Efficiency Enterprises, Inc. 6300 Efficiency Way Baltimore, MD 21225

Zero Emissions On Using Greener Fuels For Your Fleet

The world is becoming increasingly green. This infectious drive towards eco-friendliness and sustainability has put the transport and logistics sector under the spotlight with the expectation of seeing reduced emission levels.

For fleet owners, one of the best ways to embark on the route to zero emissions is by using greener fuels.

Benefits of Using Green Fuels for Your Fleet

The benefits of green fleet management go beyond saving the environment. In a nutshell, they include:

Reduced business costs

While it’s true that a greener fuel program might come with steep upfront costs, this is mitigated if you’re using fleet rental and transportation services.

Your business can enjoy a higher return on investment through low-level fuel consumption and cheaper operating costs.

Reduced Emissions

Traditional fuels like diesel and petrol equate to more emissions and greater environmental impact. Fortunately, fleet managers can reduce emissions by switching to a greener fuel program.

For example, research shows that EVs are more competitive than internal combustion vehicles when it comes to lower energy consumption and emissions. Besides transitioning to a fleet of electric vehicles, including hybrid or plug-in EVs, fleet managers can explore alternative fuels like propane and natural gas where possible.

Better Brand Attractiveness

Implementing a green fuel program may improve your business’s ability to attract eco-conscious customers. The number of eco-conscious customers is likely to keep growing amidst intensifying concerns about the negative environmental impact of vehicles.

If your company is taking tangible steps towards a greener fleet, this helps reduce vehicle emissions and air pollution, thus promoting healthier communities – a huge selling point.

Are There Any Challenges Associated With Using Alternative Fuels?

Transitioning to a greener fleet has many impressive benefits but has its fair share of challenges. For starters, this requires a big adjustment, so it’s not an overnight process. For example, a complete transition to using environmentally-friendly fuels for your fleet can take years.

In addition, you should be prepared to meet the somewhat high investment costs while having the patience to reap the rewards later. You also have to navigate gaps in the availability of specialized infrastructure, such as EV charging stations. That said, it’s a worthy trade-off considering the significant financial benefits and the big win for climate change.

Questions to Ask Your Commercial Truck Leasing and Maintenance Provider

Are you determined to transition to eco-friendly fuels for your fleet? The right commercial truck leasing and maintenance service can help you achieve your sustainability goals quickly and easily. Here are a few questions to ask to ensure your company and service provider are both on the same page.

  • Do you have the right vehicles for the job? – Choosing the right cleaner-fuel vehicles is essential. Your procurement choices should take into account the intended usage and operation. Factors like cost, environmental criteria, standardized specifications, safety concerns, and maintenance and repair requirements. 
  • How best can I reduce the costs of running a green fleet? – It never hurts to maximize the financial benefits of a green fuel program. This can be done by taking advantage of fleet maintenance services to reduce downtime and repairs. In addition, it helps to upgrade to newer models with better technology and infrastructure.
  • What other value-added services do you offer? – A full-service truck fleet leasing provider can help you manage and maintain a greener fuel program effectively. Whether you’re looking for preventive maintenance, vehicle branding, or repairs, these value-added services ensure a smoother and more profitable transition to greener fuel usage.

Get Started With Your Transition to a Green Fleet

At Efficiency Truck Fleet Leasing, we are here to help you make a clean switch to greener fuels. We understand your need to reduce the environmental impact of your operations while keeping things profitable.

Our portfolio of offerings is designed to meet your unique fleet needs. If you’re ready to kickstart your greener fuel program, get in touch with Efficiency today, so we can do it together.

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Ways To Diminish Fleet Idling

While fleet idling can to a large extent be avoided, it can never be completely eliminated.

If not kept in check, however, it can spiral out of control. Below we will examine how idling can cost your business a lot of money and what you can do to reduce idling time to a minimum.

What Exactly Does The Term “Fleet Idling” refer to? 

Fleet idling takes place when the vehicle’s driver allows the engine to keep running while it is in a stationary position. If they have to stop at a red light, or are stuck in heavy traffic, it might be virtually impossible to avoid. There is, however, often a lot of idling going on that has nothing to do with traffic congestion or red lights. Examples include leaving the engine running while:

– The driver is busy with a phone call

– The truck is being unloaded or loaded

– The driver is busy cooling or heating the vehicle because of very hot or cold weather

– The driver is taking a break to rest or eat

Why Unnecessary Fleet Idling Is A Bad Idea 

Statistics show that a gallon (or even more) of fuel can be wasted every hour the vehicle is left idling unnecessarily. This will obviously have a detrimental impact on your firm’s profits. Apart from that, it also has a large negative impact on the environment. Running any vehicle for longer than is absolutely necessary comes with the added cost of shortening the engine’s lifespan and causing wear and tear on other parts.

