An Orkin Toyota Tacoma. The company will replace its existing fleet of Ford Rangers with the Tacoma. Photo courtesy of Rollins.

ATLANTA, Ga. - Rollins announced that it will replace Orkin's fleet of Ford Rangers with the Toyota Tacoma.

"We searched 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."

Other vehicles considered were the Nissan Frontier, Ford F-150 and the Ford Transit Connect, the company said.

Rollins said the pest control brands currently using Rangers will begin to phase out of those vehicles and transition to the Tacoma, and branches will begin receiving the Tacomas in January. The transition process will last until 2015, Rollins said.

Ford discontinued the Ranger in the U.S. in December 2011 after 30 years of production; Orkin has used the Ranger as its primary fleet vehicle since 1983. The last Ranger produced in the U.S. was given to Orkin's Newbern, N.C. branch to be used as a service vehicle for a short time, and will then be housed in the company's corporate archives in Atlanta, Rollins said.