D1 mechanics James Crooks (left) and Doug Combs (right) work on the engine swap in the CDA shop.

A tale of two trucks and $270,000
in taxpayer savings

Mechanics in the North Idaho (District 1) shop are swapping motors, and saving taxpayers significant dollars while they're at it.

A routine equipment inventory showed the need to replace a 32-year-old boom truck. Instead, the district's shop personnel found a different solution.

The 50-foot boom truck will exchange its tired 1986 engine for a more powerful and efficient 1998 motor from another hardly used service truck in the yard.

It will take mechanics James Crooks and Doug Combs two weeks to finish the engine exchange.  

“This is like transplanting a heart,” D1 Shop Supervisor Dustin Chase said. “It will require swapping the cab, fabricating parts and a lot of time to do it successfully. I’m very proud of my crew for tackling this and saving department resources.”

The switch will not only save Chase the time of tracking down parts for the outdated engine, but it will also help the district avoid replacing the boom truck—a savings of $250,000.

The auction price for the old service truck would have peaked at $5,000, but the shop will handle the engine transfer in-house, saving about $20,000 by not having someone else do it.

“Our shop employees never cease to amaze me with their skills and abilities to overcome challenges and keep our equipment running,” District 1 Engineer Damon Allen said.

Published 05-18-18