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    Reduce fleet costs: Choose lightweight chassis and box bodies

    As a fleet operator, optimised fleet management is essential. When you plan to reduce your fleet costs – and thus your company costs – the obvious approach is to minimise the size of your fleet.

    To continue achieving the required transport volume with a reduced fleet size, it is advisable to use the lightweight chassis concept from AL-KO Vehicle Technology. To economically assess the resulting investment asset, an exemplary Total Cost of Ownership calculation follows:

    Fleet management: optimise from 11 to 8 vehicles and save costs

    Our Total Cost of Ownership calculation is based on a company that delivers goods with a transport volume of around 165 m3 twice a day. In the initial scenario, this is done using panel vans, which operate twice daily to service a total of 50 locations. Each vehicle offers a load volume of 15 m3. The fleet therefore consists of 11 panel vans. In the TCO calculation, one panel van is compared to an OEM tractor unit with a lightweight chassis and box body (box body vehicle)[1].

    Permissible gross weight and payload

    The permissible gross weight of both vehicles is 3,500 kg. The kerb weight of the panel van is 2,393 kg, compared to 2,239 kg for the box body vehicle. This results in a remaining payload of 1,107 kg for the panel van and 1,261 kg for the box body vehicle. This means the box body vehicle offers a payload advantage of 154 kg.

    Acquisition and running costs p.a.

    • The list price of a panel van is €35,000, with annual operating costs[2] of €46,868.
    • The box body vehicle has a list price of €45,000 and annual operating costs of €46,494.

    Payload advantage

    The load volume per panel van is 15 m3. To transport a total volume of 165 m3, 11 vehicles are needed (165 m3 / 15 m3 = 11). Thanks to the design concept, a box body vehicle offers 5.3 m3 more usable load volume, i.e. 20.3 m3 (4.2 x 2.2 x 2.2). Only 8 vehicles are required as a result.

    Fleet running costs p.a.

    The abovementioned annual running costs for the panel van add up to €46,868 x 11 = €515,551 p.a. for the entire fleet. For the box body vehicle, the cost is €46,494 x 8 = €371,952 p.a.

    Conclusion: Optimised fleet management, ROI and cost savings

    If you subtract the annual running costs for a panel van fleet (€515,551) from the €371,952 annual running costs of an optimised fleet using box body vehicles, the saving amounts to €143,599 p.a. and €717,995 over five years of operation.

    • [1] Note: The TCO calculation is based on average values. Different vehicles/vehicle concepts may lead to varying effects. A specific assessment is therefore essential in each individual case.
    • [2] Running costs, fuel costs, maintenance costs, MOT costs, insurance, driver’s salary, etc.

    Good to know: the advantages of box trucks

    Good to know: the advantages of box trucks

    Van or box truck? This is a question many companies ask themselves before purchasing a transportation vehicle. People often opt for a van, the supposedly cheaper solution, because they cost less to buy. We have done some research for you into the important aspects and advantages to help you make the right decision.

    Read more