When looking at car transporters and recovery vehicles, 3.5-ton trucks can provide a cost-effective alternative to 7.5-ton trucks, especially with rising fuel costs.
Operating costs and flexibility are the keys to purchasing decisions. There is no need to buy a larger truck than required. The choice depends on the loads, but for recovery operators with more than one vehicle, it makes sense to have at least one 3.5t truck in the mix.
fuel cost illustration
If the cost of fuel is £6 per gallon then this would be approximately £40,000 per 100,000 miles for a 7.5t truck. As a 3.5 ton truck it uses about half this amount (running at about 30 mpg compared to 15 to 17 mpg for a heavier truck).
After 100,000 miles, you will have saved most of the cost of replacing the light recovery vehicle.
3.5 Your truck
- Capital cost: around £20,000
- Fuel at £6 per gallon per 100,000 miles: £20,000 (based on 30mpg)
- Total cost: £40,000
- excluding other operating expenses such as taxes, insurance and maintenance.
7.5 Your truck
- Capital cost: around £48,000
- Fuel at £6 per gallon per 100,000 miles: £40,000 (based on 15mpg)
- Total cost: £88,000
- excluding other operating expenses such as taxes, insurance and maintenance.
pay by tonnage
Heavier 7.5t trucks are more expensive to operate and in most car hauling cases a 3.5t truck will provide enough payload to get the job done just as well.
The ultra car transporter designed and built by KFS specifically for the vehicle transport market offers a whopping 1,780kg payload in a low-line chassis design. This payload covers around 80% of the cars on the market, meaning a lighter, more efficient vehicle can be used for many races, especially for longer journeys, providing instant fuel savings.
Versatility
The versatility of the 3.5 ton truck makes it an ideal vehicle for the recovery business. 3.5t vehicles can be driven with a standard UK license and, unlike 7.5t trucks, do not require an additional license, tachograph or tachograph training.
They also tend to be capable of higher speeds, even at full load, which cuts down on commute times and cuts down on overtime. Being a smaller vehicle, they are easier to maneuver with smaller loads, and since they are based on a standard chassis, maintenance and testing costs are also very competitive.
Quality
The latest generation of 3.5t trucks are not inferior in quality. They’re rugged and built to last even if they cover 2,500 miles per week, and should provide similar reliability to heavier vehicles. All aluminum deck construction combines comprehensive strength and corrosion resistance while maximizing the vehicle’s carrying capacity.
There are numerous reasons, especially financial, why it makes sense to move to a 3.5 tonne truck, especially with those who have a fleet of vehicles. It makes economic sense to include a 3.5-tonne truck in an operator’s fleet.