Prices are rising, and some logistics companies want to increase capacity without purchasing new equipment. While rental and leasing haven’t always seemed like viable options, new technology makes trailer sharing increasingly appealing. An easy-to-use platform for flexible semi-trailer lease solutions makes it possible for brokers, shippers, and owner-operators to create agile trailer pools. Businesses can beat the capacity crisis and adjust on the fly by leasing excess trailers.
But what should you look for in a semi-trailer leasing provider?
This blog will dive into what factors you should consider as you lease trailers. Semi owners and fleet managers should know the important issues surrounding semi-trailer leases and choose the best platform to manage the process.
Know Your Needs and the Current Market Demand Before Leasing a Trailer
Trailer leasing is a growing industry, and logistics companies are just starting to realize the possibilities asset-sharing offers.
According to a review by Transport Topics, “A 2021 inventory of rental/lease trailers put their number at 585,000, or 6.5% higher compared with a year earlier, according to a recent survey of certain North American companies in that sector. The rental/lease trailers equate to 10% to 14% of the total population of all North American trailers of all types… Dry vans alone accounted for 82% of these.”
Perhaps it seems obvious, but you need to know your current and long-term needs before researching the best semi-trailer lease option.
Are you looking for a grain hopper, tanker, lowboy, or step-deck? Do you need a semi-trailer to lease for a long stretch — or just one load? Think about timeframes, size, cost, and location that would make it worth the effort of taking on a new load with a leased trailer.
Searching through trailers for lease listings can waste time if you don’t know what you need before you start. You want to work with a platform that offers the leasing details you need to make informed decisions for your business.
By partnering with a modern semi-trailer lease provider, logistics companies can access a real-time database of local trailers for lease and readily available right on a mobile app. Listings should detail the assets available, time frames, locations, cost, and more.
Look at the Pricing Structure and Watch for Hidden Fees
Amid sluggish supply chains and capacity crises, the demand for fast logistics is growing. Purchasing a trailer can be expensive, with prices on even used semi-trailers costing over $100,000. However, by renting a semi-trailer, businesses can budget their expenses and use a more cost-effective alternative to help them afford the necessary equipment. Innovative platforms that offer easy access to semi-trailers for lease offer smaller companies a chance to scale their operations quickly and thrive in a competitive logistics market.
You don’t want to lease trailers semi-confused about the overall pricing structure. Understanding the difference between various pricing models makes it possible to lease trailers without any financial surprises.
Different semi-trailer lease providers offer different pricing structures. Traditional financial institutions might insist on a large down payment for a semi-trailer lease, while another company might require an upfront fee and a charge per mile driven. It’s important to watch out for any hidden pricing or tricky fees. You want to find trailer leasing prices that fit within your load budget to keep your margins as high as possible.
Access Available Trailers With User-Friendly Dashboards Tools
You want a platform that is easy to use and streamlines the trailer rental process. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global economies and supply chains, increasing demand for e-commerce. In 2020 alone, demand for e-commerce grew by 18.3%.
Businesses trying to adapt to the sudden shift in consumer habits turned to technological innovations to lease trailers and meet new capacity demands. Previously, a semi-trailer lease involved lengthy phone calls and complex invoicing paperwork. App-based innovations have enabled businesses to find competitive prices, see local semi-trailer lease options, track assets and manage their agreements conveniently on their phones.
You want to choose a mobile platform that offers a wide range of on-demand dashboard tools to find a semi-trailer for lease. These tools should include things like roadside assistance, activation, deactivation, and detailed asset listings. New tech is bringing semi-trailer leasing into the digital age.
Choose 24-7 Accessibility to Avoid Inconvenient Timing
You need a platform that is available whenever you need it. Traditional leasing runs whenever the head office is open — highly inconvenient for companies managing loads at all times of the day.
It’s important to choose a platform that is available when it’s most convenient for you. You shouldn’t be limited to 9-5 operating hours. You shouldn’t have to work in a specific time zone.
With modern technology, the “office” is never closed. You can browse available rental listings, view your current agreements, access your paperwork, and create deals at any time of the day or night.
Streamline Semi-Trailer Leasing with a Paperless Process
A traditional semi-trailer lease purchase comes with steep upfront costs and an inconvenient paperwork process. Down-payments and security deposits can leave businesses low on cash, while monthly payments with steep interest rates can gnaw away at assets over time. On top of all that, you still have to manage the paperwork and details of the lease. Inefficient leasing agreements cause you to waste precious time.
Instead, seek out a semi-trailer for rent with a flexible semi-trailer lease agreement that is all streamlined through a convenient smart sharing app.
Tech-based businesses offer a simpler alternative to companies looking for a semi-trailer for lease. These businesses can help shippers manage the hassle of repositioning freight assets while charging fewer fees. After paying a rental price set by owners, renters pay only a daily rate and a small service fee to continue using the asset. Your platform should make it easy to see how the lease impacts your margins.
Your tech-enabled leasing should securely save your payment information to streamline every lease transaction. Avoid the hassle of lengthy paperwork processes for semi-trailer leases by keeping everything digital and stored conveniently on the app.
Clarify Legal Requirements and Agreements
Companies looking for a semi-trailer lease need to pay close attention to their agreement’s legal process. Contracts could contain fees and penalties that cost an unsuspecting business a lot of money.
When looking for a semi-trailer for lease, businesses should consider renting through a reputable, software-based logistics solutions provider. All agreements and trailer insurance proof should be clearly included in the listings.
All essential paperwork should be accessible through an online rental portal, keeping your legal forms in one easy-to-find place.
Discover Straightforward, Convenient, Modern Semi-Trailer Lease Arrangements with vHub
Do you want to temporarily list a semi-trailer for lease or find additional assets to increase your trailer pool?
We have a platform you can trust with a process you will love.
vHub is an innovative, mobile-enabled logistics solutions provider that connects trailers for lease to logistics providers looking for agility. From your smartphone to the loading dock, vHub can provide quick and easy access to flexible asset rental solutions.
Use modern tools to thrive in today’s competitive logistics industry. Sign up with vHub today, and see how smart trailer sharing can help your business succeed.
