WITH such a wide variety of commercial vehicles to choose from and such a diverse range of considerations to account for, finding the right one for you and your business can be difficult.
Check out these tips before buying a commercial vehicle.
- What’s the purpose of the vehicle?
Before acquiring a vehicle for commercial use, it’s important to determine what you will use it for. Is it for shuttling, rent-a-van, etc.? Or is it for community business use like school bus?
Not all vans are created the same. Some are built for specific purposes like carrying cargos or transporting people, from short trips to long haul.
- How much weight are you transporting?
After establishing usage, next is to determine the load of your cargo – be it people or hardware. Make it a point to be within the gross vehicle weight (GVW) set by the manufacturer-distributor. Case in point : the commuter vans plying most major routes today are usually beyond maximum seating capacity. Asides obvious safety issues, overloading definitely impose adverse effects on vehicle performance. The added weight puts more strain on the vehicle components resulting to early wear and tear of parts – therefore, higher maintenance cost.
Overloading your vehicle may generate more income in the short term but can be more costly in the long run due to unscheduled parts replacement and repairs.
- Always consider safety and comfort.
Given their ardent desire to be home for dinner, it is assumed that commuters have little consideration over comfort when commuting. What may not be known is that they still try to find ways on how to make their trip secure and convenient.
Consider checking out vans that are equipped with two side sliding doors for easy access; some come with cushioned interiors that add to the comfort of passengers.
Make sure too that your commuters keep their cool with vans that have A/C vents evenly distributed from the front seats up to the last row.
On one hand, driver’s comfort is also important in the interest of safety. There are vans that have a front-engine mount and a rear-wheel- drive that isolates engine noise and prevents rising temperature under the seats of the drivers and front passengers.
- Balance between earning easy and sustainability.
Reliable and consistent after sales service is crucial in business sustainability. Vehicle breakdown means revenue loss.
While it’s estimated that fuel account for approximately 30% of total operating cost, fuel consumption is not the only running cost to bear in mind. The mileage between preventive maintenance services, tire and brake wear, longevity, maintenance costs and re-sale price also affect your van’s contribution to the business.
- Explore opportunities and consider sustainable investments.
Budgeting for a new van can be a real headache. How much you have to spend will determine whether you buy a brand new vehicle or settle for second hand. As a rule, vans do not depreciate that quickly, so a new van can be a good investment for your business. Brand new ones also come with the “peace of mind” in the form of warranties and dealer service support.
Lastly, don’t limit your vehicle to the shuttling business. Consider other people moving options like community service vans, school bus or company shuttle.
The Hyundai Grand Starex Super Express brings a viable option for your commercial business needs. It combines style, comfort and superb reliability. To know more about the Grand Starex Super Express visit Hyundai.ph, like FB.com/hyundaiph or rush to the nearest Hyundai dealership.
Dahil Gusto ng Hyundai, kasama mo sila sa pag-asenso mo sa buhay. #GustoKayaSama
