Tips For Buying a Vehicle For Your Delivery Business
By Barrett Baker
Whether you plan to offer delivery as part of your overall business services or you’re looking to start an enterprise that is strictly all about moving things from Point A to Point B, having the right vehicle is a key element to your success.
So, what’s your business model? Commercial Truck Trader took a look at a variety of industries that rely heavily on transportation and came up with a list of suggestions that can help you figure out which vehicle best supports your vision. Obviously, there are so many different types of delivery driver businesses out there that we can’t focus on each one individually, but hopefully you’ll be able to find a grouping that fits with what you want to do with your vehicle.
No matter what your business includes, we wish you great success!
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Types of Vehicles Used for Delivery Businesses
To get you going in the right direction, here are five common types of vehicles used for delivery businesses.
1. Passenger Vehicles
Although cars aren’t normally considered commercial vehicles, they are frequently used for the transportation of food (DoorDash, Grubhub), people (Lyft, Uber, taxis), and other commodities such as moving medical samples to lab facilities from doctor’s offices and veterinary clinics.
2. Pickup Trucks
Pickup trucks are great for delivering things that don’t necessarily need to be protected from the elements. This could include bulk deliveries of items like firewood, landscaping materials (decorative rocks, topsoil, mulch, etc.), and other things that may be too large to transport in an enclosed vehicle.
3.Vans
There are plenty of commercial vans on the market to choose from based on your business needs. And with a little extra retrofitting, you can turn vans into a delivery vehicle for almost anything that you’d like to protect from the elements, (i.e., flower arrangements and floral delivery). They’re also great as shuttles for transporting passengers to and from hotels and departure points, or as mobile medical units for those that need to get to assisted living facilities and doctors’ offices.
4. Box Trucks
When you need extra room for delivering large items such as furniture, carpeting, and/or appliances, a box truck is going to be your best bet. There is plenty to consider when shopping for a box truck, including the size of the box (the smaller the box, the better with gas mileage and maneuverability), whether you need refrigeration or not, and if you need a lift gate for loading and unloading.
5. Tractor Trailers
If you plan to go big with delivering, you may find yourself in need of a tractor truck. Just remember that as the size of your delivery mode gets bigger, so do the license requirements (commercial driver’s license and various designations, depending on the cargo).
What’s Next?
As you can see, your line of work in the delivery industry will determine which vehicle is best for your needs. But once you narrow down that part of your search, you still have several decisions to make when it comes to the vehicle you’ll eventually purchase:
- New Or Used? If you’re just starting out, it may be more economically feasible for you to begin with a gently used vehicle as opposed to buying new. With a little luck, you may even be able to find a vehicle that was previously used for what you want to do, so you won’t need to make a lot of modifications. For example, if you purchase a van for delivering flowers, you’ll need a platform with cutouts in the back that can keep floral arrangements upright and steady while you’re driving, so they won’t roll around while in transit. If you purchase a van that was previously used for floral deliveries, the only modification you may need to make is repainting the exterior with your business name and contact information.
- Diesel, Gas, Or Electric? Another price point you’ll probably want to consider in your budget is the fuel type your delivery vehicle will use. Diesel and electric vehicles tend to be more expensive upfront versus gasoline-powered vehicles, but diesel engines historically last longer and require fewer repairs. Electric vehicle battery technology is evolving rapidly, which should help to bring pricing down over time, especially as additional commercial competitors jump into the market. If you’re concerned about greenhouse gas emissions, you may want to look into converting your truck to a biofuel like natural gas. Be sure to weigh the pros and cons of each fuel type before making your purchase decision.
- Cargo Weight. The type of vehicle you end up buying may also be based on how much the weight of the cargo you’re carrying. Do a little math to determine what your maximum gross cargo weight will be and make sure that you buy a vehicle that is capable of safely carrying it. This can be determined by checking the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of whatever vehicle you are thinking about buying. If what you want can’t handle the weight, you may need to step up to the next level.
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Pack It Up
Yes, there is some work that needs to be done before deciding which vehicle will be best for your delivery service. But once you’ve done some due diligence and determined what fits into your business plan, Commercial Truck Trader is here to help you find that vehicle. We have the largest online marketplace for buying and selling new and used vehicles, and our convenient search features will help you narrow your hunt so you get exactly what you want. That’s how we deliver.
Barrett Baker
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