Fleet Trucks 101

Introduction

According to J.D. Power, one in every five vehicles sold in the United States in 2022 was a fleet vehicle. [1] But what exactly is a fleet truck, who buys them, and why? Fleet truck is a generic term describing any commercial vehicle purchased and owned by a corporation or government entity rather than an individual consumer. Fleet vehicles are typically sold through a separate channel from a car manufacturer’s direct-to-consumer offerings.

They may incorporate additional features designed specifically for the needs of commercial drivers.

You aren’t likely to drive off a car dealership with a new fleet vehicle, although the odds are excellent that your used vehicle could formerly have been part of a fleet. Governments and corporations tend to have stringent safety standards for company property and the purchasing power to upgrade to newer models more often than the average consumer household.

Another frequent source of used fleet trucks that wind up on dealership lots? Car rental companies, whose reputation and prestige rely upon having clean, recent-model vehicles. Those three-year-old sedans and SUVs must go somewhere after they’re pulled from circulation.

Read on, and we’ll explain what a fleet vehicle is, who purchases it, why, and whether or not you should buy one.

What Makes A Vehicle Fleet?

Fleet vehicles are purchased en masse. Depending on the organization’s size, a fleet of cars may consist of hundreds or thousands of units. A fleet may be multiple units of a single make from a commercial trucking manufacturer or ten random sedans purchased at a used car dealership.

The takeaway is that it is any vehicle owned by a collective entity and usually purchased five or more at a time. The only stipulation is that it must run on fuel; most have four wheels. Even airlines refer to their jets as part of a fleet.

Imagine, if you will, a summer Tuesday afternoon. You’ve just pulled up to your parking space and turned the keys in the ignition but haven’t removed them yet. You’re staring into the distance, wondering if you’ve forgotten something.

As your mind gradually returns to your physical surroundings, you notice that a mail carrier from your favorite international shipping company is just in front of you,  on your front stoop.

They take a small package from their mailing bag, place it in your front mailbox, ring the doorbell, and then turn and walk down your front steps onto the sidewalk before returning to their delivery vehicle.

That delivery vehicle the mail carrier just returned to? That’s a fleet truck.

While you don’t see many used mail trucks or ambulances on the second-hand vehicle market [2], your used truck could be a regular consumer vehicle and still have been part of a fleet.

Organizations That Purchase And Use Fleet Vehicles

• Municipal governments. School buses, fire trucks, and public transit: cities need diverse services and specialized cars to deliver them. Municipal governments will also own or rent flatbed trucks for forestry and construction services. These vehicles are frequently marked down for “severe use” as city driving hits a truck’s suspension and transmission systems hard.

• Federal agencies. It’s not exactly a national security secret: the black Secret Service motorcade that escorts the President of the United States from place to place is just one of the fleets of vehicles the General Services Administration owns.
• Commercial hauling and logistical companies. Many commercial trucking companies employ independent contractors who own or rent their trucks, but more extensive operations may still possess huge fleets of eighteen-wheelers.
• Car rental companies. National retailers like Hertz go through thousands of vehicles per year. Because car rental companies have a constant turnover in favor of the newest makes and models, if you’ve purchased a used fleet vehicle, odds are good it came from a car rental company.

• Beverage distributors and manufacturers. Beverage companies have unique transportation needs: their products are hefty, even if concentrated, and many of them—like beer, natural wines, and kombuchas—must be delivered in climate-controlled trucks to avoid secondary fermentation and spoilage.

Should I Buy A Fleet Truck?

That answer depends on whether you’re a fleet manager or not. Suppose you are unequivocally yes. You might be interested in some of our other guides for fleet managers.

If you’re just an average consumer looking for a good deal on a secondhand vehicle, go ahead—but exercise the same care and caution you would when purchasing any used car or truck. Check your vehicle’s history and arm yourself with the facts.

Knowing your used car was part of a fleet doesn’t provide information on whether its components are in good working condition. Do your research, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to shop around.

Conclusion

Purchasing a used fleet vehicle or truck isn’t necessarily a bad investment. All that term designates is that a more significant entity once owned it. As always, make, mileage, and wear and tear are still better indicators of a good-quality used vehicle. 

Sources

[1] What Is A Fleet Vehicle? | JD Power 

[2] What Is a Fleet Car, and Should You Buy One? | Capital One Auto Navigator