by NationaLease San Diego | May 10, 2021 | Commercial Electric Trucks
While most businesses focus on reducing costs and increasing profits, let’s take a little closer look at the challenges faced by business owners running a small fleet of commercial vehicles.
Reducing Costs
For those business owners, reducing costs can be tackled several ways. Costs can arise from rising fuel costs, fines due to lack of compliance with Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, and accidents. Fleet scheduling efficiencies which include right sizing your fleet to meet the demands of your clients is a way to avoid some of these costs.
Fuel Costs
Fuel cost began a fairly sharp rise in around 2004, where the average price of fuel was just over $1.50 per gallon. That climb topped in the summer of 2008 where fuel was over $4.10 per gallon. By the end of 2009, the fuel prices dropped back to just over $1.70 per gallon where they began yet another climb to nearly $4.00 per gallon again. In the past couple years, prices have fluctuated from $2 to $3 per gallon on average, nationwide, all formulations of retail gasoline and diesel.
Planning for those prices changes is a challenge and the costs vary depending upon the number of commercial trucks in your fleet. The good news is that powerful, electric technology is helping to minimize and/or eliminate the need for diesel powered trucks.
That’s why C&M Motors has partnered with SEA Electric to help you overcome the unpredictable costs of fuel. These exciting new electric trucks will deliver power and efficiency, and even help reduce maintenance costs. Overall, the cost of ownership is well worth the investment.
Accidents
Accidents involving your fleet drivers can be a huge expense to your business. These expenses come not just from the costs of truck repair, but also in loss of productivity, damage and worker comp claims, insurance increases, and potential lawsuits. Equipping your fleet with the latest safety equipment such as automatic braking, backup cameras, and telematics are a great way to reduce these risks.
Right Sizing and Maintaining Your Fleet Vehicles
Another way to keep costs in line is through good fleet management and having a fleet that keeps your committed deliveries on time without having too many idle vehicles. Another important aspect is vehicle maintenance. When your fleet is well-maintained, there are less unexpected failures and the need for extra trucks is minimized. Having a good partner for fleet maintenance can help you run a profitable operation. C&M Motors/NationaLease offers HinoCare, a planned maintenance program to help you stay on schedule and on budget.
Why NationaLease
C&M Motors/NationaLease is a locally owned and operated family business serving the greater San Diego area since 1982.
Give us a call to learn more.
NationaLease of San Diego
Your Full-Service Leasing Company!
www.nationaleasesd.com
by NationaLease San Diego | Dec 23, 2020 | Commercial Truck Leasing
There still is time to receive some amazing tax incentives for 2020. NationaLease San Diego has several models ready for delivery so you can take advantage of the tax benefits.
When you purchase a truck for business purposes and begin using it, you can apply the benefit of the “Section 179 deduction”. Section 179 of the IRS code was enacted to help small businesses take a depreciation for capital expenditures in one year, rather than depreciating over the useful life of item purchased.
For example, if you purchase a commercial truck to enhance your fleet or to replace trucks that are nearing their end of service life, you can deduct the full cost of the truck in one year. The truck must be purchased and put into service during the year in which you claim the deduction.
There are some annual limits on the amounts that can be deducted per Section 179. For 2020, the cap for total write-off is $1,040,000 and the limit for the total amount purchased is $2.5 million. The deduction decreases after $2.5 million is spent and is not available for total purchases over $3.5 million, thus making this tax incentive truly focused on small and medium businesses.
All businesses that purchase, finance, and lease new and used business equipment during the 2020 tax year potentially quality for Section 179 Deductions. Commercial truck leasing and purchase are among the eligible goods. For most small businesses, the entire cost of a truck purchase could be written-off on the 2020 tax return.
If you have any questions about Section 179 Deductions, our knowledgeable staff at NationaLease of San Diego is here to help. We have some excellent resources on our website to help you get started. Visit https://www.section179.org/section_179_deduction to get all the details.
Of course, we recommend you also consult with your accountant as he/she will know best about your particular business expenses and other planned deductions for your business in Tax Year 2020. Thank you for considering NationaLease of San Diego. Our family-owned business has been serving the greater San Diego area for 37 years. We look forward to helping you with all your commercial truck needs.
NationaLease of San Diego
Your Full-Service Leasing Company!
www.nationaleasesd.com
by NationaLease San Diego | Sep 28, 2020 | The Refrigerator Truck (Reefer Truck)
Refrigerated trucks are hot commodities that never lose their appeal. Adding a reefer truck to your fleet expands your capabilities and can put you miles ahead of the competition. From fresh food to flowers, a refrigerated truck gives you the freedom and flexibility to deliver quality products to customers who are minutes down the road or many hours away.
Reefer trucks come in a broad range of styles and sizes. You can configure your vehicle to deliver fresh meat, produce, dairy goods, etc. It’s even possible to select a vehicle ideally suited for your typical delivery area. For example, the size and steering characteristics of the 2021 M and L Series provides superior maneuverability. This makes these vehicles perfectly suited for operating as delivery trucks in urban environments. Moreover, the range of body styles, interior racks, and refrigeration units available allow you to customize your refrigerated truck for ease of access, cooling capacity, cargo capacity, and the delivery range best suited for your operations.