Ways To Diminish Fleet Idling 

Luckily, there are quite a few ways to reduce unnecessary fleet idling. Below we look at a few of them.

Ask Drivers Not To Leave Engines Running Unnecessarily For More Than 15 Seconds 

Restarting a vehicle uses more or less a similar amount of fuel as letting it idle for 15 seconds. It’s not likely that you will be able to convince your drivers to switch off the engine when a traffic light, for example, stays red for an extended time, There is, however, very little reason for him or her to keep the engine running in the parking lot while they stop to buy a snack or run an errand

Make Sure Drivers Know That Driving Warms Up An Engine Better Than Idling 

Many drivers are not aware that idling is not the best way to warm up an engine. The best way to do so is to ease into the drive while avoiding unnecessary engine revving. This way the vehicle will be ready to drive at normal speed within a very short time (much more quickly than if the engine was left idling). This also happens to be the most efficient way to get the vehicle’s cooling and heating systems to start delivering cold or hot air.

Start Using Telematics Technology

To get accurate idling data, you will have to start using one of the better telematics solutions out there, for example, LocoNav. These technologies help to keep track of idling time and the reports they produce will make it much easier to determine which drivers are most guilty of letting their vehicles idle unnecessarily. Once you know where the problem is, you can take the necessary steps to correct it by e.g. implementing a driver training program.

Introduce GPS Tracking 

This will show you exactly where the vehicles in your fleet have traveled and how long every vehicle spent at each place. It also makes it possible to find out whether a driver made one or more unauthorized trips or not.

Fleet management software like this also has a few other benefits, including the following:

– Management will be able to set alerts and react in real time to whatever issue arises

– The data that is generated can be used to improve the efficiency of your drivers

– It will help the firm to adopt a long-term view when it comes to issues such as idling time and fuel consumption

– The information gathered by the system can be analyzed on a fleetwide basis or per vehicle.

Introduce Incentives For Reduced Vehicle Idling Time 

Once you have proper data to work on, your fleet manager can proceed to incorporate that information into a fleet idling reduction plan. Start by providing training to those drivers who struggle to reduce idling time and publicly reward drivers who are able to significantly reduce this.

Let Efficiency Enterprises help keep your fleet running smoothly & efficiently. Contact us today to learn more about our fleet management partnerships.

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Check What’s Under The Hood When Buying Used Trucks

Purchasing any used truck to add to your fleet is a major investment. The last thing any company wants to do is make a large purchase of numerous used vehicles only to end up wasting time and money on repairs and increased downtime. What types of things do you need to consider when making your next used truck purchase?

Maintenance Records

Any reputable company or seller should be able to provide you with detailed maintenance and repair records. Has the truck been in any accidents before? How often was preventative maintenance performed? Are there long gaps in maintenance that don’t have a logical explanation? What major repairs have been done over the years? Are there repairs that will need to be made soon after you take possession of the commercial vehicle?

If the seller is reluctant to answer any of your questions or provide you with maintenance records, it’s a sign that you should look elsewhere. Additionally, ask whether or not the truck has been serviced recently. It can cost a few hundred dollars to have new filters and oil placed once you take possession of the truck, so having it done ahead of time can save you money.

Know Your Engines

Next, the engine in the truck makes a big difference in terms of how the vehicle performs and how much it can haul. How are you going to be using the vehicle? What types of loads will be carried? Do your research on the type of engine, as well as the make and model. Aside from telling you whether or not the truck is suited to your needs, this will give you an idea of how challenging it will be to obtain parts in the future when repairs are needed.

Check the Mileage

Aside from examining the total mileage on the engine, you should also inquire about idle time. If the engine has a surprisingly low amount of mileage but has experienced a great deal of idle time, it could have similar wear and tear when compared to an engine with much higher mileage. This can particularly come into play in trucks that are heavily used in major metropolitan areas where heavy traffic is common.

