Orkin, a wholly owned subsidiary ofRollins Inc., a nationwide consumer services company, announced that it has chosen the Toyota Tacoma to replace its fleet of Ford Rangers.

“We researched every small truck on the market,” said Paul Youngpeter, Rollins’ director of fleet. “The Tacoma is our best option because it fits our needs and is the best value.”

Rollins considered a number of other vehicles for Orkin's fleet, including pickup trucks from different manufacturers as well as a van.

The Toyota Tacoma is manufactured in San Antonio.

The Rollins pest control brands that currently use Rangers will begin to phase out their Rangers and transition to the Tacoma regular cab 4x2. Before being delivered, the Tacomas will go to an upfitter to be decaled with the Orkin diamond and have GPS units installed.

Orkin branches will begin receiving the Tacomas in January 2013, and it will take until 2015 to complete the transition. Orkin plans to lease a total of about 5,000 Tacomas. Current Rangers will be sold as their lease term expires.

After 30 years in production, Ford discontinued the Ranger in the United States in December 2011. Orkin used the Ranger as its primary fleet vehicle since 1983. The last Ranger produced in the United States at the Twin Cities, Minn. plant, was given to Orkin’s Newbern, N.C. branch to be used as a service vehicle for a short time, and then it will be housed in the corporate archives in Atlanta.

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