Semi Truck
Purchase— Full-Service Lease vs New vs Used?
When the old truck gives up the ghost and it’s time for a
new one, the question is if it’s better to buy a new truck, buy a used truck, or
to full-service lease a truck. There are
benefits and disadvantages to all three depending on the situation. Here at
Jackson Group Peterbilt we offer all
three. In addition to selling new and
used heavy-duty trucks, we operate a
PacLease division to help those who would
like to full-service lease. PacLease is
the preferred full-service leasing service for many commercial businesses because
of the size of the operation. There are
more than 500
PacLease locations and over 600 dealer-service locations in the
US, Canada and Mexico. Some of the
biggest companies in the world are PacLease customers.
How Does PacLease
Work?
Full Service Leasing a truck through PacLease is rather
simple. People who full-service lease trucks pay a monthly fee for the use of a
truck. This fee is usually a little less
than what you would pay for a payment on a regular truck you purchased. In addition there is a charge for miles
driven. The overall cost ends up being slightly
more than what you would pay for the truck if you had purchased it.
Reasons to Full-Service
Lease a Commercial Truck
So if it costs more to full-service lease a truck than buy
to a new one, why would you do so? When
evaluating costs you need to be careful to look at the operating costs in
addition to the initial cost of purchasing the truck. The operating costs of full service leasing a
truck is typically far less expensive than purchasing a vehicle and maintaining
it with an outside repair company.
·
Truck Maintenance- With PacLease full-service
lease vehicles, all the maintenance is included. The company leasing the truck is only
responsible to bring it in. PacLease has
an extensive preventive maintenance program to minimize breakdowns and maximize
uptime.
·
Roadside assistance- PacLease offers 24 hour,
roadside assistance to all of their customers.
·
Downtime- If your full service lease truck has a
mechanical issue that needs fixing, PacLease will provide you with a substitute
truck to use until the repairs are done.
Costly downtime will literally become a problem of the past.
·
Customized Solutions- Telematics, Fuel Program,
Administrative Services (licensing, fuel tax reporting, HVUT compliance) can
all be included in a PacLease full service lease, which eliminates these
additional burdens so you can focus on your core business.
Benefits of a
PacLease Truck
•
Custom-Spec’d Vehicles
•
Full-Service Leasing
•
Finance Leasing
•
Contract Maintenance
•
Commercial Truck Rental
•
Local Decision Making
•
National Account Program
•
Preventive Maintenance
•
24-Hour Roadside Assistance
•
Customized Fuel Program
•
Vehicle Washing
•
Fuel Tax Reporting
•
Licensing & Permitting
•
Telematics (GPS vehicle tracking)
Reasons to Buy a New
Truck
Warranty, warranty, warranty! Not only do you get a bright, shiny truck
built exactly how you like it, but you also get a number of warranties to
protect your new purchase. A new truck
comes with the reassurance that you are starting with a clean slate and a truck
that hasn't been abused by previous owners.
You will always know the truck’s service history and the types of loads
it has carried.
Reasons to Buy a Used
Truck
The initial costs to purchase a used truck is far less than
a new truck or a leased one. Modern trucks
are built to run between 500K to 1M miles.
Almost every part on the truck can be replaced or rebuilt. This extends the availability for
used trucks on the market. If you can find a
truck older than 2007, they are not required to have a diesel particulate
filter or scr system and have less emissions requirements. This mean fewer
trips to the shop for emissions-related check-engine lights and more money in
the bank. The downside to purchasing a used
truck is that there isn’t a warranty and they are more prone to substantial
engine, drivetrain and suspension problems.
Conclusion
All three options are good in their specific ways. The most important thing is to carefully
evaluate your situation and choose what is best for you and your company. Whatever choice your make, remember to be
safe and thoroughly perform your pre-trip inspections. Service your vehicle on a regular basis to
keep it running at peak performance.