Look Under the Hood

There are many things that you can learn from the exterior of a truck, including whether or not there is damage from past accidents and whether or not exterior maintenance has been performed. Some of the most critical exterior things you should consider include what the wheels are made of, the age of the tires, door and window seals, and signs of rust on the frame.

However, what’s underneath the hood can be even more important. What types of things should you examine?

  • Engine oil, which can show you how often the oil is being changed and whether or not the truck has adhered to a good oil change schedule in the past
  • Engine coolant, which provides you with a glimpse at how well the truck has been maintained and whether or not there could be damage or rust present in the radiator, heater core, or engine
  • Air filter, which is another simple indicator of vehicle maintenance
  • Engine surface, which should not be covered in grime and grease

Buy from a Trustworthy Source

Whether you’re purchasing a handful of vehicles to add to your existing fleet or looking to start a new fleet from scratch, working with the right company is critical. Any company that you are purchasing from should be able to answer all of your questions and provide you with any information you might need, including maintenance records and vehicle history reports.

Looking to grow your fleet in 2023? Let Efficiency help you through the whole process as your fleet management partner. Contact us today to learn more.

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The Importance Of Fuel Saving In Fleets

For businesses that rely on their fleets for generating income, the reality of ever-increasing fuel prices is having a major impact on daily operations. It makes it very hard to plan ahead to ensure the survival of the firm. That is why an increasing number of fleets are switching to telematics and fleet management solutions to track and reduce fuel consumption.

The Impact Of Fuel Consumption On Running Costs 

According to data published by the American Transportation Research Institute in its 2020 Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking study, fuel on average represents 24% of a modern fleet’s MOC or marginal operating costs. To express this in a different way: if the fuel price increases by $0.50 per gallon, it will increase the running costs of an average truck by no less than $7,000 per year. If you have a fleet of 15 trucks, that equates to more than $100,000 a year.

The Increasing Importance Of Sustainability 

One more reason to take fuel consumption very seriously is that sustainability has become very important when shippers have to make a decision about the carriers they partner with. More and more of them want to know what a carrier is doing to reduce its fleet’s fuel consumption before accepting it as part of the team. 

It’s not difficult to understand why. The transport industry is one of the 6 biggest sources of dangerous greenhouse gasses in the world and accounts for around 28.9% of all global emissions. And there is a direct link between the amount of carbon dioxide a vehicle emits and its fuel consumption.

To quote just one example: according to EPA data, the average passenger vehicle emits around 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide over the course of a year. That equates to 404 grams of carbon dioxide for every mile driven. The disturbing reality is, however, that the average freight truck emits no less than 161.8 grams of carbon dioxide when transporting cargo weighing one ton for one mile. A truck carrying 10 tons will, therefore, emit 1.618 kg of CO2 for every mile driven.

Against this background, a company that is able to show that it has a successful program in place to reduce fuel consumption will undoubtedly have a better chance of getting (and keeping) business.

Improving Fuel Consumption Benefits The Community

The reason why we can safely say this is because a drop in air pollution from the transportation industry helps to improve air quality for everyone who finds themselves on or near major roads all day long. Breathing less polluted air will reduce their likelihood of getting sick and could eventually help them to lead longer, healthier lives.

Reducing Fuel Consumption Can Extend The Lifespan Of Your Vehicles

A fleet that uses less fuel also enjoys another benefit: it will help to make the existing vehicles last longer and experience fewer breakdowns. One of the biggest reasons why a fleet might experience excessive fuel consumption is because the drivers are driving unnecessarily long distances. By properly planning trips, these distances can often be reduced significantly. This will not only reduce fuel usage, but it will also reduce the wear and tear on the vehicles in your fleet, cut down on repair costs, and extend the lifetime of the vehicles.

7 Things That Can Help Reduce Your Fleet’s Fuel Consumption 

– Optimize vehicle speed

– Start using tires with a lower rolling resistance

– Use tools that will help cut down idle time

– Educate drivers on fuel savings techniques and reward those who follow them

– Make sure that vehicles and equipment are properly maintained

– Use the right trailer aerodynamics

– Make sure that you use the correct axle configurations

Want to learn more tips for managing your fleet? Let Efficiency Enterprises help! Contact Us today!

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4 Tricks To Finding Reliable Commercial Truck Drivers

We all know how difficult it can be to find reliable commercial truck drivers. There are several reasons why this is such a big problem, but the good news is there are things that you can do to help alleviate this problem and secure reliable, long-term, and successful hires.

