Guide to Choosing the Right Truck Rental for your Commercial Fleet

For commercial fleet managers, the need for work trucks change throughout the year, with a greater demand during some seasons than others. They may also experience a higher need for work trucks during specific projects or contract periods. For financially savvy commercial fleet managers, the choice to rent commercial trucks during these peaks rather than purchasing saves on fixed expenses to reserve cash flow while ensuring too many unused work trucks don’t sit in the lot during the off-season.

Tips for Choosing a Commercial Fleet Truck Rental

Choosing the right truck rental to augment your commercial fleet depends on your goals and budget.

Determine Your Ideal Truck Rental

While you already have an extensive fleet, you’ll want to consider the most effective—and price-effective—option for augmenting your fleet during your peak needs. Though you may usually require a service body vehicle or crane truck, you may only require a standard-duty pickup truck to augment your fleet if your functionality and storage needs are already taken care of with your regular fleet. You should also consider the towing capacity, power, and handling required for your projected needs.

Standard Duty (1/2-ton)

Standard-duty trucks are great for most standard commercial needs, towing general payloads, hauling supplies and equipment, and navigating rugged terrain. These trucks are smaller and typically have a smoother, quieter ride around town. They are also easier to park and drive on narrow roads in urban areas, making them a great fit if you plan to use your standard-duty truck rental for more city and/or commuting driving. That said, our standard-duty truck rentals have upgraded all-terrain 10 ply rated tires (Load Range E) and 4-wheel drive,, so they can handle rugged terrain well.

Heavy Duty (3/4-ton)

Our heavy duty pickup truck rentals have larger engines and enhanced transmissions so they can handle transporting larger loads such as large fifth-wheel trailers, large construction materials, or towing heavy loads.

Heavy duty trucks can be more difficult to maneuver and park, and can be more expensive to rent than standard-duty trucks. We typically recommend utilizing a standard-duty pickup truck unless you require a heavy duty truck for its capabilities.

Discuss Budget

There are many financial benefits to renting with a work truck rental company vs. purchasing additional vehicles for your fleet during peak periods, but one of the largest has to do with tying up cash. Strategically using truck rentals to augment your commercial fleet 

Consider the Company

The commercial truck rental company you choose is an important factor when you are renting to augment an existing fleet. You have a process for keeping things running smoothly, and the work truck rental company should fit seamlessly into this process, not hinder it. Look for a work truck rental company that is experienced with your type of industry and needs, and that is willing to provide the level of customer service you need.

Building relationships with a work truck rental company can be an asset as these relationships can help ensure you get optimal pricing, rental terms, and management of maintenance/rental issues, etc. Fleet augmentation rentals tend to be longer term, so you want to ensure you’re working with a company you trust as it will be more difficult to switch providers midway through a project should something go wrong.

Learn More

If you’re not sure which type of truck is right for you or if you have questions about work truck rentals, please reach out. We are happy to help!