPE), motors and hose reels. This organization, combined with the large catwalk, gives technicians excellent access to the upper tanks and equipment.

The truck is designed with the technician in mind. One of our favorite features is the access to the product cabinet from the catwalk. Instead of repeatedly climbing up and down the ladder or reaching overhead for pesticide and fertilizer products, technicians can safely access products directly from the catwalk, measure them and add them to the appropriate mixing tank. The truck also includes a built-in hand-washing station that is intentionally separated from the product tanks, making it immediately recognizable and reducing the chance of confusion. Having a dedicated hand-washing station also eliminates the need to haul a separate, portable container.

Another thoughtful feature is the door incorporated into the catwalk area. Besides providing additional space for branding on the truck wrap, the enclosed area can accommodate a small cassette toilet, giving technicians privacy when a restroom isn’t readily available. It also can provide a private place to make a quick clothing change if a spill or other situation occurs while working in the field. These may seem like small details, but for technicians spending an entire day traveling from property to property, they add meaningful convenience.

Putting it to work

Independent Honda-powered UDOR pump systems, 18-inch electric hose reels and Sprayer Direct USA’s labeled sprayer manifold keep Altitude Arborist’s PHC applications organized and easy to operate. Separate 1/2-inch and 3/8-inch spray-hose systems help prevent cross-contamination, while the manifold places clearly labeled valves within easy reach and is designed for straightforward service or replacement.

The overall workflow is simple and efficient. Once we arrive at a property, we can quickly establish our work zone, put on PPE, activate the electrical system, fill the appropriate mixing tank and access the products we need directly from the catwalk. Once the application is mixed, the corresponding pony motor and valves are activated, and we are ready to treat. Cleanup is equally straightforward. The organized layout minimizes unnecessary movement and allows the technician to transition efficiently from one property or treatment to another.

Like most professional PHC spray trucks, this truck shares many similarities with others on the market. However, every spray truck is ultimately different, because every company has different treatment programs and operational needs. The ability to customize our truck through Sprayer Direct USA was a major benefit. Andrew (Schneider, the vice president of business development & product strategy) and his design team took the time to understand the types of treatments we perform, the issues we had experienced with our previous truck and the functionality we wanted to improve. The finished product was built around how we actually work.

Lessons learned

Built on a 2026 Isuzu NRR 132-inch-wheelbase chassis, Altitude Arborist’s custom PHC truck carries 930 gallons across five integrated tanks: a 500-gallon freshwater tank and 250-, 100-, 50- and 30-gallon mixing tanks. Three independent Honda-powered UDOR pump systems and electric hose reels allow technicians to carry multiple treatments and operate two application systems simultaneously.

One recommendation we would give anyone considering a truck from Sprayer Direct USA is to visit other companies and look at how they have their trucks configured before finalizing your own design. After using our truck for six months, there are a few things we would configure differently. For example, our current setup allows application or water transfer between the 250- and 100-gallon tanks and separately between the 50- and 30-gallon tanks. We would now prefer the ability to transfer between all four mixing tanks, or at least pair one large tank with one small tank. This isn’t a design flaw, as it was the configuration we originally requested; it’s simply something we learned through real-world use.

We also appreciated being able to have the truck wrapped with our own company design and include the cost of the wrap in the overall truck financing. This meant the truck arrived ready to hit the road and go to work without us having to coordinate a separate wrap afterward.

Overall, we are extremely pleased with the truck and the experience of working with Sprayer Direct USA. The truck has brought a new level of efficiency, organization and production capability to our plant-health-care department. Even six months after purchasing it, we continue to be impressed with its functionality. We would absolutely purchase another Sprayer Direct USA truck, and hopefully we’ll be doing so in the near future.

Julie Franks, CTSP, is the plant-health-care manager at Altitude Arborist, a six-year TCIA member company based in Broomfield, Colorado. One of its owners, Megan Townsend, is on TCIA’s Board of Directors.

Disclaimer: This review reflects the thoughts and opinions of the reviewers as users and does not constitute or imply an endorsement of the product referenced, nor is it an endorsement of any specific company, product or service. Every entity or individual should review and test all products for applicability, safety and efficacy in their particular operation. TCI Magazine product reviews are available to TCIA corporate members as a benefit of their membership. Certain limitations apply. Contact advertising@tcia.org for more information.