Mark Miller has owned MNM Ag Repair in Essex, Missouri (MNM=Mark Nathan Miller), for 22 years, repairing ag equip- ment ranging from combines to power units for irrigation systems.
Located 162 miles due south of St.Louis, in what he calls “Swamp-east Missouri,” his latest service truck is eye-catching because of its colorful wrap, but it’s what’s under the wrap that draws the interest of other mechanics.
Miller, 53, has bought and sold an as- sortment of service trucks during his career. It was just last year he upgraded to a 2024 M2 106 Freightliner with a custom-built 14-foot service body and a 12,000 lb. crane from Summit Truck Bodies.
“I got ahold of Summit and designed a new service truck the way I wanted it,” he commented to Service Truck Magazine. “It holds all the tools I want to carry without being overweight.”
Miller’s primary goals for the custom-designed service body were “no wasted space” and “maximum organization.
”The driver-side compartments are 62 inches tall; the passenger-side compartments are 62 inches tall from the front of the body back to the compartment where the crane is mounted. That compartment is 50 inches high.
“Lowering the base of the crane makes it easier to stow or release the crane’s hook in the transport position,” he said. “Plus, I added some 12-inch by 36-inch Autocool Power Steps under the front compartments on both sides to help reach the tops of the compartments. I’ve tried spring-operated steps, but they were too small, plus they got gummed up driving on all the gravel and rock roads I travel.”Miller specified oversized compartments on the front of both sides of the service body to accommodate the biggest drawer packs Summit offers.
“Lowering the base of the crane makes it easier to stow or release the crane’s hook in the transport position,” he said. “Plus, I added some 12-inch by 36-inch Autocool Power Steps under the front compartments on both sides to help reach the tops of the compartments. I’ve tried spring-operated steps, but they were too small, plus they got gummed up driving on all the gravel and rock roads I travel.”Miller specified oversized compartments on the front of both sides of the service body to accommodate the biggest drawer packs Summit offers.
“My previous drawers were 36 inches wide,” he said. “These drawers are 50 inch- es wide. I wanted to be able to fit my biggest wrenches and ratchets in them.
”The doors on Summit’s service bodies are single-wall, with C-channel frames on all four edges.
Miller attached cabinet-grade ½-inch plywood panels inside the C-channels on each door, then installed tool racks to the plywood surfaces to hold screwdrivers, pry bars, and other slender tools.
“I always thought the insides of doors on service bodies were wasted space,” he stated. “I now have tools hanging on the inside of all my doors. Easy to grab and easy to keep organized.
”The tops of drawer packs often become catchalls for whatever tools won’t fit inside the drawers. To help keep his busy hands busy, Miller fabricated vertical dividers from black-painted ½-inch plywood to keep his array of Milwaukee battery-powered tools organized.“M-12 tools are on the left side, M-18 are on the right, and the slots in the mid- dle hold my battery-powered grinders,” he explained to the magazine.
“All my battery-powered tools are Milwaukee. That way I can power not only my regular tools, but I can also run my Milwaukee battery-powered chainsaw, pole saw, leaf blower, and weed eater.”Wait… lawn tools in an agricultural service truck?
“It’s not unusual to work on an irri
Service Truck Magazine “Spec My Truck” June July 2025
Service Truck Magazine “Spec My Truck” June July 2025
Service Truck Magazine “Spec My Truck” June July 2025
Service Truck Magazine “Spec My Truck” June July 2025
gation power unit and find it surrounded by weeds, brush, even trees,” he explained, clearing up our confusion.
“One time a farmer called and said his power unit was overheating,” offered Miller. “The problem was that tree branches were getting sucked against the unit’s radiator and blocking airflow.
“I used the pole saw to trim branches and the weed eater to clear out weeds, and the unit quit overheating.
”His dedication to Milwaukee tools and accessories extends to his truck’s cab as well as a custom-made parts washer. A large Packout box on a Packout mounting plate serves as a center console, and a large-capacity Packout box mounted to a Packout plate atop his right-side compartment is his onboard parts washer.
“I keep two gallons of mineral spirits in it for washing parts,” he said. “The top seals tight. I’ve had no problems with leakage.
”Miller explained that he ordered the service body with Summit Truck Body drawer packs but without shelves. He built his own heavy-duty shelves and outfitted them with close-fitting but removable storage systems. “I found a bunch of plastic bins from Uline that fit together nicely and ended up with 45 bins for bolt storage,” he said. “All my shelves are built to hold heavy parts and pieces but are easy to access.”
Miller said he finally has a service truck set up exactly how he wants it, allowing for the optimal repair strategy of agricultural equipment, which pairs well with his skills and personality.
“Some people are born to do certain things,” he said. “Fixing farm machines is that way for me. I get to do what I enjoy for a living.”