Specifying the right vehicle at the outset to make sure it’s fit for its intended purpose is one of the keys to long term operational efficiency and reduced operating costs over the life of the vehicle. The appropriate specification may generate higher up-front costs, but these will often be offset by more efficient operation across the vehicle’s service life, in some cases saving the operator money across the life of the vehicle.
On the other hand, a cheaper but poorly specified vehicle, unfit for its intended purpose, could cost more over its service life than one which is initially more expensive but is more appropriate for its intended use. This means that careful consideration needs to be given to each type of vehicle as one size will certainly not ‘fit all.’ While general specifications may need to be made, knowing key elements such as the efficiency of cargo utilisation will ensure you can choose an appropriate vehicle.
The UK Government updated the Government Buying Standards for Transport in December 2017. Whilst primarily aimed at public sector organisations procuring goods or services, any organisation concerned about sustainable procurement may choose to follow the standards or to specify them in tenders.
The LoCITY Commercial Vehicle Finder Tool provides fleet managers with information about alternatively fuelled commercial vehicles that are available in the market.
When considering the purchase or replacement of vehicles, it’s important to understand the needs of your fleet and then to consider the best-in-class vehicle based on these parameters. This includes asking questions such as:
What is the maximum payload required? Will choosing a different fuel type reduce payload space?
What load space is required? Can the same trips be run with lighter or smaller vehicles? Or can trips be avoided by using higher capacity vehicles?
What do driving patterns look like? How will refuelling costs or patterns affect operations?
How does the vehicle perform on emissions and safety testing? What benefits (eg regulatory compliance, cost savings, less driver fatigue) will this deliver?
What equipment comes as standard and what factory-fitted or aftermarket options might further improve your efficiency?
Will you buy or lease?
What is the whole life cycle cost/total cost of ownership of your chosen vehicle?
To help you determine whole life cycle costs, consider using a fleet management software package. For more considerations, please see Zemo Partnership’s Low Emission Van Guide.
Organisations considering reducing emissions from their van fleet can sign up to the Clean Van Commitment to get free access to masterclass and resources.
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