Buy a van or pay a carrier (Part 2)

Whether your company should decide between using a carrier service or buying and running a company van or other vehicle is not just about how much you have to deliver but on how important the delivery is part of the overall contract you feel you have with the customer, and on how important publicising your company link with your delivery area
•    Customer care and service: If prompt delivery is part of your overall service to your customers then having company transport can be seen as vital to rush same-day-service or guarantee certain day service.
•    Local delivery/marketing: If deliveries are mainly local to your area and you have a company vehicle suitably lettered with eye-catching logo, catchy slogan and listed services AND your company details then it is a major and important marketing tool to have this vehicle going around the local area publicising your quality goods.
Don’t’ forget to factor in the employee costs of your vehicle drivers if s/he/they are full time on this service. If there is a lot of down time the employee costs can make personalised delivery prohibitive unless drivers can undertake other duties within the company. Remember if you use other staff as occasional drivers ensure that they have had appropriate training and have current licenses for the vehicle to be driven