Time is money.
Use our free time-savings calculator to see how smart upfits help you win back time—and turn it into higher earnings.
It’s a calculator for contractors—a tool we built specifically for trades professionals to show how smart upfits deliver higher ROI. With materials, wages, and overhead fixed, the smartest way to improve efficiency is through your upfit. A well-designed setup cuts steps, speeds access, and reduces downtime—turning wasted minutes into billable hours.
Here’s a guide on how to optimize your income as an owner/ operator using our calculator. Start by entering the following variables into the calculator:
- Enter your hourly charge-out rate (what you bill customers for your service).
- Adjust the time variable to fit your workflow. (Our tip: start with a realistic number—even small savings add up.)
After that, you can review your results to see monthly and annual savings.
Example annual impact: Save 10 minutes/day at $100/hr → $4,350/year. This demonstrates the return on investment of upfitting when every saved minute turns into real earnings.
Additional resource: Time Saved by Equipment
You’ll also find equipment lists sorted by function—organization, injury prevention, security, and productivity. Each accessory shows the time it can save, whether used occasionally or every day. This helps you decide which upgrades to prioritize when designing or improving your upfit using our trades calculator as your guide.
Disclaimer: The time-saved figures shown are estimates based on Sterling’s extensive industry experience and insights from our knowledgeable team. Actual results may vary depending on your specific operations and conditions.
| Van Equipment/ Upfit | Typical mins/day (conservative) | When heavily used | Where the time is saved |
| Shelving & Storage bins | 5–8 | 18-21 | Faster access to tools and supplies |
| Drawers, lockers, tank storage and Packout cases | 10-12 | 24-28 | Centralized storage reduces search time |
| Transport tube & Hooks and Holders | 4-6 | 12-14 | Quick access to specific gear |
| Van Equipment/ Upfit | Typical mins/day (conservative) | When heavily used | Where the time is saved |
| Partitions with or without sliding doors & Flettner vents | 1-2 | 2-3 | Better airflow and driver separation reduces downtime |
| Drop-down ladder rack | 10-15 | 30-35 | Quicker and safer ladder handling |
| Hitch step & grab handles | 5-7 | 14-16 | Speeds up van entry/exit and climbing safety |
| External and Internal Lighting | 4-6 | 12-14 | Improves visibility and reduces setup time |
Security equipment—locking storage, external locks, and window grilles—helps prevent break-ins and equipment loss. When a break-in occurs, operations can stall; depending on severity, downtime can reach up to seven days. Below are the typical days lost by break-in severity.
According to industry sources (Fleet News; What Van?), theft incidents commonly lead to multi-day downtime.
| Break-in Severity | Detail | Estimated Days Lost | Estimated Minutes lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor | locks, some small tools | 1 day (24 hours) | 1,440 minutes |
| Moderate | some important tools, vehicle repair | 3-4 days (72 – 96 hours) | 4,320 – 5,760 minutes |
| Severe | major tool loss, vehicle unusable | 6-7 days ( 144 – 168 hours) | 8,640 – 10,080 minutes |
| Van Equipment/ Upfit | Typical mins/day (conservative) | When heavily used | Where the time is saved |
| Workbench with vise | 4-6 | 12-14 | Do tasks on-site; fewer returns to shop |
| Inverter/shore power/ Electrical | 7-9 | 19-21 | Charge on the go; avoid downtime/tool swaps |
| Task Lighting | 2-4 | 9-11 | Focused lighting reduces fumbling in dark areas |