High turnover is not only a hassle, it’s incredibly expensive and causes low morale in the workplace. You want reliable drivers, of course, but you also want to make sure they stick around for the long term.

By conducting background checks, utilizing thorough drug testing, actually checking references, and developing good relationships with your drivers, you will be able to ensure that your CDL drivers are dependable and trustworthy.

Conducting Background Checks

When conducting a background check, you should start by looking into the individual’s education and employment history. You should then branch out from direct managers and then co-workers. If there were problems, this will give you some insight into what type of employee they are likely to be for your company—even if they otherwise have very impressive qualifications.

Another great way to check a commercial truck driver’s background is by looking at the DMV records. These records will show if the driver has a history of traffic violations, accidents, moving violations, and even DUIs from non-commercial driving.

Thorough Drug Testing

According to the Department of Transportation, “all drivers must undergo drug testing regularly.” However, not all drug tests are created equal.

A random test is performed without prior warning when it’s in your company’s best interest and at any time during employment.

One important point about both types of commercial driver drug testing is that it doesn’t just include a urine test; instead, there are collection methods using saliva samples or hair follicle samples which can detect further use history than urine tests alone.

Actually Check Their References

If you want to really vet a candidate, ask for references from not only past direct managers, but also past coworkers or clients. Then, check those references as well, thoroughly confirming there’s a solid network of reliability.

Another easy and affordable way to do this is through social media sites such as Facebook or LinkedIn. You can also use tools like Google Alerts to find out if there have been any negative reports about this person in the past.

Developing Good Relationships With Your Drivers

Having an idea of the types of drivers you’re looking for is only half the battle. You’ll need to be able to attract and develop good relationships with your workers if you want them to stay with the company for more than a few months. That means asking them what they need from their job and then ensuring that those needs are met.

Here are some strategies for developing a positive relationship with drivers:

  • Check-in regularly about how things are going on their end. If there’s something wrong, address it immediately so that it doesn’t become a bigger problem later on down the line. This will help prevent misunderstandings or disagreements from escalating into something much larger, saving everyone time and energy in the long run.
  • Keep an open dialogue between yourself and each employee as much as possible by allowing plenty of time beforehand so that everyone has ample opportunity to contribute their opinions or suggestions—this way no one feels left out when important decisions need to be made.
By utilizing background checks, drug testing, checking references, and developing good relationships with your drivers, you will be able to ensure that your CDL drivers are reliable and trustworthy.

While taking such a thorough approach to vetting your drivers might seem burdensome and lengthen the hiring process, it’s important to keep in mind the long-term costs associated with high turnover.

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8 Ways to Cut Down on Fleet Operation Costs

Managers are always looking for ways to bring down fleet operation costs and make their businesses more efficient. Luckily there are easy, cost-effective ways to bring down fleet costs while also improving the longevity and safety of your trucks.

1. Proper Driver Training

The easiest way to bring down fleet costs is to invest in training your drivers in fuel-efficient driving practices. Bring in defensive driving instructors to teach your drivers to drive slowly and cautiously. Instigate penalties to discourage aggressive driving, which can cost you up to a dollar per mile on some trucks. Multiplied across your entire fleet, driver training can make a big difference for your bottom line.

2. Carefully Monitor Tire Pressure

 Tire pressure can have a very large impact on your fleet’s fuel economy. The farther away from the manufacturer’s recommended PSI your tires are, the less fuel-efficient your vehicles will be. Weekly or daily checks can ensure that you are staying within the ranges recommended by tire manufacturers.

3. Run Vehicles in Shifts

Every driver does not need their own vehicle. Having your fleet vehicles operating in a morning and afternoon shift reduces the number of vehicles you need to operate while increasing fuel economy (reduces fuel used on startup and warm-up, especially in colder climates). If you move to a shift system, be aware that increased run time on vehicles will lead to slightly increased maintenance costs.

4. Reduce Miles Driven 

The fewer miles your vehicles cover, the less fuel and maintenance they will require. Investing in a quality fleet vehicle tracking and maps software can greatly reduce miles driven by avoiding inefficient routing. The better organized your fleet is, the more efficient it will be.

5. Lower the Cost of Your Fuel

Research the different company fuel cards that you give to your drivers. Depending on the company you get your cards from, you can receive discounts on fuel and other benefits that will help you reduce costs. Several cards will give you as much as 0.15$ off a gallon which can add up to big savings when multiplied by the size of your fleet.

