The Retriever Difference

Revolutionizing Equipment Transport Safety and Efficiency

The Case for the Versatran Retriever

Retriever will save you thousands of dollars in operating costs while increasing productivity.

The equipment transport industry faces significant ongoing challenges with traditional equipment delivery methods that directly impact safety and operational costs. Safety is paramount; an internal review from personal experience in the equipment rental industry revealed several injuries and near-misses during loading and unloading procedures while using conventional systems, some with potentially fatal outcomes. This concern is substantiated by a 2016 IPAF study, which found that over one-third of aerial lift accidents occur during the loading and unloading phases of transport.

Beyond safety risks, the economic impact is significant. Equipment Transport operations struggle with excessive operating costs driven by slow truck bed cycle times and tedious loading and unloading due to the need to winch equipment up steep load angles and inconvenient load securement.  Add high vehicle maintenance expenses resulting from obsolete truck bed designs and prolonged engine idling.

The Retriever truck bed was developed to directly address these pervasive industry problems. This white paper describes a revolutionary transport solution designed to enhance operator safety and dramatically reduce operational overhead. By eliminating the reliance on traditional, problematic systems and introducing a new, highly efficient design, the Retriever offers a robust answer to the equipment transportation challenges facing modern business operations.

Safer by Design

Safety, noun — the condition of being protected from, or unlikely to cause, risk or injury.

Safety is built into every Retriever from concept to finished product. Guided by hands-on, real world experience from design and engineering through fabrication, assembly, installation, and rigorous testing, safety, is the uncompromisable factor.

Smart fundamentals: a low deck height, low center of gravity, gentle loading angles, high-traction surfaces, numerous perimeter and center tie-down points, extra-wide boarding steps are all intentional elements of a safer design. We then go further with advanced safety features, including radio remote controls, top and side safety beacons, and upper and lower LED work lights. Every element works together seamlessly, making Retriever as inherently safe as possible—by design.

Efficiency, Built to Out-Produce Conventional Systems

Efficiency, noun — achieving maximum results with minimal time, cost, and resources.

Efficiency is built into every aspect of Retriever.  Low deck height, low loading angle, curved deck and high-traction deck surface allow for quick, safe drive-on loading—eliminating time-consuming winching. Tie-down is fast and straightforward, with the low deck height enabling drivers to secure loads safely from the ground. On-deck storage for chains and binders, combined with numerous perimeter and center keyslot tie-down points, reduces equipment repositioning and eliminates wasted motion.

Retriever’s air-operated design delivers another key advantage: significantly lighter weight than conventional hydraulic systems, increasing legal payload and overall productivity.

The No Idle System further enhances efficiency by eliminating the need to idle the truck during loading and unloading. This reduces fuel consumption, lowers maintenance costs, minimizes long-term engine wear, and ensures compliance with anti-idling regulations—saving time and money on every job.

Reliability, Where Reputations are Won

Reliability, noun — the hallmark of consistent, dependable, and trustworthy performance.

Reliability begins with a practical product concept—engineered to eliminate unnecessary complexity. Brought to life by experienced designers and engineers, built to exacting manufacturing standards, and crafted using only proven, high-quality components. State-of-the-art fabrication, welding, and finishing processes ensure lasting durability, followed by expert assembly and installation.

Then comes the proof: rigorous testing and testing again. Only when every effort to push the limits falls short do we consider a product ready for market. That’s reliability—designed in, built in, and proven over time.

Retriever’s ingeniously simple and rugged mechanics contributes greatly to reliability.  There just isn’t much that can wear out or go wrong.  

Uncompromising Durability: Built to Outlast Conventional Systems 

Durability, Noun --- the ability of a product to withstand wear, pressure, damage and stress while remaining reliable over time.    

The Versatran Retriever truck bed is engineered for maximum longevity.

The use of heavy gauge, high-strength steel and componentry that is up to the task at hand and beyond is basic to Retriever’s durability. 

The common failure points inherent in traditional hydraulic systems are eliminated by replacing vulnerable hydraulic cylinders, hoses, and fluids with a robust, air-operated mechanism, the Retriever eliminates typical maintenance headaches such as slow performance in cold weather, frequent leaks, catastrophic system failures and oil spills. 

For more information about Retriever Truck Beds by Versatran contact an expert by clicking the button below or give us a call at 920-557-3681