AutoFloor : Une seule van, plusieurs configurations

AutoFloor is a custom aluminum floor system that allows users to customize the layout inside a wheelchair accessible van. It uses a series of tracks so passenger seats, wheelchairs, or even stretchers can be locked down anywhere along the floor. The floor is also covered with a durable, transit-grade, non-slip surface. When people think about an accessible van, they usually think first about the ramp or lift that gets wheelchair users into the vehicle. But what happens once they are inside matters just as much. The floor affects the ride itself. It decides where people sit, how they sit, and whether everything stays locked down on the road.

Because every seat and wheelchair spot clicks into the track, you are not stuck with one layout. You can add seats, take them out, or move them around to build the setup that day’s trip calls for. For example, your morning run might be a group outing with eight passengers, all seated. Later that day, you may need to transport two riders using power wheelchairs with a support worker coming along. With a fixed layout, that could mean needing two different vehicles, or settling for one awkward compromise. With AutoFloor, the back of the van can be reconfigured to match the trip. That flexibility is not only about comfort. It can also affect cost. When one van can cover trips that used to require two, organizations can make fewer runs, burn less fuel, and get more out of the vehicle they already paid for. This is especially helpful for handi-transit organizations, where transportation needs can change multiple times a day. Instead of needing a different van for every possible rider configuration, AutoFloor allows seats to be moved around quickly so the vehicle is ready for the next trip.

When people hear that the seats can move around, a fair question comes up: if everything is adjustable, is it actually safe? With AutoFloor, the answer is built into the track system. When a seat or wheelchair restraint locks into the floor, it locks into a system that has been tested to meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The same tracks that allow the layout to change are also what hold seats and securements in place at highway speed. This is not something you get from a regular factory floor. Bolting seats and restraints directly into the steel floor of a stock cargo van does not meet those standards. AutoFloor creates tested, certified anchor points across the floor, so the layout can change while the securement remains reliable. It also works with trusted restraint brands like Q’Straint and AMF Bruns, so the securement equipment many teams already know is fully compatible. And AutoFloor does not change the vehicle’s GVWR or reduce how many people the van can carry. That means flexibility and safety are not a trade-off. You do not give up one to get the other.

Using AutoFloor does not require tools, and moving a seat can be done in seconds. Each seat has wheels built into the base. To take one out, you release the locks that hold it in the track, tilt the seat back, and roll it out on its own wheels. To add a seat or move one, you line it up with the track and lock it back down. No tools are required, and there is no heavy lifting. For drivers, attendants, and care staff, reconfiguring a van should not mean lifting heavy seats in and out by hand. Repeated lifting, awkward angles, and rushed schedule changes can all increase the risk of strain. AutoFloor helps reduce that physical strain because each seat rolls on its own built-in wheels. Staff can release the locks, tilt the seat back, and roll it out instead of carrying it. For organizations that change layouts often, that tool-free process can help protect the people doing the work every day. Tool-free seat changes also matter for riders. When a layout change is quick and simple, loading stays calmer, people are not left waiting as long, and each passenger can board with more comfort and dignity. Instead of struggling with a layout that does not fit the trip, staff can adjust the van before riders board. That helps the transportation experience feel more organized, more respectful, and less rushed.

Maintenance is straightforward. The main thing to watch for is grit and debris that can settle into the tracks over time, especially during salty or slushy Canadian winters. A regular sweep, vacuum, or shot of compressed air helps keep the tracks clear. Adding that to the regular maintenance schedule helps seats slide in smoothly and lock safely.