Whether you work in construction or catering, you’re probably using multiple vehicles to get the job done. If you’re looking into building a team of cars, congratulations: you’re beginning a fleet.
Why Fleet Vehicles Are Great for Your Business
If you transport any sort of material, company cars are a boon. You won’t have to worry about dirtying any of your or your employee’s cars, and can pack more material inside a commercial vehicle.
If your line of work means you transport people often (i.e., courier service, rideshare service, or hospitality), fleet vehicles will make organization quick and easy. You can find fleet vehicles for all your needs, from moving sheetrock to transporting a client.
Even if you don’t think you need a fleet, you can certainly benefit from one. Having a set of company vehicles will come in handy more often than you’d think. Let’s talk about your options when looking into company vehicles.
Different Types of Fleet Vehicles
Fleet vehicles do not just refer to compact cars leased on the company dime. If you need heavy-duty cars for your business, worry not. Here are your options when shopping.
In general, your options are vans, trucks, buses, cutaways, and chassis cabs. Each one has pros and cons. Let’s dive into those here:
- Vans: divided into cargo vans and passenger cans, cargo vans have an empty back and passenger vans have seats; if you have a small but bulky load to transport, a cargo van could be right for you
- Trucks: pickup trucks can be great for service vehicles and construction sites; however, they may be too bulky for parking lots and garages
- Buses: if you have to transport people often, look into a shuttle bus; they fit more people than vans but are more expensive
- Cutaways: these vehicles drag trailers and cargo; best if you have a large amount of cargo to transport a long distance, but may be overkill for some small businesses
- Chassis Cabs: similar to cutaways, chassis cabs allow you to customize the back end of the truck; they’re a lot of work if you’re not already a vehicle person but can be personalized to fit your exact needs
Depending on the size of your business and the breadth of your operation, you may only need two or three cargo vans and a pickup truck. However, even small fleets are mighty helpful!
Buying vs. Leasing
So, should you buy or lease your fleet vehicles? Which is the smarter choice, and which saves you money in the long run?
Buying your fleet vehicles means paying more upfront, but most dealers will have financing options as well. Buying also means that you are responsible for any and all repairs and will have to pay out of pocket for those. But if you plan to only have a few vehicles, and to treat them well, buying can work out great.
Leasing vehicles can be a great deal, especially if you are trying out new models. Many dealers will allow you to make an offer after so many months of leasing. You’ll also be able to go to them for help with repairs and maintenance.
It’s up to you whether to buy or lease your fleet. Neither one is a bad idea!
Fleet Management
Managing a fleet of cars requires a lot of attention. You have to keep up with insurance, keep up with repairs, register each one, and more. Fleet management is a full-time job!
That’s why many business owners and entrepreneurs use fleet management services. You can find many companies out there willing to take all the fleet management responsibilities off your mind! Many of these companies will also perform repairs and bring in spare parts.
Even if you’re someone who likes keeping control, maintaining a fleet takes a lot of work. It may be more than you bargained for. If you need company vehicles and someone else to manage them, help is just a phone call away.
Services Offered by Sanger Solid Fleet
If you’re in the Central Valley, there’s no better option than Sanger Solid Fleet. We are the premier fleet management service in the area, and lead the pack in terms of efficiency and customer service.
We can help you with every step of the fleet-building process. You can come to us to build a fleet from scratch, or just contract us to manage your existing vehicles. We do it all, from purchases to services!
When you hire Sanger Solid Fleet as your fleet management company, you can be sure that no detail will go overlooked. We’re experts in building and maintaining fleets for small businesses and put your needs first.
Even if you don’t need full-on fleet management, Sanger can help. We keep a lot of parts that are necessary for larger fleet-style vehicles. If you need parts for a Chevy of GMC chassis, we’re your guys.
Solidify Your Business With a Fleet
We hope this article helped to convince you that your business is ready for a fleet. Once you find the right service to manage your fleet vehicles, you’ll have more time to focus on what you really want to do. After all, when you work in a small business, time is your most valuable asset.
Now that you’ve read our expertise, try out our services. Sanger Solid Fleet is the only fleet management service in the Central Valley, and we take that responsibility seriously. Shoot us a message to see what we can do for you!