Types of Commercial Trucks

• The major manufacturers produce cargo vans and pickup trucks specifically equipped for commercial use. The "work truck" packages are designed for business use, driven by employees and cost effective. Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge offer commercial vans and pickups in a wide variety of sizes and configurations. You need to know how the business plans to use the new commercial truck to pick the one that is equipped correctly for the job.
  
  Other commercial trucks come from the truck manufacturer as incomplete vehicles or chassis cabs. These trucks require additional equipment or bodies installed so they can perform their intended tasks. Common types of commercial trucks that start as incomplete vehicles are box trucks, flatbed trucks, dump trucks, refrigerated trucks, tow trucks and water trucks. The outfitting and final manufacture of one of these trucks is significantly more complicated and often includes specialty equipment to accomplish certain types of jobs.
  
  

Buying Commercial Trucks

• For the purchase of commercial vans or pickups, find a dealership of the brand of your choice with a commercial sales department. The dealer commercial department should have a large, diverse inventory of work trucks and salesmen with years of experience helping businesses with their vehicle needs. A good commercial salesman will ask how you are going to use the truck then make recommendations based on how you plan to work the truck.
  
  For a truck with an added body or equipment, you need to find a dealership and salesperson with experience in outfitting trucks. Truck and body specifications, load factors and legal requirements can be complicated. You should receive a written proposal with the truck and equipment specifications. The more information you can provide on how you will use the truck, the better the proposal.
  
  

Prices and Financing

• Pricing and financing work a little differently on the commercial side of the dealership. The commercial salesperson is looking for long-term relationships with her customers and should provide a market competitive price on the first proposal. If this is your first commercial truck, get proposals from a couple of dealerships to find one with which you are comfortable.
  
  The financing of a commercial vehicle is usually based on the financial standing of the business purchasing the truck. The dealership will get the financing through a source that specializes in commercial vehicles. Profit and loss and balance sheets from the business may be required to get approval. If the business is new or does not have established credit, a personal guarantee from one or more of the principals may be required. The financing of commercial vehicles through a quality commercial lender is a good way to build business credit. For a newer business, it is a great day when the next truck can be financed on the business' own credit and a personal guarantee is not required.