Hire a refrigerated van fleet to access great service at minimal cost

Vehicle acquisition makes up a huge part of business fleet costs, particularly when that fleet operates within a cold chain. In this blog, we examine why refrigerated truck rental holds the key to acquiring high-quality service at a low cost.

Why choose refrigerated vans?

First thing’s first - which vehicle model is best for your business needs? Needless to say, there is a healthy demand for refrigerated HGVS. However, for many small businesses operating a cold chain, refrigerated vans can pose the best solution.

Refrigerated transport is often used for relatively small loads - such as online food shopping, events catering, or fresh produce deliveries to small stores. In each of these situations, a refrigerated van may be the most suitably sized vehicle.

On top of this, congestion on the roads is getting worse. Research by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) found that vehicle traffic has increased by 5% since 2000, while the length of the road network rose by just 1.3%. The IEA also claims that a delay of just two minutes to every car journey totals an economic loss of around £16 billion a year. Luckily, small refrigerated vans can offer generous loading space, while also being easy to maneuver, park, and unload in busy urban areas.

The UK is also currently experiencing a nationwide shortage of qualified HGV drivers, which is only expected to intensify in the short term future. The current shortage of 45,000 drivers is already a serious problem, making it difficult for some business fleets to find the right employees. 

As reported in The Grocer, Reynolds Catering Supplies recently launched its own driver development scheme to tackle the shortage. However, this six-month process costs the company around £6,000 per driver, which may put this unique approach beyond the budget and timescale of smaller business fleets.

Big demand for refrigerated transport

Consumers are becoming increasingly accustomed to buying almost any food product at any time of the year, from a local shop or delivery service. This service is made possible by innovative sourcing and distribution strategies, and refrigerated vehicles play an important part in this. As demand for these specialist vehicles increases, it may become more difficult to acquire the right models for your business. However, leasing providers should carry a large stock of vehicles to meet customer needs.

High costs and risks associated with cargo

Any business fleet that transports perishable and frozen food must ensure compliance with quality and safety standards. If a delivery is not properly stored and transported, products can become damaged and potentially dangerous (in the case of seafood, for instance!)

Large costs associated with vehicle acquisition

The biggest challenge that refrigerated fleets face is keeping costs down and service quality up. Recent advances in refrigerated transport technology have led to better food safety, reduced energy consumption, and lower environmental impacts - but these advances often come at a high price.

High fees stemming from vehicle maintenance

The maintenance costs associated with refrigerated vehicles aren’t cheap. Essentially, two sets of services are required - both from experts qualified to repair the vehicle body, and experts qualified to repair the refrigeration technology. This can easily mean double the costs if you can’t get the correct maintenance package in place.