Adding short-term capacity can often mean fleets find themselves operating without the technology they rely on every day in the rest of their operations. But that doesn’t have to be the case.
Telematics, safety systems & real-time visibility support short-term rentals
Penske commercial rental equipment includes built-in technology designed to support vehicle visibility, driver safety, regulatory compliance and day-to-day fleet management without requiring customers to install aftermarket hardware before putting a rental into service.Telematics and GPS Tracking Come Standard
A rental truck added for a seasonal surge, temporary contract or new lane can still provide useful operational data. Penske’s rental vehicles are equipped with an onboard telematics system, giving fleets access to GPS functionality that tracks equipment in real time and ensures visibility. Because the telematics equipment is already installed, customers do not need to add aftermarket hardware to begin using Penske’s available rental-fleet tools. Through Fleet Insight™, customers can access information that may include current unit location, rental activity and vehicle utilization.
The Penske Driver App Keeps Rental Trucks Compliant and Connected
Rental drivers still need to meet Hours of Service requirements, and Penske Driver™, a free ELD-compliant app, handles that automatically for rental trucks operating in the U.S. and Canada. The app also lets drivers submit 24/7 roadside assistance requests, send digital fuel receipts and locate rental, service and fueling locations, giving fleets a built-in compliance and support layer without requiring a separate subscription or device.
Safety Technology Is Built In, Not an Optional Upgrade
Many newer-model Penske rental tractors and trucks include advanced safety and driver-assistance technology. Depending on the vehicle’s make, model, year and configuration, available features may include collision-mitigation systems, active brake assistance, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warnings, electronic stability control and object-detection technology. When fleets add rental capacity to cover a seasonal peak or a new lane, the trucks have many of the same active safety systems drivers are used to, without having to spec, negotiate or pay extra for them.
Cold Chain and Trailer Technology Extends Beyond the Cab
For fleets operating within the cold chain, every degree matters and fluctuations can create safety or compliance issues. Penske refrigerated rental trucks and trailers include built-in cooling systems designed to meet applicable Food Safety Modernization Act guidelines. Connected tracking and monitoring capabilities may also be available for refrigerated equipment, depending on the unit and service configuration, to help fleets monitor equipment location and operating status remotely.
Real-Time Visibility Helps Manage Short-Term Capacity
Because rental units report the same telematics data as owned or leased equipment, fleet managers can track location, utilization and performance across their entire operation, making it easier to decide where to reposition equipment, see when a rental unit is sitting idle and know when it's time to add or return capacity. That information can be particularly valuable during the periods when rentals are most often used, including seasonal demand spikes, temporary contracts and new-market tests. It also supports faster decisions about whether to extend a rental, add another unit or return equipment that's no longer needed.
Rent With Penske
Penske offers one of the newest and largest commercial truck rental fleets in the industry, from cargo vans to Class 8 sleepers, along with dry van, refrigerated and flatbed trailers. Every unit comes equipped with telematics, GPS tracking and standard safety technology, available at more than 2,000 rental locations for daily, weekly or monthly terms. Penske can also help fleets determine whether rental or lease makes more sense for a given business.