PARTNER INSIGHTS A Van For All Seasons

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A Van For All Seasons

To run your company as effectively as possible,

you need vehicles that can do many things well.

Here’s why Nissan vans tick all the boxes.

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Matching Your Plan

to the Perfect Van

Every business has unique needs. Fortunately, it’s

relatively simple to configure the ideal vehicle for

whatever line of work you’re in.

W

hether you’re in the market for a single vehicle, a dozen, or an even larger fleet, it’s important to make sure you get the commercial van (or vans) that best meet your specific needs. Choosing the right van can have a significant positive impact on your business, because it can save you money across a host of operational costs and make your employees vastly more efficient.

So, while there are more vehicles than ever to choose from, a little time spent sorting through your options will really pay off when it’s time to make this critical business decision.

Most business owners are still interested in the attributes that have helped make the commercial van America’s modern-day workhorses—things like power, torque, cargo capacity, and reliability. Many companies have also seen their

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When shopping for a

commercial van, begin

with a hierarchy of your

fundamental needs. This

can be a simple exercise

in which you rank the

attributes and characteristics

that matter most to

your business.

nesses become increasingly mobile in recent years. For those business owners and their employees, a van’s utility as a mobile office, its comfort and drivability, and the ease and flexibility it offers for upfitting and customizing are just as im-portant. Choosing the best van to meet your business needs is a matter of mixing and matching the design and features that match your company’s mission. This guide will help you do that

Know Your Priorities

Commercial van users generally fall into one of four cat-egories: installation, repair, maintenance, and service firms; trades, such as general contractor, heating/ventila-tion/air conditioning (HVAC), painter, electrician, plumber, etc.; delivery services (dry cleaners, florists, messengers, package delivery); and people movers, such as limousine services, shuttles, and tour operators. That’s not to say commercial van usage is limited to those categories. As entrepreneurs keep coming up with new types of busi-nesses, they continue to find new ways to make commer-cial vans work for them.

No matter what field your business is in, shopping for a commercial van should begin with a hierarchy of your fundamental needs, says Brian Braudis, an auto industry veteran, leadership expert, and president of The Braudis Group, a Philadelphia-based consultancy. This can be a straightforward exer-cise, as simple as listing the attributes and characteristics that matter most to meet your business needs and ranking them in order of importance.

Size will top the list in many cases. As Braudis points out, “A plumber or roofer will need more carrying capacity than a florist delivering flowers or a baker delivering cupcakes.” Safety and conformance with applicable regulations is an important part of this exercise, so you need to look closely at your cargo capacity needs in relation to weight specifications. Gross vehicle weight rat-ing (GVWR) is an important number here. GVWR is the maximum amount of total operational weight—including the weight of the van itself, fuel, cargo, tools, driver, passengers, and anything else the van might be carrying—rec-ommended by the manufacturer as the upper limit for the vehicle.

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Cargo capacity will be determined primarily by interior size and configura-tion and the strength of the van’s construcconfigura-tion and suspension, but don’t overlook the exterior in this part of your evaluation. Will you need to be able to mount racks on the roof to carry ladders, pipes, or other cargo? Do you have to maneuver and/or park in tight spots? If so, how well will the van’s door configuration work in those situations? What kind of available surface area do you need if you plan to wrap your van?

When considering the size of your commercial van, “You want to make sure it’s big enough to hold everything you will need to transport—your work tools, your passengers, and trade-specific hardware such as pressure washers or ladders, or your delivery material,” says James Alisch, managing director of Wow 1 Day Painting, a franchise network of about 30 painting contractors, headquartered in Seattle, Washington. “Secondly, what does it look like? If you are going to wrap a van, it needs to represent your brand well and have the capacity to stand out and make a good impression.”

One size doesn’t fit all

Some mobile businesses require a variety of different van sizes and configurations to meet their business needs, and many of them are turning to the Nissan NV line for help with that. Jerry Hall, president and owner of Assured Comfort, a Winston, Georgia-based HVAC con-tracting firm serving the Atlanta area, has seen his vehi-cle needs become more diverse as his company has grown and expanded into new business lines in recent years. His fleet includes more than a dozen Nissan NV

Cargo vans, ranging from the NV200 Compact Cargo van to the NV1500 Cargo van to the NV2500 Cargo High Roof van. All the Nissan vans are upfitted to their specific uses.