6. Consider the Lifecycle of Your Vehicles 

 Often companies will mandate to keep vehicles in service for longer than they are operationally viable to avoid the cost of buying new vehicles. This increases overall fleet costs because as vehicles get older their maintenance costs will increase exponentially. New vehicles will require less maintenance and will have better fuel economy, making getting the lifecycle of your vehicles right a top priority for reducing fleet costs.

7.  Consider Resale Value

When buying fleet vehicles, consider what will allow you the best resale value. The easiest way to ensure a higher resale value is to buy trucks in neutral or high-demand colors. White vehicles are proven to have the highest resale value of any color. Keeping detailed maintenance records that can be provided to potential buyers is also proven to ensure a higher resale value.

8. Buy or Rent Vehicles in Volume 

Buying or renting your fleet vehicles in volume allows you to negotiate a lower price per vehicle than if you were to buy vehicles in smaller groups or individually. Volume purchasing requires good forecasting of your business’s needs and requires more capital, so make sure you are prepared before attempting to buy in volume.

Decreasing the operating cost of your fleet is a great way to make your business more efficient and increase profits. Implementing any of the simple solutions provided above will go a long way to making your fleet safer and more cost-effective. Let Efficiency find the best solution for your business!

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Top 5 Fleet Costs You Need To Monitor

Despite their many benefits, fleet vehicles can be a headache for business owners.

Fleet vehicles are an excellent way to improve the speed and efficiency of transportation and other company logistics, but they can also have hidden costs associated with them. Managing a vehicle fleet is a balancing act of price and value that needs to be monitored closely to ensure the success of your business.

Fuel

Fuel is likely going to be the biggest expenditure associated with any fleet of vehicles. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average vehicle consumes about 684 gallons of gasoline each year. That can add up quickly if you have a large fleet of trucks or vans. Since it’s not something you can control, tracking fuel consumption will allow you to determine how much fuel was used for each vehicle and what the average cost per mile is. This data will help you make informed decisions about how much to budget for gasoline.

Employee Wages

Driver wages are an important consideration when overseeing a fleet of logistical vehicles. A lot of companies will use a driver wage calculator to determine the value of their drivers, but that may vary based on a number of factors from location to productivity level.

Many companies have started to use telematics solutions to monitor the performance of their fleets, which enables them to keep track of how much fuel is being used by each vehicle and how many miles are being driven by each driver. This allows them to get a more accurate idea of what kind of salary they need to pay each individual employee in order to keep their fleet running smoothly.

Maintenance and Repair

The cost of maintaining and repairing large fleets of vans or trucks can be very costly. This is especially true when you consider that the ripple effects of a single-vehicle malfunction can affect your entire fleet. When you’re responsible for multiple vehicles, the costs associated with each breakdown rapidly add up. That’s why it’s important to monitor your mechanic fees and make sure they’re not getting out of control.

If you find yourself paying for more frequent repairs than usual, this could indicate that something needs to be replaced or repaired sooner than expected—and those costs will compound quickly. The price of parts alone can tally up fast, especially if you need to restore an entire engine or transmission. Plus, there are also labor charges to consider, along with the toll of downtime while repairs are being made.

Procurement of Replacement Vehicles

Fleet vehicle replacement is incredibly expensive. For example, if you have ten trucks and wish to upgrade them, you can expect to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars. This cost includes the price of the actual vehicles, along with any necessary upgrades and repairs that need to be made before they can be put into service.

Thankfully, fleet vehicle purchases can come with bulk rebates, discounts, or other special offers. These may help lower the overall price of the vehicle in order to make it more affordable for your company.

Insurance Coverage

When you’re in charge of a fleet of vehicles, you want to make sure they are properly insured. This can be a challenge because it’s hard to predict what will happen, making it difficult to know what type of coverage to get. You should always make sure that your insurance policy covers any vehicles that are part of your fleet.

The best way to do this is to get a commercial auto policy from your current provider, or with another provider if necessary. This type of policy will cover all kinds of damage and liability that might happen while an employee is driving one of your fleet trucks. It will also cover any injuries caused by accidents involving these vehicles.

Efficiency Enterprises can help you with your fleet planning and management. Let us be your partner and do the heavy lifting for you! Contact us today for your consultation.

