Commercial trucks play an integral role in many industries by enabling the quick and efficient transportation of goods and services. Of course, one of the realities of managing a commercial fleet is that your transportation demands may vary throughout the year, and you may find yourself needing to rent a few commercial trucks due to increased demands or a project that requires larger vehicles than what exists in your current fleet.
In this situation, you may find yourself needing to rent commercial trucks for a few days, weeks, or even months. Of course, when it comes to commercial truck rentals, there are various options available to meet your needs depending on what you are hauling. However, you may be uncertain what type of commercial truck will best meet your current needs.
To help you with this seemingly daunting task, keep reading for a look at a few tips on how to choose the right rental truck for your commercial fleet.
Consider Your Hauling Requirements
The first thing you should consider when deciding what type of commercial truck to rent is your hauling requirements. What type of goods will you be transporting? How much weight will you be hauling? Will temperature control be important? These are all critical factors to consider that can help you narrow down what type of vehicle will best suit your needs.
You will want to choose a truck that will not only be able to handle your typical cargo load, but you should also choose the most compact option that will meet your needs in order to improve fuel efficiency and make parking easier on your team.
Talk to Your Team
An essential component of being a good fleet manager is talking to your team about their needs when making decisions about vehicle leasing and acquisition. This will help ensure that the vehicles you choose actually meet your company's current needs. Not only should you ask questions about what type of cargo they most frequently carry, but you should also ask about the terrain they are driving on. Will four-wheel drive and off-roading capabilities help make their job easier?
What features are they looking for in a truck that would make longer road trips more tolerable? How many people do they need their vehicles to carry to transport their crew? Working with your team and asking these questions when acquiring new fleet vehicles will help you narrow down your options and help ensure that the truck you choose is the right fit for your company.
Evaluate Safety Features
Trucks these days come with many features that can help to keep your team safe on the road. Safety features such as collision avoidance and lane departure systems, blind-spot monitoring, and backup cameras can all reduce the likelihood that your drivers will be in an accident, reducing your liability. When test-driving commercial trucks, evaluate what safety features they offer, as these features can enhance driver and cargo safety.
Test Drive Multiple Vehicles
Once you have a good idea of what you are looking for in fleet vehicles, you should schedule to test drive a few different truck models, as getting behind the wheel is often the best way to determine if a truck is a good fit. When test-driving each model, pay attention to the truck's handling, acceleration, braking, and visibility, as these are all crucial factors that will affect performance and driver safety.
Choosing new trucks for your commercial fleet can feel like an overwhelming task, and you may be unsure where to start. If your fleet needs have suddenly changed and you are considering renting trucks for your business, contact us for help finding the best model to meet your needs.
