Choosing the Perfect Vehicle for Your Delivery Service

One way to help extend the life of your delivery service vehicle is to take proper care of it: check and change the oil, keep the tyres in good condition, and have all the MOTs that you need to ensure vehicular health. With the majority of your time spent out on the road moving goods to and from different locations for different clients, the wear and tear on your vehicle can add up over time. But sometimes, you do need to replace a vehicle.

Whether you are a long-standing delivery service driver and want to update your ride, or are just getting started in the world of delivery driving, there are a few things to keep in mind when you are choosing the perfect work vehicle.

Engine size

One of the temptations of looking for a new vehicle for your delivery service is to go with the idea that ‘bigger is better’. This simply isn’t true. If you're driving a small vehicle around the flatter roads in the southern part of the UK, you can do without an engine big enough to push a lorry up and down the Alps! Although you want to be sure not to go over on your engine size, as it may eat into your petrol mileage and cost efficiency, on the other hand, you don’t want a vehicle that is too weak to get up any speed or oomph or sustain your work capacity.

Petrol vs Diesel

When it comes to choosing a new vehicle for your delivery service, you also need to consider the pros and cons of choosing a petrol or a diesel engine. There are some obvious considerations when it comes to the size of vehicle and how far your professional scope goes, and these (and many other) factors play a part. Sound and noise used to be a big factor (as historically diesels are louder), but today the difference is negligible. However, what it might come down to is money spent vs money saved. Diesel vehicles often cost more at purchase price, but they also tend to retain their value when it comes time to sell or trade them in. Diesel is more expensive per litre than petrol, but when you compare the costs of diesel against that of petrol over time, diesel engines are almost always cheaper to run overall.

Size matters

If your delivery service specialises in small loads and you don’t expect to want to carry large cargo, clearly it would be uneconomical to invest in a large van or truck. Likewise, if you know that you will be delivering larger items, look for a vehicle or van that fits your needs so you won't have to replace it too soon. Some options for smaller vehicles are those with three doors: two in the front and one in the rear. These often have no windows in the rear storage area - some examples are the Volkswagen Caddy and the Skoda Roomster, and Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat all have versions as well. Larger vans come in a variety of prices and sizes, from the high-end Mercedes and BMWs, to the range of Volkswagens, Fiats, and many more. Regardless of what you choose, make your decision based on cost, projected use, size and longevity.