If you’re running a local business that offers deliveries to your customers or moving services for clients, a delivery truck is definitely a great investment. There are several commercial vehicles you can consider, but if you’ve decided that a box truck is well-suited to your business, there are still various factors to look into. For example, if you talk to a trusted Fuso gas truck dealer, you will discover that the cargo box comes in different sizes. There will also be differences among the Mitsubishi Fuso FE models in terms of specifications.
Box trucks, also referred to as cube trucks, essentially have two parts: the cube-shaped cargo container and the cab area. Unlike a step van or walk-in truck where you can access the cargo area through a door in the cab, a box truck driver has to get out of the cab and walk around to where the cargo box’s doors are (usually at the back or on one side) to take out the deliveries or cargo.
If you go directly to a truck manufacturer, you could only be getting the basic cab chassis and wheelbase without the box. But if you check out a dependable Fuso gas truck dealer, you can get an all-in-one unit that’s ready for driving and making deliveries. You could also be offered with pre-owned trucks for sale that still have decent mileage for greater savings.
So how should you pick the perfect box truck for your local business? Below are just some of the major factors to consider:
Fuel consumption
Box trucks are either gas-powered or diesel-powered. Gas trucks are much cheaper, have lower maintenance costs, and are generally ideal for light cargo and short distances. Thus, they’re perfect for local businesses making deliveries or moving stuff to nearby communities. Diesel trucks, in contrast, have better fuel economy and lasts longer, making them ideal for heavier hauls over long distances.
Check out our post about Mitsubishi FUSO Gas-Powered Truck vs. Medium-Duty Diesel Truck for more information.
Size of cargo space
Our range of Fuso units comes in box sizes of 16, 18 and 20 feet. While you might feel that it’s best to have the biggest box, you should carefully assess your options if you’re on a tight budget considering that bigger box trucks can be more expensive. On the other hand, if your cargo space isn’t enough, you could be wasting time, fuel and money making multiple trips on a supposedly single delivery or job order.
Weight capacity
Even the Mitsubishi Fuso FE models have different recommended (estimated) maximum body and/or payload capacities. Make sure to determine the total weight of the items your business usually delivers and compare it to the technical specifications detailed by the truck chassis/cab manufacturer. As a rule, never go beyond the recommended weight capacities even if there’s still space in the box, as the chassis isn’t strong enough to handle loads beyond the recommended weight.
Total height of truck
The factors to consider when determining the appropriate height of the box truck to procure are the following:
- Height clearances of underpass and tunnels along the truck’s delivery routes; and
- Height clearances of warehouses and buildings the truck will usually have to enter.
Visit an established local gas Fuso truck dealer for more in-depth information on the dimensions your box truck should have to drive around the roads in and around your area.
Length of cargo box
First, make sure that the cargo box is of the same length (or a bit shorter) than the truck’s wheelbase to ensure proper weight distribution and prevent the box from cupping into the rear tires. Second, the length of cargo space is an important consideration especially when you’re delivering items that are usually long such as wood planks, sofas, beds, beams and posts, among others.
Height of cargo box
The available height of the cargo space is an important consideration if your deliveries involve items that are usually tall, including refrigerators, cabinets that shouldn’t be laid down on their sides, tall statues and plants, among others.
Cargo box doors
The type of cargo box doors can affect the efficiency of your delivery personnel. For one, swing doors provide the largest possible opening for the cargo box but can generally cause difficulties and/or complexities when delivering in tight urban situations or reverse-driving into loading docks. On the other hand, roll-up doors provide greater efficiency and added safety, among other advantages. However, roll-up doors may not maximize your net cargo area due to the mechanism that has to be assembled to house the rolled-up door away.
Learn more from an established truck dealer
Truck-n-Trailer is an Oklahoma-based Fuso gas truck dealer offering a variety of new and used commercial vehicle options to customers in the US and abroad. Get in touch with us today to procure the delivery trucks you need for your business.