Assured Comfort’s five NV1500 Cargo vans and six NV2500 Cargo vans (three of which are High Roof models) are the fleet’s heavy lifters, with cargo capacities ranging from 234 cubic feet to 323 cubic feet. All are upfitted with the HVAC Package, which includes a cargo partition, Adrian Steel shelving units, drawer units, a parts bin system, hook bars, a three-tank rack, and a literature rack. “The difference between the Nissan vans and other

commer-Laptops and printers

neatly mounted in the

cockpits give the vans a

professional office look

and help make

salespeople more

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cial vans we have used is just night and day, especially in terms of interior space and accessibility,” Hall says. “The way those doors open up (243 de-grees) is sweet, and the cargo capacity on those 1500s and 2500s is just a beautiful thing.” (For a closer look at Assured Comfort’s buying strategy, see the case study at the end of this guide.)

For smaller jobs and for estimating and sales proposals, Hall relies on a pair of NV200 SV Compact Cargo vans with the Nissan Technology Package and Exterior Appearance Package. Highly maneuverable and equipped with a fuel-efficient 2.0-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine, the NV200 still boasts an impressive 122 cubic feet of cargo capacity. Flat wheel wells make it easy to get the most use out of that space, and six flat-folding tie-downs make secur-ing parts and materials a cinch. Laptops and printers neatly mounted in the cockpits give the vans a professional office look and help make Assured Com-fort’s salesmen more efficient and productive.

Mix and match

For some businesses, teaming up two different types of vans can maximize the value of both. That’s what Kasselman Solar, a fast-growing electrical and solar energy contractor based in Albany, New York, is doing. Owner Steve Kasselman, a third-generation electrical contractor, has purchased a growing fleet of NV1500 SV Cargo vans and NV2500 HD SV Cargo High Roof vans since expanding into solar energy a couple of years ago, and his strategy of sending the vans out in teams is paying off handsomely. His solar business is exploding, with revenue up by a factor of 25 in 2015.

Kassleman Solar’s NV1500 vans are used by the company’s electricians. They come equipped with the electrical contractor fit-out package from Adrian Steel and a utility roof rack with conduit carriers. “The utility roof rack allows the electricians easy access to multiple conduit carriers and an extension ladder, and the electrical contractor fit-out package has wire spools, many bins that are integrated into the shelving for smaller parts, and literature racks for instruction manuals and electrical schematics,” Kasselman says. The company’s solar installers get the NV2500 vans, equipped with a double drop-down ladder rack and a customized version of the general services package. “The NV2500 HD has an increased ceiling height, which is great for

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fall-protection equipment, but most importantly, it gives us the ability to fork-lift in a full pallet of solar panels,” he says. “Every morning when the trucks are loaded, each combination of one NV1500 SV and one NV2500 HD can ac-commodate installation and wiring of 30 solar panels, which is creating tre-mendous efficiencies in the field. We also equip a few NV2500 HDs with tow packages to transport excavating equipment on a trailer when we do ground-mount solar installations.”

Cost, power train, and other considerations

The focus on basics as the starting point for your commercial van buying deci-sion should include several other considerations, says Barbara Fulkerson, own-er of Louisville, Kentucky-based Action Truck and Body Equipment, a long-time upfitter and supplier of specialized truck and van equipment. They include: • TOTAL COST. This should include both the cost of the van and the upfits

desired. It’s important to factor in not only the base cost of the van and the upfitting, but any dealer incentives or special deals that might be offered. Look for complimentary upfit incentives from the manufacturer. Bundled upgrade packages—some targeting specific trades, such as electrical or HVAC contractors—can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars. • POWER TRAIN. The trade-off here is usually between horsepower/torque

and fuel efficiency, but advances in engine and transmission technology are making it easier to get the power you need with reasonable gas mileage. For example, the 24-valve, 4.0-liter V6 engine in Nissan NV1500 and NV2500 Cargo vans uses an advanced continuously variable valve timing control system that delivers 261 horsepower and 281 lb.-ft. of torque with optimum fuel efficiency. For those with even greater power needs, the NV3500 HD offers a 5.6-liter DOHC V8 engine and a final gear ratio of 3.54:1. The V8 can deliver 317 horsepower and 385 lb.-ft. of torque.

• QUALITY AND DURABILITY. Most manufacturers promise those things, but pay close attention to how they back up their promises. Nissan put the NV line through brutal rounds of quality and durability testing—more than 800,000 miles and 8,000 quality and durability tests. The process simulates years of exposure to corrosion-causing elements like salt and heat, and sus-pension and body components are subject to pounding from being driven

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over teeth-rattling potholes, dips, and 4 x 4 beams. Special chambers where the heat gets cranked up to 140 degrees and the humidity to 95 percent are used to break down seals and age interiors. Nissan has machines that can simulate nearly any road in the world, and it runs NV Cargo vans on them for 12 hours, 24 hours, and even longer. The vans have performed so well through repeated rounds of torturous testing that Nissan is backing them with America’s best commercial van warranty—bumper-to-bumper cover-age for five years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

The commercial van as mobile office

For a growing number of businesses, both large and small, a commercial van’s utility as a mobile office is a primary consid-eration. Braudis notes it’s important that the cabin of an opti-mized mobile office be big enough to accommodate the driver, an incorporated workstation, and any frequently used items. “When making numerous stops every day, it’s critical to have frequently accessed items placed near an exit for easy and efficient access,” he says. “Every second counts.”

