If you’re running a business, the last thing you want is for your transportation to break down. Not only does it cause delays, if you carry refrigerated goods it can cost you money because of perished stock.
Here we take a look at the steps you should take if you operate a refrigerated van and break down out on the road and why leasing your vans could give you complete peace of mind in the future.
What Can Go Wrong with a Refrigerated Van?
Refrigerated vans can be double-trouble compared to normal trucks and lorries. They can suffer from the usual engine problems like any other van. Because the storage area is refrigerated, however, there’s also the possibility that this could fail, putting the stock at risk.
If you’re on a short journey, this may not be much of a problem. If you’re crossing the country or there is a delay before you unload, it can be catastrophic. Not only could you lose your stock but you then have to find some way to replace it.
How to Avoid the Risk of breakdowns
The first option is to try to avoid breakdowns as much as you can, of course. That means maintaining your fleet of refrigerated vans and undertaking regular checks. Of course, older vans are more likely to breakdown than new ones, but that’s not always the case.
One option is to switch to leasing your refrigerated van. What this ensures is that you not only get maintenance support but also means you can often upgrade at regular intervals and your van doesn’t depreciate in performance and value over time.
How to Stay Safe During a Breakdown
If you have a breakdown on a normal road, the first thing to do is ensure that you are safe. If you can, move your van to the side of the road and switch on your hazard lights. If there is a blind area such as a bend in the road, putting out a hazard triangle can help alert oncoming traffic. Always wear a high-viz jacket, especially at night.
If you have broken down on the motorway, you should try to get to the hard shoulder and again put on your hazard lights. If you cannot get to the hard shoulder, stay in your van and call the emergency services before you contact your breakdown service.
Is Your Stock at Risk?
As we have said, one of the problems with refrigerated vans is that a fault in the storage area can put your stock at risk. If the electrics on your van have failed for some reason, for example, that’s likely to affect your refrigeration unit too. When this happens, it’s really important to act quickly.
If the fault with your van is repaired quickly, getting you back on the road, most refrigerated vans are well insulated enough to keep the stock safe.
If this isn’t possible, then you will need to get a new van to your location as soon as possible and transfer everything. The options here are to drive a new van from your business, if one is available, or to reach out to an emergency refrigerated van rental service to get a vehicle out to you.
Why Use a Contract Hire Service for Your Refrigerated Vans
More and more businesses that regularly handle refrigerated goods are starting to contract-hire or lease their refrigerated vehicles. There are several advantages to this. First, you always have access to a relatively new, state of the art refrigeration van. If you have an accident or the van breaks down for any reason, you get a replacement out to you quickly.
Choose FridgeXpress for Your Refrigerated Van Hire
With 20 years’ experience providing refrigerated vans for lease, rental or sale, FridgeXpress have worked with many different businesses across a wide range of sectors, both big and small during that time.
We have a range of electric, petrol and diesel refrigerated vans and are not tied to any one manufacturer as many other companies are. That means you have a much greater choice when it comes to selecting the right van for your business. We can even modify or tailor refrigeration units to exactly meet your needs.
Our contract hire pricing is some of the most competitive in the industry and comes with a few useful benefits. These include same-day replacement vehicles if an accident occurs and nationwide breakdown cover. On top of this, our comprehensive maintenance service gives you complete peace of mind at all time.
If you are planning to lease or rent a refrigerated van soon, contact the team at FridgeXpress to see how we can help.
