Commercial vans, including panel vans and vans used for commercial passenger vans, are similar to light duty work trucks in their necessary versatility. Many different types of businesses and professionals rely on their vans for cargo hauling, deliveries, transporting passengers or reaching job sites with a team of workers and their gear. While their ability to carry people can be matched by trucks with large cabs (in some circumstances), trucks don’t offer the same type of covered storage or customization.
The Ford Transit is a popular choice for small businesses, especially home service contractors, various IT professionals, utility companies and delivery businesses, in part thanks to its diverse configuration options, including cargo, passenger and chassis cab.
It’s spacious interior and high roof provide ample storage space and enhanced customization potential. The Transit van also come with some intuitive and wisely placed built-in storage as well as valuable business-forward inclusions like an available 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.
Some models boast nearly 490 cubic feet of space and its roof height makes loading and unloading large cargo particularly convenient. It also features a surprisingly fuel-efficient engine that provides great range.
As with other modern work vehicles, current and recent Ford Transit model years come equipped with a host of cutting-edge safety features like forward collision and lane departure warnings, particularly valuable to professionals who may be up early or late and those working long hours.
Many Mercedes-Benz Sprinter models eke out a slight storage advantage over Ford Transits with up to 530 cubic feet of cargo space and high roof variations for easy loading and unloading of bulky cargo. Mercedes-Benz has also rolled out high-efficiency diesel engines to enable workers to maximize efficiency and reduce their fuel costs, which can be a major advantage of any business that requires fleet vehicles.
As with the For Transit, the Mercedes-Benz has embraced customization. In addition to built-in shelves, racks and storage compartments, interiors can be tweaked to meet the exacting needs of business users. The Sprinter also embodies the durability and reliability Mercedes-Benz is known for, which is especially valuable in high mileage work vans.
The Ram ProMaster’s exceptional capacity and flexible interiors makes it a popular choice for businesses that require a spacious and versatile cargo van. One of the things that sets the ProMaster apart from similar cargo vans in this class is its front-wheel-drive layout, which makes it more maneuverable than competing vans that offer similar storage capacity and functionality. This can be an asset for businesses in D.C. and Baltimore where streets can be narrow and crowded.
The ProMaster also offers industry-leading fuel efficiency. Variations like the ProMaster City couple industry-leading van handling with up to 28 MPG on some make and model years.
The Nissan NV is one of the smaller popular cargo vans with cargo ranging from roughly 230 to 320 cubic feet depending on model year and roof height. It offers many of the same benefits as the other vans listed on this page – customizable cargo spaces, cutting-edge safety and infotainment features, optional increased roof height and comfortable cabins.
Some van shoppers might ask themselves why they would choose the smaller NV1500 when they’re shopping for commercial fleet vehicles. The answer comes down to three primary factors: maneuverability, price and fuel efficiency.
Its size makes it one of the more affordable commercial van options. It’s also, unsurprisingly, one of the most maneuverable vans, which can be incredibly important in crowded metro areas. Not every business has the same cargo hauling needs, and if your payloads usually comfortably fit in a Nissan NV Cargo Van, it likely makes sense to go with the smaller option and significantly cut your fuel costs over the life of the vehicle.
The Chevrolet Express (and its van twin, the GMC Savana) offers a range of size variations, including smaller variations similar to the Ram ProMaster City and the Ford Transit Connect. The larger models offer significant cargo space and payload capacity, enabling it to handle large and bulky items with ease. It also offers customizable cargo interiors so tradesmen, home service professionals and other contractors can modify the storage space to their exacting cargo and storage needs.
As with Chevrolet and GMC trucks, the Express and Savana have a well-earned reputation for durability and reliability. They’re constructed using high quality materials and are subjected to strict quality control to ensure they stand up to the rigorous demands of American workers.
There’s also something to be said for brand loyalty. If you or your business has had good luck with GMC and Chevrolet trucks or vans in the past, you may be tempted to stick with what you know and love. There’s good reason to do so when it comes to variations of the Express and Savana.
When professionals in Washington, D.C., Baltimore or anywhere else in Maryland or Virginia are looking for reliable work vehicles, they can trust Easterns Automotive.