How far is my delivery route?
It is important that you know the distance of your delivery route. You will
need an engine that is large enough and able to withstand abuse. Knowing
where the truck will be traveling is critical to choosing the right truck.
Who will be driving the truck?
How many different drivers will be driving the vehicle? If more than one, the
professional will be able to determine whether you need automatic or manual
transmission. Automatics are also good choice because they cut down on clutches
, adjustments and increases
your pool of drivers.
Will you be forklift loading or hand loading?
This is crucial because you will need to know whether you will need a dock
high truck that needs to have reinforcements at rear of body to support not
just the weight but protect the floor and truck interior.
What is my routes distance?
Knowing how many miles you will drive a year will help you chose between a
gas or diesel truck. A general rule of thumb is if you drive more than 15k
miles a year a diesel engine may be the best choice although a gas truck may
be better due to fuel costs.
How many stops?
An equally important question in regards to refrigerated trucks is how many
stops you are making per day. Door openings in conjunction with outside
temperature are two valuable things to know to help a sales professional
assist you. Give as much information on the products you will deliver and
let the professional know exactly what your needs and requirements are as this will decide the size of the
reefer unit you will need.
Do you need refrigeration?
If so reefer trucks come in two styles: self contained or engine driven.
Engine driven systems run off of the engine and are always going as long as
the truck is running. The self contained unit runs on its own separate
power, when the body reaches optimal temperature it cuts off and turns on
its own power.
Will you need to keep the truck cool at night?
If you need to keep the truck cool when the truck is in operation then you
will need a unit with electric standby. A electric standby will enable you
to plug in unit at night when the unit is not running. This is an expensive
feature but critical to your success if needed.
Will you need a lift Gate?
Lift gates and other equipment such as ramps can be added to both van bodies
and refrigeration units. There are many different types of gates, knowing
what you will use the lift gate for will help the salesperson determine the
size of the platform. Lift gates come in rail and tuck away styles and ramps slide
in underneath bodies in their own carriage.
Do you need an expeditor?
Expeditor trucks are a convenient style of truck for pick up delivery.
Expeditor trucks come in three classes a, b, and c class. The company you
will work for can help you determine the class, expeditors usually come with
a sleeper.
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