Managing fleet vehicles can be challenging, but not if you have the power of telematics at your disposal. It’s a modern technology that allows you to seamlessly keep track of your fleet and stay in touch with them at all times.
Telematics comes in handy if you have a large fleet, where multiple items are being loaded and unloaded off a truck every few minutes. Realistically, you would have to be at several locations at the same time, for the entire operation to run smoothly. However, that is impossible since you can’t be in two places at once. And that’s where you take advantage of telematics.
It allows you to monitor many locations and drivers at one time. So, you can keep track of any irregularities and make adjustments when necessary.
Advantages for Refrigerated transport
The tracking suite works best with temperature-controlled vehicles as it allows you to remotely control the thermostat. You can maintain the temperature, and increase or decrease it depending on the situation.
Moreover, you can monitor the temperature for individual loads while they are in transit. For example, if you have frozen fish and vegetables in the same compartment, you would want the fish to be colder than the vegetables to maintain their freshness on delivery. The telematics suite allows you to do just that and a lot more.
Another advantage is cargo safety and timely delivery, which can be enforced with the help of telematics. Since you will be able to track the goods from their source to the endpoint, you will have full control of their security and movement. You could force the driver to move faster, and in the event of a theft, you would be able to catch the culprit red-handed.
Conclusion
Telematics works well for refrigerated transport vehicles. It’s a gift that has made goods transport a breeze for the modern fleet owner.
It is incredibly difficult to buy a vehicle nowadays. That’s because automobile prices have risen consistently over the past few years. You have no other option but to finance a loan or go for a lease to purchase something decent.
The two terms are commonly used, but not many people know what they mean. Is a loan or a lease better for you? Should you prefer either option if you intend to buy a refrigerated vehicle?
To find out, let’s get into the details.
Lease
In a lease agreement, you rent the vehicle while it is in someone else’s name. In essence, the person you are renting from owns the vehicle, and you pay them a monthly stipend. Once the lease period ends, you must return the vehicle and pay for any damages that might have occurred during that time.
In some lease agreements, you can pay a specified amount by the end of the period to buy the vehicle and transfer ownership.
Financing
Loan financing is a simple concept. If you want to purchase a refrigerated vehicle, you can approach a bank and show them the vehicle you want to buy. They will provide you the money based on your credit history and financial situation. You must pay back the money in monthly installments plus interest that the bank will charge for its services.
Which one is better?
There is no short answer. Each business owner or a fleet operator has to analyze all pros and cons and conclude the optimal choice. This is because the monthly rent in a lease is usually not that high, and the ownership rests with the leasing authority. If you decide to sell your truck before the agreement ends, you can do so without any repercussions. In a loan, you have to pay the amount every month and keep the truck well-maintained by yourself.
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc across the globe, and under its influence, several industries have been forced to shut down. As a result, we are witnessing an acute shortage of all kinds of things, from electronics to non-perishable food items to perishable goods. In these tough times, the transport industry has also been hit hard, but most of the people employed here have been able to survive better than others. That’s because goods need to be taken from their source to the markets worldwide and without truckers this job is impossible.
Among all the truckers, one niche has seen a considerable rise in demand – temperature-controlled transportation.
The pandemic has caused a rise in the demand for packaged goods because people prefer bacteria-free products over regular organic food. This way, there is less transfer of germs from one person to another.
According to statistics, large-scale retailers experienced a 20-30% surge in the demand for temperature-controlled goods. That simply means that if there is demand for goods there must be a complementary demand for cold transportation.
The time is right for anyone looking to invest in a temperature-controlled transport fleet. You will be able to take advantage of the current lockdown conditions and make huge gains in the process. And even if lockdown restrictions are lifted, there will still be a healthy demand for packaged goods. So, you will be safe in the future as well.
Moreover, making a heavy investment in current market conditions will only help newcomers infiltrate the industry deeper. The Covid-19 pandemic isn’t going anywhere, and we are seeing wave after wave of rising cases with no end in sight. Experts believe that restrictive conditions will prevail for the next few years. So, now is the best time to get yourself a refrigerated transport truck.