Cookie cutter spec, maybe not

In the product delivery segment vehicles operate mainly on paved surfaces, at highway speeds. But this isn’t always true, some local deliveries may be within city limits in stop and go traffic all day. The customer wont love trucks the same as a owner/operator would, trucks are merely a piece of equipment. Make sure you ask the questions, don’t assume.

Most of these vehicles will be pretty universal, meaning a tractor can hook onto a trailer and pull a wide variety of products, and a truck can have a box or bed that allow transportation of a wide range of products.

Many of these vehicles would not be considered ‘for hire’. This means that they rack up lower annual miles than a line haul by waiting to make deliveries after sales have occurred. But starting and stopping all day in traffic can be harder on equipment than operating in high gears the majority of the day. Understand the correct gearing for the application.

Based upon the duty cycle, sleepers are less common, and trucks are home at night. It is common for these vehicles to have a second life. So, think about options that will make that transition seamless to the owner. A PTO provision, at a minimum, will go a long way here. Also, if the vehicles are home each night then you may be able to sell them a service package. If the drivers are the yard or warehouse workers, then do not consider them professional drivers, specify more automation, ease of use.

Take these things into account and present your customer with a truck spec that fits their application while providing high resale. Avoid duplicating their previous spec. Not only will asking questions help to arrive at the best product, it lets the customer know you are interested in their operation.

Do not discount the value that the  truck will provide as a mobile billboard, just by having their name on the side as it travels the city. Consider hooking the customer up with a graphics shop for some high impact advertising graphics on the unit.