Commercial Van Solutions

  Buying a used van - the golden rules The second-hand market is usually the easiest and cheapest route into van ownership. However, while there are thousands of commercial van to choose from, it's important to protect yourself from unscrupulous sellers and dodgy van dealers by noting some golden used buying rules.  Panel vans come in a huge range of sizes and interior configurations, so it’s important to take some time to work out what you need from the vehicle. Do you need lots of carrying capacity and a powerful engine or will something compact and economical fit the bill? Some vans will be sold with load coverings, ladder racks, roof bars and internal racking systems. If you need these items then they will potentially save your business time and money. But be realistic about your daily van needs and don’t fall into the trap of paying extra for features that you’ll never use.  There are two golden rules for buying a used van. The first is to always buy ...

The UK food and drinks industry is a challenging place to be right now, and many businesses may be struggling to compete. With customers expecting fast and flexible service, could  refrigerated van hire help your fleet to keep up with the demand for deliveries? Supermarkets struggle The food and drinks industry is competitive at the best of times, and now a recent report from Kantar Worldpanel shows that UK grocery sales have fallen for the first time in two decades. The reported value of sales fell by 0.2% for the 12 weeks to 9 November, in comparison to the same period last year. Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons all suffered from falling sales figures, but sales at budget supermarket Aldi flew up by more than 25%, while sales at Lidl also rose by 16.8%. Big supermarket chains have had a difficult period as shoppers head to discount retailers. Grocery prices have also been pushed down by 0.4% thanks to fierce price competition between supermark...

“To have or not to have a  sprinter work van , that is a question?” I apologize for paraphrasing that monument of English literature that Shakespeare is but that may be a question you are considering when thinking about buying a van. Here are a few ideas to convince you to buy a  sprinter work van . Starting your own business. Having a van is one of the recognizable signs of business owners. From the building company to the courier company, vans are essential for many activities. Whether you need one to carry supplies or products a van can be of great help as your business grows. You could also consider making and delivering sandwiches for other companies what about creating your own burrito van or your wheeled pub or café. Having a big family When you have more than 3 children you need to invest in a van, that’s a necessity. Yes forget about the estate you loved to drive or your powerful 4x4, vans are your only solution.  Moving Home and Home Improv...

  Interior/Exterior Damage In the daily use of a cargo vehicle, there are many factors that can cause damage inside the vehicle. There are people carelessly throwing objects in the back, loose cargo sliding around and falling, and people working in the back accidentally bumping things against the walls. A recent customer told Legend that he put two nasty dents into the side of his vehicle within the first week of owning his brand new van. These dents cause the paint to crack and flake off on the exterior of the vehicle, lead to rusting and oxidization of the metal and can ruin any graphics that may be on the side of the van. Road Noise The thin outer steel panels of a cargo vehicle are getting thinner by the year, and do very little in the way of reducing road noise. With the noise of the tires on the road, the creaking of the traveling vehicle, and the sound of rocks or other debris flying up and hitting the vehicle, it can be quite irritating for the driver. Temperat...

No matter where you live in the country, your car will eventually fall prey to extreme cold, extreme heat, or both. Rain, snow, sleet, and even too much sunshine can damage your vehicle over time and much of the damage can be irreversible. Of course you want your ride to look nice, but an even bigger looming issue is that even cosmetic damage caused by weather can drastically lower your ride’s resale value. The good news is, you don’t have to take it lying down. With a few strategic preventative measures, you can keep your car in great shape for years to come. In this article, we’ll show you the top auto accessories for protecting your car against harsh weather. All-Weather Floor Mats “All-Weather” is in the name, and like the name suggests these  custom-made, cargo van rubber floor mats  will protect your vehicle in any climate, any time of year. In fact, the general wear and tear that comes from daily driving will wreak havoc on your vehicle’s carpet eventually. B...

BY having a van you can earn a living; although you can lose your investment if you are not adequately covered by the right kind of policy if you ever need to make a claim.  It could leave you unable to replace stolen tools and equipment or without a van at all. Since there are so many ways a van can be used for commercial gain, van insurance costs differ considerably according to the size, model and intended use. Different but obvious factors contribute to increasing the cost of the insurance such as overseas travel and use, the types of goods transported, inclusive legal protection and of course, the make, age and model of the van. There are many other less obvious factors. Specialised cost Some specialised factors significantly increase the insurance cost. These include, Young Drivers: Drivers under 25 are considered high-risk. The insurance cost is very high for all young drivers and it is next to impossible to find affordable van insurance for young...