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5 Reasons Why You Need A Fleet Replacement Schedule

Vehicle replacement is an essential measure of fleet management, and a clear and concise schedule is necessary for budgeting, planning maintenance, and more.

It’s very important to upgrade your fleet vehicles at certain premeditated intervals in order to preserve the safety of your entire fleet while preventing excessive downtime that can affect productivity. Thankfully, tools like automated fleet management software can track and analyze maintenance and service records for every vehicle in operation, ensuring optimal vehicle use and preventing accidents caused by poorly maintained vehicles.

Reduce Costs

It costs money to replace vehicles as they become damaged, outdated, or obsolete. The average fleet truck is in service for about nine years, with increasing maintenance fees as they age. Over time, your vehicle maintenance plan may start to fall behind or accrue unexpected expenses. It’s not uncommon for companies to keep their vehicles in service until they can’t run anymore—with the assumption that it will be frugal.

Poor or nonexistent replacement strategies result in long-term operating costs that are above industry standards because the repair fees necessary to keep an older truck or van running can be outrageous. To save money, you need to monitor past data and determine the correct time to replace your fleet’s vehicles. By waiting too long to update your fleet, it ends up costing more money than if you had planned ahead and swapped the cars during a determined interval.

Represent Your Image Positively

Outdated or damaged vehicles misrepresent the images of both your company and its products or services. When people see your company logo on a fleet of trucks or vans, they should understand that you are dedicated to investing in your business and providing a great experience for your customers and employees. Don’t let your drivers risk their lives, or your reputation, by driving obsolete trucks that have a good chance of breaking down.

More Predictability

Having a solid fleet replacement plan is an excellent way to prevent unpleasant scheduling and financial surprises. By creating replacement schedules based on fleet usage, businesses can plan and budget for associated expenses. Analyzing previous data will allow companies to have a better idea of future fees associated with their trucks or vans.

By following a routine service schedule, fleet vehicle operators can reduce unanticipated malfunctions and other unforeseen problems. When vehicles are used without routine maintenance and regular rests, breakdowns are more likely to occur and cause equipment downtime.

Incentives

Using incentives to your advantage is a wise decision for many businesses. Logistical and purchasing departments will often negotiate for replacement vehicles to be purchased in bulk each year. It is important to shop around for all of your available options to get the best deal.

Not only will you qualify for numerous dealer and manufacturer rebates, but there is often a large pool of funds from which you could draw money to subsidize the cost of your vehicles. Incentives can help you save thousands on each vehicle, potentially adding hundreds of thousands to your bottom line over the next several years.

Improved Safety

By periodically resupplying your fleet with newer vehicles, you are demonstrating to your customers that you’re serious about safety and security. You’re showing them that you care about the security of your employees and that you want to provide them with the most modern, advanced vehicles available.

Older vehicles may not be equipped to meet federal standards set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or other agencies that regulate vehicle safety. Newer vehicles are safer, more fuel-efficient, and comply with state regulations for emissions control, fuel efficiency, and safety features such as airbags, seatbelts, and anti-lock brakes (ABS).

Trust Efficiency to take care of your fleet needs! Schedule a consult with our team today to find the best fit for your business.

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What Are The Benefits Of Renting Fleets?

When it comes to running their business, many people bring the same mindset they grew up with to that firm. One of those preconceived ideas is often that buying is always better than renting. The truth is, however, that in many cases renting beats buying. This is particularly true in the case of a business that runs a fleet of trucks.

With Renting Comes More Flexibility 

If a business is cyclical and its projects are varied in size and often come with different requirements, renting offers a much more flexible solution. Renting will allow the firm to use the trucks it needs when it needs them. And when the project is over, those trucks won’t have to be stored and maintained while waiting for the next similar project to come along. The same principle applies to e.g. delivery vehicles. When a business works with an experienced rental firm it will be able to customize its transport needs on a per-project basis to only pay for what it needs. The cost savings involved in that alone is often enough reason to choose to rent your fleet over buying.

Reduced Maintenance, Insurance, And Storage Costs 

Renting trucks and other vehicles shifts most or all of the maintenance burden to the rental firm. Depending on the contract, maintenance can be partly or fully the responsibility of the rental company. This includes everything from routine services to attending to roadside breakdowns a thousand miles away. Plus the rental firm takes care of insuring those vehicles.

