How Rental Equipment Helps Fleets Stay Ahead During Peak Season
Flexible, fast capacity when it matters most
Peak season demand surges can strain capacity across the entire transportation network. Rental trucks and trailers offer a flexible, cost-effective way to expand capacity quickly to maintain service levels and take advantage of new opportunities. By incorporating rentals into their peak-season strategies, fleet managers can increase agility, manage costs and maintain operations.
Expand Capacity Quickly
Purchasing new equipment isn't always feasible due to increased costs, capital constraints or long lead times. Renting allows fleets to add the right equipment at the right time to increase capacity, then scale back when volumes normalize. The ability to flex without a long-term financial commitment helps prevent both overcapacity during slower periods and missed opportunities during surges. Once the season winds down, fleets can easily return equipment, avoiding the costs of maintaining idle trucks and trailers.
Rapid Response To Demand Surges
Peak periods often bring sudden and unpredictable increases in volume. With rental trucks and trailers, fleets can respond immediately to market changes. They can also help fleets respond to geographic-specific needs, and adding equipment in a specific region or location temporarily can be more cost-effective than transporting company-owned trucks over long distances. Rental terms range from days to months, and Penske offers lease options for longer term needs.
Enhanced Storage and Staging Capabilities
When warehouse space reaches its limits, rental trailers provide a fast and scalable storage solution. Fleets and shippers can position trailers exactly where they are needed, such as warehouses, distribution centers or staging areas, to support increased inventory or store goods closer to consumers to reduce transit time.
Financial and Operational Flexibility
Penske’s truck rentals offer predictable, fixed rates, which help fleets budget effectively during busy seasons. Fleets can access equipment as needed without being locked into long-term contracts. Every rental comes with maintenance coverage, including wear-and-tear items such as tires and brakes, so there are no surprise costs.
Proactive Preventive Maintenance
Effective preventive maintenance improves uptime and reduces the risk of over-the-road failures. Preventive maintenance also improves fuel economy, which can help reduce operating costs. Rentals include data-driven preventive maintenance, as well as 24/7 roadside assistance and can provide replacement vehicles if needed.
Application-Specific Equipment
During peak periods, having the flexibility to access various vehicle sizes and configurations can enhance responsiveness. Penske's vehicle inventory ranges from cargo vans to Class 8 tractors to 53 foot dry vans, refrigerated trailers and flatbeds, giving fleets options to meet peak season demand or test different equipment types. Penske can work with fleets to analyze historical data, routes and forecasted volumes to help determine the ideal mix of vehicles for maximum efficiency.
Data-Driven Fleet Management
Through Fleet Insightâ„¢, Penske truck rental customers can access real-time data and reporting tools. Fleet managers can monitor equipment, review billing, track usage and schedule maintenance in a single platform. The visibility also helps fleets optimize asset utilization and manage costs.
Rent With Penske
Penske has one of the newest and most reliable rental fleets in the industry, with equipment available for daily, weekly or monthly terms. Each rental comes with personalized support, flexible reservation and cancellation policies, 24/7 roadside assistance, and access to advanced fleet management tools and data.