Outfitting your work van with a ladder rack is one of the best decisions you can make for your business. While most vans are factory made for transportation, you can still optimize their capacity by outfitting them with the right equipment. Whether you are a construction contractor, plumbing contractor, landscaper or roofer, installing a ladder rack will revolutionize your trade. This is a game changer as a ladder rack not only maximizes available space but also enhances safety standards in your operations. A drop-down van ladder rack is just one of the many rack systems that you can select. This article seeks to help you make the right choice when buying a ladder rack for your van. If you are looking for the most efficient ladder rack for your van keep reading: There are many reasons to install a ladder rack on your van the most important ones being: Increasing safety levels: A ladder rack secures bulky cargo safely and keeps everyone safe on the road. More...

We all need a flexible workforce, especially in a small business. That can mean turning your hand to new things – such as driving a van. But driving a van requires different skills from driving a car. So what’s the best advice for a first time van driver? How do you ensure a car driver will be safe and confident driving a van? As an employer or manager, you must make sure that anyone who drives a van on company business is up to the job and knows what to do. It’s also your duty of care . You owe it to them, yourself and other road users. But it also makes sound business sense. You want your drivers to get the job done efficiently – without pranging the van, guzzling lots of diesel or hacking off other motorists in a vehicle emblazoned with your logo. Dr Will Murray is research director at Interactive Driving Systems, which specialises in providing risk management solutions to fleets. He has seen an increase in the number of employees needing to trade up from driv...

Generally speaking, roads in U.S. and Canada are considered safe compared to, say, Southeast Asia. That’s because most drivers know what to do. However, North American roads are plagued by accidents, speeding, and drunk drivers too. Driver discipline, which indicates how good of a driver you are, is crucial to avoiding these common legal problems on the road. When you take your driving lessons, you are given ample lessons on not just how to drive a vehicle, but also how to behave on the road. New drivers learn to follow road signs and respect other drivers on the road. This sound learning theory doesn’t always hold well in public. Even if you are an experienced driver, if you need to look up drinking and driving lawyers online, then something has gone wrong. Being a good driver by becoming more disciplined is just as important as improving your skills as a driver. The two does overlap. Here are several useful tips that would simply make you a better driver less ...

Next year, Ford expects to introduce over-the-air updates for new cars. Software updates are designed to run “in the background” and be seamless. Ford says OTA technology will be more convenient in the long run for owners. Starting next year, Ford will equip most of their newly-redesigned vehicles in the United States to receive, handle, and install over-the-air updates. Sometimes called OTA technology, Ford says it will make it easier for customers to receive necessary quality and capability updates to improve vehicle performance, as well as reduce dealership visits. “Nobody wants to feel like they’re missing out on great features right after spending their hard-earned money on a new vehicle – that’s where our over-the-air updates can help,” explained Don Butler, Executive Director, Connected Vehicle and Services, Ford Motor Company. “We can now help improve your vehicle’s capability, quality, and overall driving experience while you’re sleeping.” When Will For...

According to a MailTrucks. com report, roughly 120 mail trucks have caught fire in the past five years. The fires are not the result of accidents or crashes, but instead have been reported when the trucks are carrying out normal driving duties. The frequency of the fires has some worrying, but the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) continues to use the trucks on a daily basis. While the USPS is gearing up to select its next-generation mail truck, the company currently uses Grumman Long Life Vehicles (LLVs). The Grumman's boxy straight-line design outlines the general U.S. public's perception of what a mail truck looks like, proof it's served duty for quite some time. But recently mail trucks have been seen in the news in drastically different settings. Around the country, LLVs have been engulfed in flames. Thus far, the postal service has not found any specific cause of the fires. Trucks. com details parts of the investigation process: The Postal Service hir...

 America faces a growing shortage of truck drivers, with the latest figures saying more than 50,000 drivers are needed. The problem filling the gap is that company truckers — as opposed to owner/operators — work their heinies off far from home for low pay, which is why industry turnover last year was 96 percent. A story in the Los Angeles Times reports on an unlikely group helping to keep that situation from growing worse: Sikhs. The religious adherents to Sikhism began coming to the U.S. in large numbers in the 1980s, fleeing persecution in India. There are said to be anywhere from 200,000 to 500,000 Sikhs in the U.S., most of them second- and third-generation U.S. citizens. As many as 150,000 drive rigs, from local delivery trucks to Class 8 tractors, with more than 30,000 climbing behind the wheel in the past three years. The trucking population has grown dense enough for the LAT to refer to a "Punjab Highway," after Punjab state in India where Sikhs ...

