A service body is only as useful as what’s organized inside it, and the compartment layout you choose changes
how fast a tech can find a part on a job site. The two most common ways to fit out
service body compartments are pull-out drawer
inserts and fixed shelving, and each one suits a different kind of work. At
Star Truck Equipment in Wharton, TX, we build and outfit service
bodies for electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, and fleet trucks across Texas and Louisiana, and we help
customers pick the storage setup that actually matches their day-to-day parts and tools — not just whatever
looks good in a catalog.

Tool Drawer Inserts

Drawer inserts slide fully out of the compartment, putting every item in the drawer in view and within
reach without climbing into the body or digging past what’s in front. That makes them the better choice for
small parts, fasteners, fittings, and hand tools that need to stay sorted — electricians and plumbers running
a lot of small-parts inventory tend to prefer drawers for exactly this reason. The tradeoffs are added weight
(steel drawer boxes and slides add up across a full compartment) and higher upfront cost compared to open
shelving, plus drawers need to be rated and mounted correctly so they don’t rack or bind when loaded heavy and
cycled daily.

Fixed Shelving

Shelving is simpler, lighter, and less expensive to install, and it works well for larger items — bins,
boxes, coils of pipe or wire, and bulkier tools that don’t need drawer-level organization. Shelves also flex
easily with adjustable spacing, so a shelf layout can be reconfigured as inventory changes without swapping
hardware. The downside is access: reaching something on a back or bottom shelf usually means leaning into the
compartment or moving items out of the way, which slows things down on a service call where speed matters.

Which One Should You Choose?

• Electricians and plumbers with lots of small parts — drawer inserts for fast, organized access
• HVAC and general service trucks with bulkier gear — shelving for flexibility and lower weight
• Weight-sensitive builds (SRW trucks near GVWR) — shelving keeps payload available for parts and tools
• Mixed-use fleets — a combination layout, drawers up front for small parts and shelving in back for bulk

We fit out CM,
RKI, and
STI service bodies with drawer inserts,
shelving, or a mix of both based on the trade and the truck’s payload budget, so the compartments work as hard
as the truck does.

Get the Right Storage Setup for Your Service Body

Star Truck Equipment builds and outfits service bodies for trades and fleets across Texas and Louisiana
from our shop in Wharton, TX. Call us at (979) 532-1486 or browse our
service bodies and
truck accessories to get started.