In a recent study conducted by the vehicle rental business Northgate in collaboration with market researches GfK, it was found that no less than 64 per cent of firms relying on LCVs (also known as “light commercial vehicles”) take into consideration the prices for maintaining these vehicles as the top priority, rather than other factors that might be considered by investors, such as the starting price of buying a transport vehicle in the first place. In terms of those who were surveyed, Northgate found that 45 per cent felt that MOT testing and other repair works were the primary reasons for LCVs to not be on the roads, in comparison to 53 per cent who felt that accidental breakdowns were the primary reason for taking them off the roads.

What both these statistics highlight however is the importance that transport and logistics enterprises place on keeping the purchased or rented vehicles that they use in good long-term condition, something which they seem to value of greater importance than the individual price tag attached to the vehicle itself. A lower price tag, surveyors were told, is not necessarily a guarantee of interest for the customer these days, as other factors including maintenance and repair work costs are considered instead. It is certainly evident that companies renting LCVs would rather be sure that they are reliable on the road at all times in all kinds of conditions, since the breaking down of a vehicle along the road can be potentially disastrous for logistics companies and fleet firms.

Indeed, such instances can result in a headache inducing amount of bureaucratic paperwork or worse lead to fleets losing valuable clients because of the frequent maintenance issues encountered by the vehicle. Therefore, it seems clear on the whole that businesses are more interested in ensuring that the vehicles that they use are durable and reliable, and seem more prepared to pay the price for this long-term investment than one might at first suspect.