Ready for the Year Ahead: HTC's Annual Fleet and Equipment Service
Before the first job of 2026 was booked, HTC Arbor Services had already been at work.
A sharp blade is a safe blade.
The first week of January saw the entire HTC fleet and equipment inventory pulled in for a comprehensive programme of servicing and maintenance. Chippers, trucks, excavators and tractors were all checked over methodically — blades sharpened, engines serviced, hydraulic systems inspected and signed off. Nothing goes back out to site until it meets the standard.
For a company operating across large-scale commercial contracts and time-sensitive programmes, equipment failure isn't just an inconvenience — it's a risk to safety, programme and reputation. HTC's approach is to eliminate that risk before the season begins.
"Well-maintained equipment is a safety requirement, not an optional extra," says Andy Hollingsworth, Founder and Director.
"When one of our lads is operating a chipper or working from height with a chainsaw, that kit has to perform exactly as it should. There's no margin for error. Servicing everything properly at the start of the year means we go into every job with confidence."
Chipper maintenance is essential to keep operations running smoothly
For Operations Manager Sam Doran, the January service window is as much about client confidence as it is about the machinery itself.
"Our clients book us because they know we'll show up and deliver. If a machine goes down mid-contract because it hasn't been properly maintained, that's not acceptable — it affects their programme, not just ours. The start-of-year service is how we make sure that doesn't happen. It's how we protect the continuity of service our clients rely on."
With the fleet signed off and the team back on site, HTC entered 2026 in exactly the right shape — prepared, professional and ready for whatever the year brings.
That preparation doesn't happen by accident. It's part of how HTC does business.
Matt gives our hard working vans a fine valet
Planning a project for 2026?