The bottom line is that adding a refrigerated truck to your fleet allows you to increase your delivery schedule, expand your service area, and helps ensure that the perishable products you transport won’t be rejected or returned due to spoilage. Thus, adding a refrigerated truck to your fleet generates considerable savings that add up quickly. This makes a new reefer truck a cost-effective investment that will pay for itself. In fact, it is not uncommon for clients to purchase one truck, and then return in the not too distant future to purchase additional refrigerated vehicles as business plans are realized, and operational needs expand.
Finally, don’t forget that CARB compliance looms over the not too distant horizon. Adding a new refrigerated truck to your fleet can give you an edge on the competition. Purchasing a refrigerated truck in the coming months can make your business more efficient and more profitable as the demand for pre-prepared foods, fresh vegetables, fruits, and meats is certain to remain strong.
We’re happy to help you select a refrigerated truck that meets your needs for:
- Cargo Capacity
- Cooling Capacity
- Fuel Efficiency
- Maintenance Cost
- Purchase Price
NationaLease of San Diego
Your Full-Service Leasing Company!
www.nationaleasesd.com
(800) 736-3443
by NationaLease San Diego | Sep 17, 2020 | Commercial Truck Maintenance
Summer is ending, and fall is right around the corner. Before the leaves start to turn, make sure your fleet is ready to roll through the changing weather. The sooner you perform the following truck fleet maintenance tasks, the sooner your fleet will be prepared to tackle the cooler weather, rain, and general vehicle wear that can the performance and reliability of your commercial truck fleet. Here are a few steps that will help you prepare for winter and 2021.
1. Perform a Visual Inspection
Give your vehicles a thorough visual inspection. Look for uneven wear on tires, leaky seals, damaged lights, worn windshield wipers, broken mirrors, etc. Replace any damaged components and do a more thorough inspection of any leaks you discover.
2. Give the Engine a Tune-Up
Tuning up your engine is essential truck fleet maintenance that ensures the engine performs as required regardless of the weather outside. It also helps improve engine efficiency, which makes it a cost-effective investment that will pay for itself over the months ahead.
3. Check the Emergency Gear
All commercial motor vehicles should be equipped with a cold-weather survival kit. At a minimum, your kit should contain snow brushes, shovel, flashlight, jumper cables, salt, road flares, and a First Aid kit. It’s also a good idea to make sure it has a radio, batteries, warm clothing, and water. Further, make sure that the truck has a set of chains and that the driver knows how to use them properly.
Don’t Forget the CARB’s!
While your drivers are no doubt thinking ahead towards the holidays and all the carbs on the table, don’t forget the CARB regulations you need to follow for your business. All commercial motor vehicles with a GVWR 26,000 lbs or greater must be CARB compliant starting in 2021. At a minimum, these vehicles must meet the 2010 model year equivalent standards.
If a vehicle is not CARB compliant, the DMV won’t allow you to register the vehicle until it meets CARB standards. In most cases, it is easier and far less expensive to apply those funds towards the lease or purchase of a new truck rather than trying to upgrade an older vehicle.
NationaLease of San Diego
Your Full-Service Leasing Company!
(800) 736-3443
2020 CARB regulations will be taking many trucks off the road by end of year. Are you ready? We can help!
by NationaLease San Diego | Apr 28, 2020 | Truck Rentals
As your business grows and the demand for more trucks arrives, the decision to purchase or lease becomes an important one. Long-term rentals can be an option. The benefit of a lease is having increased flexibility and less commitment. Leasing commercial trucks requires less upfront cash and monthly lease payments are usually less than finance payments. When the lease period has expired, you can simply turn in the vehicle. Business owners may be able to claim tax deductions that are available for the use of leased vehicles as well. If you are not confident that your company will be operating a commercial vehicle for a minimum of three years, leasing may be the best option for you. With a full-service leasing program from NationaLease San Diego you can focus on other aspects of running your business.
Key Benefits of a Lease vs. Long-term rental:
- Leasing removes the many hidden costs of buying.
- Leasing helps you better focus on your business model
- Leased vehicles don’t depreciate
- Leasing keeps your fleet up-to-date
- Simplified financial planning with a single predictable monthly payment
- We rack and monitor repair information, performance reporting, maintenance records and scheduling, so you don’t have to
- Preventive maintenance scheduling done for you
- Government-mandated vehicle assessments performed and reported automatically
- Repairs available nationwide
- Disposal of old vehicles without wasting time, money or energy
Rapid changes in technology today means vehicles become obsolete more quickly. With leasing, trade cycles are shorter, which allows you to upgrade to new technology sooner than if you owned your vehicles. This may appeal to fleets that prefer to spec a premium product to attract and retain drivers, or for your fleet operator that wants new safety-related technology.
We invite you to give us a call and learn more about all of our full-service leasing programs and how NationaLease San Diego can help you keep your trucks operating smoothly and worry free.
NationaLease of San Diego
www.nationaleasesd.com
(800) 736-3443
