Beverage Industry logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Beverage Industry logo
  • NEWS
    • R&D News
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Reader's Choice Poll
  • CATEGORIES
    • Alternative Drinks
    • Beer
    • Bottled Water
    • Cannabis Beverages
    • Carbonated Soft Drinks
    • Energy Drinks & Shots
    • Juice & Juice Drinks
    • Plant-Based Beverages
    • Sports Drinks
    • Tea and Coffee
    • Wine & Spirits
  • R&D
    • Beverage R&D Features
    • Ingredient Spotlight
  • PACKAGING
    • New Packages
    • Packaging Equipment
    • Packaging Material
  • OPERATIONS
    • Distribution
    • Plant Focus
  • TOP LISTS
    • Beer Market Report
    • Executive of the Year
    • State of the Beverage Industry
    • Top 100 Beverage Companies
    • Truck Report
    • Wholesaler of the Year
  • MEDIA
    • eBook
    • Podcast
    • Polls
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Annual Manual
    • Contract Packaging Guide
    • Take a Tour
  • MORE
    • Classifieds
    • Channel Strategies
    • eNewsletters
    • Events
      • Membrane Technology Forum
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Market Insights
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archived Issues
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!

The Ins and Outs of Equipment Purchasing

August 1, 2005

The Ins and Outs of Equipment Purchasing
David Kolman  
When its comes to acquiring trucks, regardless of whether you are buying new or used or leasing, the principals involved in selecting the appropriate vehicles are the same. The objective is to maximize the return on your investment.
Here are some recommendations to assist you in defining and evaluating your purchasing decisions in order to make the wisest choices.
Stay Informed. Keep abreast of developments with vehicles and their components and technology. Along with reading trade publications, attend truck and equipment trade shows. These are excellent opportunities to be hands-on with the latest new products and to talk directly with vehicle manufacturers, component suppliers and service providers.
Take advantage of truck and component manufactures’ resources. They have considerable experience with specifying trucks for all kinds of applications and vocations and can provide sound advice and guidance.
Find a truck dealer or leasing company to partner with for business solutions and value-added support services.
Requirements. Decide on your expectations with, and requirements for, your vehicles. What do you want in terms fuel economy, performance, durability, efficiency, productivity, maintenance, safety, driver comfort and so forth?
Consider such things as your load requirements, operating environment and conditions, driver proficiency, powertrain (diesel or gasoline engine; automatic, automated or manual transmission), wheelbase and cab style (which impacts maneuverability), desired road speeds, maintenance requirements and cycles, trade-in or resale cycles, etc.
Review your current and previous equipment specs to determine if your equipment is performing well or if there are recurring problems or trends. Scrutinize maintenance and operating costs.
Components. Consider components and options that offer increased reliability and durability and less downtime through extended service intervals and lower required maintenance. By way of example, brakes, wheels, clutches, drivelines, fifth wheels, synthetic lubes and coolants are among the components that can be spec’d for increased vehicle uptime.
Investigate the benefits of specs, options and accessories that will improve truck and driver safety.
Don’t overlook driver ergonomics. The driver has a critical role in achieving optimum vehicle performance. The happier and more comfortable a driver is, the safer and more productive he will be.
Lifecycle. Building a vehicle optimized for your specific application will provide the lowest overall cost of ownership over its lifetime. Rather than making equipment acquisition decisions on initial acquisition cost, base them on total cost of ownership — long-term operating and maintenance costs, vehicle productivity, trade-in/resale value, impact of taxes, cash flow and so on.
Leasing. Leasing, particularly full-service leasing, may be a viable alternative to buying. Along with tax advantages and predictable costs, leasing improves cash flow because there is no down payment and allows capital to be retained for other matters.
Leasing programs can be tailored to fit a specific business and as changes occur, can be renewed or modified. They can include scheduled maintenance, vehicle washings, 24-hour road service, substitute vehicles and fuel tax reporting, licensing and permitting.
One advantage of a lease compared to buying is that at the end of the lease term, the truck doesn’t have to be sold or traded in, a process that can be time-consuming, expensive and frustrating.  
Take the time to do your homework before making your decisions about acquiring trucks. You are not just buying a vehicle, you are investing in your organization’s business. BI
David Kolman is a veteran truck communicator, keynote speaker and long-haul trucker. Commissioned as an Honorary Colonel on the Kentucky governor’s staff for his work promoting traffic safety, he actively participates in trade associations and reports news and information about the trucking industry for broadcasting and print media.
Changes to the heavy vehicle use tax
For the tax year ending June 30, 2006, changes to the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax include:
 Tax now due in full; there no longer is an installment plan.
 Now a credit for a tax-paid vehicle sold during the tax year.
 Companies paying the tax for 25 or more vehicles have to file electronically. However, the IRS is not yet prepared for this so taxpayers need to continue to file their Form 2290s by mail or in person. The IRS hopes to have the electronic filing system operating by year’s end.
 Vehicles registered in Canada or Mexico that operate in the United States no longer get a 25 percent reduction in the tax.
Equipment news roundup
Eaton has two new fully automated transmissions: the Fuller UltraShift HV (Highway Value) medium-duty transmission and the heavy-duty Fuller UltraShift LHP (Line-haul High Performance) transmission. The HV is designed for Class 6 and 7 vehicles with diesel engines in the 195 to 260 hp. range with torque capacities up to 660 pounds/foot and loads up to 33,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. A key feature is the Hill Assist which automatically minimizes rollback on grades while the operator makes the transition from the brake pedal to the accelerator. The LHP transmission provides fully automatic “two-pedal”operation and features 13 speeds and progressive gearing for superior startability and better operating efficiency.
Freightliner Group plans to include electronic stability control with its Roll Advisor & Control safety technology for its trucks. Developed in cooperation with ArvinMeritor’s Meritor-Wabco Vehicle Control Systems subsidiary, the technology uses sensors integrated into a truck’s anti-lock brake system to track the truck’s lateral acceleration and wheel speed and detect the potential for rollover. The technology is designed to prevent rollover by alerting drivers to recognize risky vehicle maneuvers and/or reduce the forces pushing the truck toward rollover by automatically slowing the truck to reduce the risk of an accident.
Nissan Diesel America has increased its standard warranty coverage on its 2006 model year UD Trucks for longer protection periods for the base vehicle and selected chassis and powertrain components. Coverage is now for three years with unlimited mileage and 100 percent parts and labor reimbursement for warranty repairs.
Sterling Trucks unit of DaimlerChrysler plans to introduce a new cabover truck that covers Classes 3, 4 and 5 for the North American market next year. The vehicle will be manufactured using common components and parts from across DaimlerChrysler’s various brands. Further development of other medium-duty trucks is also in the works.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • top 100 beverage companies

