Making the Most of Commercial and Specialty Vehicle Manufacturers

Making the most of commercial and specialty vehicle manufacturers to move beyond basic transportation
By John Williams, Business Writing and Research Contact commercial and specialty vehicle manufacturers that emphasize "special" in their product line. Anyone can buy a van or truck to haul stuff. Invest in a truly unique vehicle that not only efficiently does the transport work you need but also enhances your marketing efforts by letting the customer interact with your company in a unique way.

Make your business transportation do double duty by serving as a means to advertise your business, or take your business with you. You can even upgrade basic mass transit into employee “perk” status with the right touches. Consider these three areas for making the most of commercial and specialty vehicle manufacturers for your business:

1. Touch base with commercial van manufacturers who can outfit your van to take your business on the road.

2. Employ a special purpose vehicle to mix marketing with product delivery for an interactive customer experience.

3. Accommodate your employees’ transportation needs with specialty vehicles.

Make house calls with the right commercial van

Whether you're in the market for used specialty vehicles or you have a van you'd like to upgrade, contact specialty vehicle manufacturers that can add a new twist to interacting with customers as you bring product or service to their doorstep.
Try:  Odyssey converts vans and trucks into anything from law enforcement and rescue vehicles to mobile pet grooming units. Mobile Advantage has manufactured special purpose vehicles since 1990, specializing in food delivery vehicles equipped with heating units that can reach temperatures of 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

Draw customers in with special purpose vehicles

Rather than just painting a sign on your commercial vans, consider incorporating the entire vehicle into the marketing effort. A specialty auto manufacturer can alter the body style to match your brand, or develop a vehicle that literally invites your customer in to interact with your company's products.
Try:  Craftsman Industries bills itself as the industry leader in mobile marketing vehicles: from motorcycle to tractor trailer-size rolling ads to stage trailers and kitchen trailers for product demonstrations to training and command center trailers. Farber Specialty Vehicles produces bookmobiles with the E.L.F. (Extremely Low Floor) system for easy access into the interior for book carts and wheelchairs. Review Mobile Media Enterprises' (MME) case studies on how effective mobile marketing strategies are in creating brand awareness, driving retail traffic and more.

Get in touch with commercial vehicle manufacturers who provide a superior transportation experience

If you either haul people commercially or provide transport for employees, make the trip a unique experience. Employ a specialty vehicle that provides extra amenities to make passengers feel refreshed after the journey or enhance the traveling experience while on the road.
Try:  Turtle Top manufactures limousine coaches, executive vans, mobile offices and specialty vehicles up to 30 feet long. Specialty Bus Manufacturing produces a line of double-decker city transit, commuter and “limbusine” buses.

• Just like any automotive product, ask about alternatives to straight purchase of a new vehicle, such as used vehicles or leasing options. Or, use one of your current vehicles as a prototype or rolling lab to test marketing ideas before investing in a new fully customized vehicle.