Another direct benefit of this is that the rental firm takes care of recruiting and carrying the cost of maintenance staff. There is no longer any need for the client to employ a team of technicians that are not always fully utilized.

When a company owns a fleet of vehicles, it also has to make provisions for storing them. If this is done on-site it will require a large capital investment plus long-term maintenance costs. Alternatively, the company will have to rent storage space from a third party, which can be very expensive. With renting a fleet that responsibility is of course transferred to the fleet rental firm.

Renting Makes It Much Easier To Update Your Fleet 

When a business buys its own vehicles, those vehicles will sooner or later have to be replaced or the issue of unscheduled breakdowns will start rearing its ugly head. Some firms follow a staggered approach, i.e. they replace a percentage of their vehicles every year or two. Others base the decision on the truck or other vehicle’s mileage.

Another reason fleets often have to be updated is the need for new equipment and features. Technology is changing rapidly and if a new contract comes along that requires the most technologically advanced features it could force your company to either make a huge investment or lose the deal.

Rental firms regularly update their fleets to make sure they always have the latest vehicles in stock. They typically replace their trucks, delivery vehicles, etc., after six months or a year to ensure that their fleets always offer what their clients need.

Renting Your Fleet Means No More Idle Vehicle Costs 

Vehicles that are sitting idle will still cost their owners money. The list here includes fuel that goes bad, seals that deteriorate, routine maintenance, fluids that have to be replaced, and tires that start rotting and cracking – particularly if the vehicle is standing outside in the sun.

Vehicles that are not garaged or covered can also suffer damage in the form of plastic and dashes that crack and become brittle, fading paint, etc.

A business that rents its fleet can focus on its core business activities while the rental firm takes care of vehicles. Looking to expand your fleet or perhaps you’re just getting started? Trust Efficiency to take care of the hard work for you! Contact us today!

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How Truck Wraps Can Be Used To Generate Impressions For Your Business

There is a good reason why so many businesses use vehicle wraps, and more specifically truck wraps, to market their products and services.

Based on research carried out by the OAAA (Outdoor Advertising Association of America) this is one of the most cost-effective ways to promote your business. Let us take a closer look at how truck wraps can be used to generate impressions for your business.

Truck Wraps Reach A Wide Audience 

According to OAAA data, a single truck wrap is able to generate anything from 30,000 to 80,000 impressions (views) every day, depending on the size and population of the city where your trucks are being used. The OAAA also recently stated that vehicle wraps can be used to reach no less than 95 percent of Americans.

Truck Wraps Are Memorable 

In a poll conducted by Cox Communications among millennials (people between the ages of 18 and 34) a while ago, it came to light that nearly half (47%) of this very important market segment find vehicle wraps easy to remember. In other words, you won’t be paying for advertising that most people will forget within the next 5 minutes.

Truck Wraps Are Among The Most Cost-Effective Ways Of Advertising 

The return on investment should always be an important factor to consider when choosing from among the many different marketing options. The reality here is that, when it comes to the cost per 1,000 impressions, truck wraps are hard to beat. According to research recently carried out by Arbitron, Inc., the cost of truck wraps starts at about $0.35 for every 1,000 impressions. Most other options are much more expensive. Outdoor signage will, for example, cost a business around $3.56 for every thousand impressions. The cost of radio advertising is more than double that at around $7.75/1,000. And when it comes to television advertising, the cost is about three times higher than radio at $23.70 for every thousand impressions.

Truck Wraps Are Perfect To Reach A Local Market 

Let’s face it: with nearly any other form of advertising your business will be paying to reach, not only its target audience, but also many people who will never become customers because they simply live too far away. Truck wraps don’t suffer from that shortcoming. If your trucks are moving around in a specific area, its people most likely form part of your target market. And they can easily and cost-effectively be reached with eye-catching truck wrap ads.

Truck Wraps Are Less Invasive Than Many Other Forms Of Advertising 

With many other forms of advertising, the potential customer is busy doing something else and your advertisement interrupts whatever he or she is doing. They might actually find your ad so intrusive that they subconsciously block it from memory. Truck wraps, on the other hand, do not interrupt anybody’s journey. Because they are part of the traffic scenery, they blend in more seamlessly. Yet, as we have seen above, their messages tend to linger longer in the minds of viewers.

Looking to add truck advertising to your marketing plans? Let Efficiency handle the design, installation and tracking for you! Contact us today.

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