    Top 100 Beverage Companies of 2024

    For the global beverage market, mergers and acquisitions...
    Wine & Spirits
  • Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla shakes

    Classic flavors provide reliable, consistent results for beverage-makers

    Classic flavors of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry...
    Ingredient Spotlight
    By: Chloe Alverson
  • Free Spirits Instant Bar Bundle

    Lifestyle trends drive growth for non-alcohol category

    As lifestyle trends continue to drive growth for the...
    Wine & Spirits
    By: Lauren Sabetta
Manage My Account
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Manage My Preferences

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Beverage Industry audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Beverage Industry or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Fourpeople toasting with cocktails made with low-sugar ingredients, celebrating healthier drink options.
    Sponsored byCargill

    What’s Hot in Sugar Reduction: Beverages

  • chocolate milk
    Sponsored byCargill

    Sweetening the Future for Dairy and Dairy-Alternative Beverages

  • woman pouring a drink
    Sponsored byFFP

    Building a Beverage System: Meeting Consumer Demand for Precision Wellness

Popular Stories

Sting Energy

PepsiCo, Sting Energy unveil global partnership with Formula 1

top 100 beverage companies

Top 100 Beverage Companies of 2024

people drinking Wynk

Mindful drinking prompts growth for THC beverages

Top 100 Beverage Companies of 2024

Events

April 16, 2025

2025 State of the Industry Series: Alcoholic Beverages

On Demand In Beverage Industry’s annual State of the Industry: The Alcohol Beverage Market, analysts at S&D Insights LLC delve into these trends and how they’re shaping the industry.

June 26, 2025

FAST. FOCUSED. FUELED: Delivering Energy Consumers Can Feel

Learn how to formulate products that deliver the energy experiences that people want, and keep them coming back for more.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Retail Coffee Segment

What retail coffee segments will fare well into the next year?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

See More Products

Related Articles

  • Truck and Equipment Stand-Outs

    See More
  • Navistar International Corp

    2023 Trucks Report: Electric vehicles continue to make most of the news in the fleet equipment space

    See More
  • Gerald Lessard

    What trends are driving the repurposing of space, equipment

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • beer.jpg

    The Chemistry of Beer: The Science in the Suds, 2nd Edition

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • April 26, 2012

    Food Plant of the Future: Raising the Bar on Plant Air Quality

    AVAILABLE ON DEMAND Exclusively for thought-leaders in food and beverage processing facility management, Food Plant of the Future webinars are presented by Hixson, a leading design and engineering firm of food processing facilities in North America.
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Elevate your expertise in the beverage marketplace with unparalleled insights and connections.

Join thousands of beverage professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing