rental truck

Expanding into a new market, lane or delivery model is a significant investment, but using commercial rental trucks can offer a low-risk, cost-effective way to gauge demand before committing to longer-term assets, reducing financial risk.

Taking Advantage of Market Trends

One of the top benefits of rental trucks is their flexibility, which allows businesses to scale up or down quickly based on market demand or changes to their operations. If a market performs well, companies can extend rentals or transition to leasing or ownership. If demand is lower than expected, they can scale down or exit without significant financial losses or a long-term commitment.

Finding the Best Match

Matching the right vehicle type to the operational needs helps optimize efficiency and control costs. Rentals can also allow companies to test different types and sizes of equipment to determine what works best.

Penske offers a diverse fleet of rental trucks that can be matched to different operational needs, including:

• Cargo Vans: Cargo vans, also known as sprinter vans, are often ideal for last-mile deliveries, rapid replenishment of high-moving items and small parcel services, and urban logistics. They are also a perfect solution for service-based businesses, such as electricians and plumbers, that are expanding operations.
  
• Electric Cargo Vans: Companies looking to test electric vehicles or add sustainable options to their fleet can rent electric high-roof cargo vans that have an estimated range of 100+ miles. They have 450 cubic feet of loading space and up to 3,300 lb. payload.
  
• Light and Medium-Duty Box Trucks: Box trucks, also called straight trucks, are available in 12 to 26 foot sizes. These can be useful for companies testing new store locations, expanding service areas or evaluating customer demand in new markets. Many box trucks do not require drivers to have a commercial driver’s license, which can help companies expand their driver pool.
  
• Refrigerated Trucks: Penske Truck Rental offers 16 foot cabover refrigerated trucks and 18 to 26 foot refrigerated trucks with CDL and non-CDL options. CDL-required trucks have up to a 15,000 lb. payload capacity, while non-CDL trucks have up to an 8,000 lb. payload.
  
• Flatbed Trucks: Commercial rental flatbed trucks are perfect for transporting a wide range of medium-duty cargo. Options include 24 to 26 foot non-CDL flatbed trucks with up to 20,000 lb. payload capacity and 24 to 26 foot CDL-required flatbed trucks with up to 18,000 lb. payload capacity.
• Class 8 Tractors: Penske has heavy-duty Class 8 sleeper and day cab tractors for companies hauling larger payloads.

Tapping Into Trailers

Trailers provide flexible solutions for companies looking to scale up or down or test new strategies, such as trailer pools for drop-and-hook operations or cross-docking. Trailers can also serve as short-term storage, allowing companies to gauge demand before investing in warehouse space. Options include 48 and 53 foot dry van trailers, 40 to 53 foot flatbed trailers and 53 foot refrigerated trailers.

All commercial rentals, including trailers, include maintenance and roadside support. To learn more about leveraging short-term rental solutions to expand operations while minimizing risk, contact us at 844-906-3404.