March 31, 2026
Clean, reliable water is something most people don’t think about, until it’s not working. For water treatment professionals, that means every service call comes with real expectations: arrive prepared, work efficiently and fix the problem without delays.
In northern Indiana, that responsibility belongs to Hawkins Water Tech. Based in Middlebury, the family-owned business has spent more than 50 years helping homes and businesses maintain safe, dependable water systems.
They provide sales, installation, maintenance, repair, testing and delivery of water softeners, water filtration systems, chemical treatment supplies, bottled water, coolers, dispensers, drinking fountains, bottle fillers and water quality.
All of these products and services make sure people in homes and businesses have safe, clean and suitable water for drinking, cooking, laundry, dishwashing, bathing, swimming or other specialty uses such as industrial or laboratory applications.
"If our truck functions so well — where it can be very efficient in how we do our jobs — then we're able to serve our customers just that much better."
- Mitch Hawkins, Owner, Hawkins Water Tech
When the Right Tools Include the Truck
Cargo vans make up much of the Hawkins Water Tech fleet, outfitted with Knapheide shelving, partitions and storage containers to support daily service calls. But when projects grow larger or more complex, the team relies on something more capable — built to scale with their work. Instead of rethinking their entire setup as demands change, they can step into a truck that expands what they’re able to take on. It’s a smarter way to grow, adding capability as the work evolves, without outgrowing the tools that got them there. That’s where their Knapheide enclosed service truck comes in. Built on a GMC Sierra 3500 HD chassis cab and upfitted with a Knapheide aluminum KUVcc body, the truck serves as a mobile workspace designed to support commercial jobs without compromise.
Set Up to Work Smarter
Inside the service body, every feature is there for a reason, and that’s to reduce wasted motion, improve safety and keep technicians focused on the task at hand.
Like many growing businesses, Hawkins started by choosing the right foundation. Instead of purchasing a standard pickup off the lot, companies often select a chassis cab — a heavy-duty truck platform designed specifically to receive a commercial body.
From there, the business works with a commercial dealer and a local Knapheide distributor to choose the right body style and configure it around how their team actually works. Storage systems, shelving, partitions, lighting and other accessories are integrated during the upfit process, so the truck arrives ready to perform from day one.
With that foundation in place, every detail of the setup is designed to support efficiency in the field.
Here are some notable features of this work truck:
- Drawer systems and bins: organizes plumbing/electrical tools and parts
- Power inverter: charges tool batteries from the truck while you work
- Rear vision camera: provides clear view when reversing to avoid people/obstacles
- Rear warning lights: signals caution to others when stopped or moving slowly
- Side access doors: quickly reach into the cargo area or overhead compartments
- Truck bed slide: pulls out cargo easily instead of crawling into the bed
- Bumper vises: clamps pipes or other objects in place as they are worked on
- Door holders/hangers: stores gauges, fittings and other miscellaneous cargo
Their technicians also keep portable gear aboard such as Milwaukee Packout stackable storage and a grab-and-go tool bag to help get the job done fast.
Every tool is safe and has a designated place. Every compartment serves a purpose. The entire setup is designed to support efficient work, job after job.
Focused on the Work That Matters
For Hawkins Water Tech, delivering quality water has always been the mission. With an enclosed service truck built around how their crews actually work, more time is spent solving problems for customers.
It’s a setup designed to support real work, in real conditions, for professionals who don’t have time to slow down.
TO SEE HOW WORK TRUCKS LIKE THIS ONE ARE BUILT TO SUPPORT DEMANDING TRADES, EXPLORE KNAPHEIDE’S ENCLOSED SERVICE BODY SOLUTIONS.
Watch the Hawkins Water Tech Story
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