Running a trucking business means understanding when to upgrade your fleet of vehicles. This is an exciting venture, to be sure. But with such a wide variety of trucks on the market, it can be challenging to understand which will be the best fit for your business. Fortunately, we’ve put together a quick list of characteristics you should consider in your search for new trucks.
The Type of Vehicles You Need
One of the first things to consider before buying new fleet vehicles for your company is what type of vehicle best suits your needs. After all, there are various types of freight trucks, each with unique features and capabilities. If you’re in the business of transporting heavy machinery or construction materials, you’ll likely need a flatbed freight truck to get the job done.
On the other hand, you might need units to ship chemical or pharmaceutical cargo. If so, tanker trucks are likely your best bet. In any case, you need to understand which type of vehicle will meet your shipping needs most effectively. This is especially true when you consider that investing in any new fleet of trucks can be a costly process.
Payload and Towing Capacity
When investing in new fleet vehicles, you also need to think about how much payload and towing capacity you require to transport cargo safely. Then, you should choose trucks or vans that align with those requirements. Say you decide to start shipping oversize loads, and as a result, you purchase a flatbed truck. But you fail to confirm that it has the proper payload and towing capacity.
So when you transport your first shipment, your cargo becomes insecure, your trailer sustains severe damage, and basically, you find yourself in a costly, time-consuming mess. You could have easily avoided all of this with a quick inquiry about the truck’s towing and payload capabilities. Thus, it’s always a good idea to investigate potential fleet additions and ensure that they match your cargo requirements before you purchase them.
The Durability of Your Trucks
Among the other essential things to consider before buying new fleet vehicles is durability. After all, investing in shiny new vehicles just to have them break down once you drive them off the lot is the stuff of freight trucking nightmares. That’s why it’s essential to ensure that all of your trucks or vans are well-built, well-functioning, and long-lasting across the board.
To illustrate, many companies have begun switching from traditional-bodied trucks to those that comprise aluminum. This is because aluminum is built to last much longer, it resists corrosion, and it makes trucks much lighter overall. This adds to a more durable truck design that makes your investment well worth it.
For these reasons, taking the time to ensure your new trucks are up-to-standard with your necessary level of durability is the best practice. Ultimately, this will help ensure that your fleet vehicles have sufficient longevity and are well worth the money you’ll pay for them.
