What are the most important considerations when buying a truck?
- Total operating expenses
- Truck function and purpose
- Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
- Normal driving conditions
- Safety and comfort features
You probably already know this but buying a commercial truck for your business is a serious investment that you have to think long and hard about. It’s not the actual purchase that you have to stress about (some businesses really do need a truck for their daily operations) but the kind of truck to go with. The market offers a lot of options for those looking to own and operate a commercial truck in the Philippines like those from Japan surplus and so many others.
Although it’s always nice to have a wide variety to choose from, it can also make your search quite difficult. At the price these vehicles are going at right now, there’s little to no room for bad decisions. Six- to seven-digits worth of money is at stake here. Losing that much is sure to put a dent in your business, and not just financially. Ending up with the wrong kind of commercial truck can also lower employee productivity, therefore reducing the overall quality of your services.
Sure, you may be able to get back up from this incident, but wouldn’t you much rather avoid it altogether? There’s a surefire way to end up with the perfect truck for your business, and that’s to consider the most important things. As for what these considerations are, simply read more to find out!
Total Operating Expenses
So many buyers make the mistake of only calculating initial vehicle cost and deliberately ignoring other expenses needed to make the truck operational. We’re talking about the additional costs required such as fuel, maintenance, repair, and insurance. These things are just as important, if not more, than the actual truck itself, so don’t exclude them when you’re calculating your budget!
It should already be apparent given that we’ve put this at the top of the list but in case it isn’t, the budget should always be your number one consideration. Without a set budget, you risk over-spending for a truck you may not be able to use.
Additionally, you can always disclose your budget, along with other important considerations, to a trusted truck seller and they’ll point you to units that fit your needs.
Truck Function and Purpose
Most, if not all, the decisions you make in relation to buying a truck depend greatly on the vehicle’s function and purpose. Commercial trucks are more commonly used for the transport of goods and materials but they aren’t limited to just that. Several commercial truck types exist such as tow trucks, dump trucks, cement trucks, and refrigeration trucks, and you need to decide which one is necessary for your business.
If you’re looking for a truck that can serve multiple functions, then make sure to prioritize its primary job or purpose. After you’ve decided on the truck’s function, you can then start scouting for one that is specifically designed to effectively perform those.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
If you’re solely a business owner and not a truck operator, then there’s a slim chance of you knowing what gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is. If that’s the case then we’ll educate you on the matter and explain why it’s an important consideration.
In a nutshell, GVWR refers to the overall weight capacity of the vehicle. When we say overall weight capacity, we aren’t just talking about the driver, passenger, and load limit. The weight of your vehicle and its accessories and components are included in the calculation of the GVWR.
In order to prevent vehicle damage and ensure road safety, the overall sum of these factors – driver, passenger, load, and vehicle – must never exceed the indicated GVWR. Consequently, this also means that you have to predetermine the maximum load that the truck is going to carry on a regular basis, which puts more importance on the aforementioned consideration.
Normal Driving Conditions
Normal driving conditions often refer to clear skies and paved roads but it may be different in the case of a truck. What’s normal when driving a commercial truck may not be paved roads but rocky and muddy ones; it may not be clear skies but inclement weather and torrential rains.
Many of the features you need to decide on such as transmission type or drive setups should be based on this specific factor. For example, among the two drive setups – two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive – the former is more suitable for on-road while the latter is better utilized off-road. Other components such as engine size, brake systems, and tire types also depend on the driving conditions with which the truck will function.
Safety and Comfort Features
Driver safety and comfort should also be included in your list of things to consider when buying a truck. You may also want to refer to a law book and look for the many safety requirements that need to be met such as properly functioning airbags and seat belts as well as regular maintenance and upkeep.
For driver comfort, you’d certainly want your employees to work in the best possible condition, so don’t skimp on any comfort features. Air conditioning, power windows, cruise control, easy exit and entry, and other similar features are almost a must especially if your drivers are required to go on long road trips.
It may cause your budget to increase a bit but you’ll be thankful for it soon after since these comfort features are bound to increase driver productivity and satisfaction. In the end, you and your business only going to benefit from this.
Key Takeaway
In recent years, truck options have increased almost tenfold and renowned truck brands have been made available in the Philippines like Japan surplus. With the state of the trucking market as it is, we can understand how buying a truck for business operations can be a challenge for anyone.
Still, however, there’s no need to panic and throw your money down the drain by going straight for the most expensive ones. The best thing to do is to keep these considerations in mind while you search and/or buy a truck. If you can do that, then you’re bound to end up with the perfect purchase!
