Investing in a truck is a big step for any business to take. Owning a truck is a much bigger commitment than renting one every now and then.
On top of that, it requires quite a bit of financing, making it a risk. So, it’s no wonder that research is so important when it comes to choosing the right truck for your business.
Not all businesses are created equal, and therefore different types of businesses will require different types of trucks. The most common use for trucks is to use them for delivery, but what you need from a delivery truck will depend on various factors, such as what type of goods you’ll be transporting, as well as the area you’re located in. You might require a small truck that’s not much bigger than a car, or you might require a much bigger, costlier truck. Either way, making sure that you pick a safe truck is the most important factor in choosing a truck, but there are a few other key factors that also play a role.
Businesses that deliver products over short distances: light duty trucks or pickup trucks
If your business only needs a truck for short distances, there’s no use in spending huge chunks of your money on a big, heavy duty truck. It will probably work out better to do more frequent trips with a smaller vehicle, at least in the long run. If you don’t have big products that specifically need a big truck, see if you can make do with something smaller – many businesses have had success with using pickup trucks as their delivery vehicle. This will be a much cheaper option, and an added bonus is that you won’t need to specifically hire someone with a trucking license to do deliveries.
Businesses that deliver products over long distances: long haul trucks
It makes sense that, if you’re going to be delivering goods over long distances, you’ll need a truck that’s capable of that. A normal truck might need to be repaired very often if it’s constantly used to transport goods over hundreds – sometimes even thousands – of miles. That’s why there are trucks that are specifically designed for long distances. They are often sturdier than other trucks, and can handle more wear and tear before showing damage. For example, the International ProStar was designed specifically for long distance highway use, and has therefore been a popular choice amongst businesses who need their cargos to travel long distances.
Businesses that transport cars and similar vehicles: car carrier trailers
It may seem like an obvious fact that you can’t put a car on any old truck and expect it to arrive at its end destination in the same condition it started out as. That being said, you’d be surprised at how many people attempt to transport cars on trucks that aren’t designed for that particular purpose. No matter how great your truck is, it’s never a good idea to load cars onto any vehicles other than car carrier trailers. So, if your business has anything to do with transporting cars, this is the truck for you. Just be sure you learn how to load and offload cars properly in order to prevent damage.
Businesses that need to transport food or other perishable items: refrigerated trucks
Fresh food needs to be kept fresh, and frozen food needs to be kept frozen – common sense, right? But how can you do that when you need to deliver your food across a long distance? Won’t the fresh food go off and the frozen food defrost? That’s where refrigerated trucks come in. As the name suggests, these are trucks with a refrigerated cargo area, so that the food won’t be spoiled on the journey to its destination. These trucks are generally more expensive than other trucks, and truck drivers for refrigerated trucks generally also require more money. However, if your business deals with food that needs to be transported, this is your only option. Luckily, you shouldn’t have any issues finding someone to drive the truck, since there are so many benefits to being a refrigerated truck driver.
Businesses that deal with distributing liquids: tanker trucks
If your business has to do with any form of liquid – from oil to molasses, you’re going to need a tanker truck if you plan on transporting or delivering those liquids. It’s safe to say that liquids that aren’t packaged or transported properly can lead to quite a mess. That’s why tanker trucks are fitted with tanks (as the name would suggest) – to ensure a safer, more reliable method of transporting liquids. The amount of liquid a tanker truck can transport depends on its size, but the biggest tanker trucks are able to transport vas quantities of liquids across long distances. In fact, some of the biggest tanker trucks can transport over 11 000 gallons of liquid at a time! This is without a doubt the most logical option for transporting liquids.
Businesses in areas with a lot of snow or ice: off road trucks
While driving on ice depends more on driving skills than the actual make or model of the truck, many people believe that off road trucks are better for driving in ice or snow, since they have more grip and are less prone to skidding. Keep in mind that off road trucks are much smaller than your normal delivery truck – they’re generally the size of a pickup truck. However, an added benefit of this is that smaller vehicles are easier to control in unpredictable weather or on less-than-ideal terrains, so you may want to forfeit your big delivery truck for a smaller one during the winter months. If heavy weather is a year-round situation where your business is located, you might want to invest in gear to equip your truck with during extreme weather conditions. No matter which route you decide to go, make sure that all your truck drivers are equipped with the necessary knowledge for driving in the snow.