Being involved in an accident whether you are driving a car or riding a motorcycle can be traumatic to say the least. For this reason, there are things that can be done in order to reduce the chances for a car accident. A simple example would be leaving 20 minutes early to avoid gridlock traffic that starts in nearly every major city at a certain time in the morning and afternoon. The one thing that cannot be controlled is the driving by others so accidents do occur to even the safest of drivers. Knowing what to do is important as this is a stressful situation that needs to be managed carefully for various reasons. The following are tips to reduce your odds for an accident as well as a plan of action of how to respond if involved in an accident. Avoid Driving In Bad Weather When Possible For most people driving in bad weather happens during a commute to or from work. Going to work this can be unavoidable but check the weather report daily as well as in the morning...

It’s hard not to love diesel. It’s powerful, efficient, and easy to access—and that’s exactly why we released the D60 diesel driven air compressor back in 2011. To this day, the D60 continues to be a highly sought-after air compressor in a variety of mobile industries. Let’s talk about 6 of the features that are responsible for the D60’s ongoing success… 6. Get 60 CFM, 100% of the time The D60 utilizes rotary screw technology so no time is wasted waiting for air! Rotary screw air compressors are powerful enough to provide compressed air without an air receiver tank. As soon as you turn your D60 on, it’s ready to deliver 60 CFM of continuous air, 100% of the time. Operators with the D60 can get their work done faster and drastically improve productivity. 5. Reduce GVW with lighter, more efficient parts VMAC’s D60 is over 250 pounds lighter than comparable diesel air compressors, without making any compromises on air flow or pressure. That’s because VMAC enginee...

5 Reasons Diesel Air Compressors Are Still Popular   In North America and Europe, there’s always been a market for diesel vehicles and air compressors. Even as new technologies emerge, diesel has remained a favorite fuel for many operators. In this article, we’re going to share 5 reasons diesel air compressors are still popular. 5. Operators Drive Diesel Vehicles Nobody wants to fill up with two different types of fuel. The most common reason an operator will choose a diesel air compressor is because they drive a diesel vehicle. Choosing an air compressor that also requires diesel is simple, convenient, and reduces the risk of an accidental mix-up at the pumps. Plus, some air compressors—like the VMAC D60—can be plumbed directly into the vehicle’s fuel source. It doesn’t get easier than that! 4. High Flash Point Prevents Accidents Nobody likes to explode. That’s just a fact and diesel air compressors are safer in environments where random sparks may occur. ...

Ford is expanding the way shoppers can personalize the 2020 Ranger with an FX2 off-road package for two-wheel-drive versions of the new-to-us mid-size pickup. Like the Ford Ranger's FX4 Off-Road Package that's already available, FX2 buyers will get off-road-tuned shocks, knobbier tires, an electronic-locking rear differential, front air dam delete and underbody protection as well as an off-road display on the instrument panel display. There just won't be four-wheel drive nor the off-road driving modes that come with the four-wheel-drive FX4. The Ranger FX2 Package will cost $595, or $700 less than the FX4 package, and in addition to driving two fewer wheels, Rangers with FX2 don't include the FX4's Terrain Management driving modes or Trail Control system. Ford is targeting a buyer who wants the tougher looks of an off-road truck but doesn't need to spend extra to get four-wheel drive. We were recently impressed by the effectiveness of the FX4 ...

Be a Safer Driver This Year When You Rent a Van For individuals who have to do a lot of it, driving often feels more like a chore than an adventure. When you rent a van, you may feel stressed, on edge and constantly worried. After all, your belongings are in the cargo area, your mind is on the tasks ahead at your destination, and you are driving a vehicle you are unfamiliar with in the first place. Tips for Safer Driving When You Rent a Van Renting a van does not have to be stressful. Instead, you can de-stress the moving tasks or even business hauling just by driving safely and knowing when to relax. To help you do just that, consider the following: Give yourself extra time . Because you are unfamiliar with how the van may work or the traffic conditions that lie ahead, why rush your travel experience? Instead, leave early and give yourself as much time as possible. There is no harm arriving early; in fact, knowing you are going to arrive late can make the tr...