More companies looking to improve delivery fleets

There are many things that a quality delivery service needs in order remain on top of its game. One of them, which may seem obvious but can be overlooked, is the actual trucks and vehicles needed to get products from a company or processing center to its final destination.

A recent article from the Associated Press profiled Karin's Florist, a Vienna, Virginia based flower delivery service. Following the busy Valentine's Day season, the company evaluated its vehicles. It had two large vans, two small vans and a boxy wagon with 180,000 miles. Considering it is a 2006, that vehicle would appear to be on its last legs.

Maris Angolia, the president of the family-owned business, joked that the vehicle is currently being held together by duct tape and rubber bands. This is the second vehicle purchase in the last four months for the company and signifies a strengthening of the economy.

Companies need to replace aging vehicles, but this also shows a confidence growing within the business. Mike Jackson, director of North American forecasting for the IHS Automotive consulting firm, told the news source that improved commercial van sales speak volumes because many companies are reluctant to spend after a recession.

"A lot of these contractors have been trying to keep their old products as long as they can," said Peter Bedrosian, senior manager of product planning for Nissan North America. "The vehicles are really nearing the end of their useful life."

For many companies, without reliable vehicles, they are as good as done. With the help of a third party logistics firm that deploys a reliable fleet, companies do not need to worry about a rickety vehicle again.