The Nissan NV200 Compact Cargo Van is designed to func-tion efficiently as a modern mobile office and to enable the kind of connectivity today’s mobile businesses need, and the larger NV1500, NV2500, and NV3500 Cargo vans offer the

same kind of design and features. The Nissan Technology Package, available on all NV vans, features NissanConnect with Mobile Apps, providing a suite of high-tech features that support business productivity. The features are easily ac-cessed via a 5.8-inch touchscreen with voice recognition, and the package also includes the advanced Nissan Navigation System, hands-free text messaging assistant, Bluetooth hands-free calling, and a convenient RearView Monitor. The thoughtful design of all NV van cabins also contributes to increased busi-ness productivity, making it a better space for drivers and a smarter place to work. The cockpit configuration means the driver sits high, with excellent outside visibility, and the space converts easily into a mobile office when it’s time to take care of paperwork. The fold-down passenger seat creates a use-ful, desk-like work area, and smart storage and power outlets—both 12-volt and 120-volt—are all within easy reach.

Employee safety is a top

priority at Tot Squad, and

Beall says the NV200’s

shelving options for

cleaning supplies, and

the availability of a

partition between the

cabin and the cargo area,

were important

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Utility as a mobile office was one of the most important considerations Jennifer Beall had in mind when she was shopping for new vans for her business. “The cockpit design of the NV200 Compact Cargo Van is a great thing for us,” says Beall, CEO and founder of Tot Squad, a mobile business that provides cleaning, repair, and safety education for strollers, car seats, and other types of baby gear. “There are plenty of storage areas up front for us to keep all our binders, clip-boards, and paper forms, and we also installed fire extinguishers for employee safety in our NV200 vans.” Employee safety is a top priority at Tot Squad, and Beall says the NV200’s shelving options for Tot Squad’s cleaning supplies and the availability of a partition between the cabin and the cargo area were important considerations for her. “One of the things we tell our clients as part of our educa-tional outreach is that anything, even a box of tissues, can become a dangerous projectile in an accident, and that’s even more true with all the cleaning supplies, stain removers, and other liquid containers we carry,” she says.

Turbocharged by technology

Cockpit design and comfort are important contributors to a van’s utility as an optimized mobile office. However, Bruce Stubbs, director of industry marketing at Honeywell Sensing & Productivity Solutions, notes that the most significant productivity benefits come from providing drivers with the right mobile tech-nology solutions. The value of mobile techtech-nology solutions is increased when they can be utilized in the cockpit as well as outside the vehicle as the driver actually performs workflows, he adds. For example, a laptop or notebook com-puter can be used to access the company’s network to create estimates, pro-vide invoices for completed work, accept mobile payment, utilize point-of-sale technology, and access schematics and other information onscreen to assist with installations and repairs. Accessible outlets for keeping those devices charged and connected should be an important consideration.

In the final analysis, choosing the right commercial van and creating an optimized mobile office boils down to your own specific business needs and the hierarchy of those needs, Braudis says. It makes sense to start out with a vehicle platform that can accommodate as many of those needs as possible via OEM equipment and accessories, and that can be easily upfitted for any needs not available directly from the manufacturer. “Depending on your business, you may have communication needs that require multiple technologies or just radio and/or cell phone service,” he

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says. “A shuttle service may be in contact with multiples of custom-ers, hotels, and other venues, but a one-person contractor may just need a phone to call customers.” No matter what your specific needs and requirements are when it comes to creating your optimized mobile office, you should spend some time looking at how other businesses similar to yours have met the challenge, Braudis advises. Get an idea of what they are doing with shelving, cabinets, and cockpits. Take a look at the kind of technology solu-tions they’re implementing and how they are applying them to make their businesses more ef-ficient and productive. “It’s easier to build on something that exists rather than reinventing the wheel,” he says. “There is a lot of freedom today to work from any-where. If you invest the time in your mobile office design and fabrication, it can make your work pleasurable. Ask a lot of ques-tions, and visualize and contem-plate your needs along with what you want. You are building your own productivity and efficiency into your workdays.”

1. SIZE AND CONFIGURATION. How much room do you need for all your tools, equipment, parts, inventory, etc.? What is the maximum size and weight of the loads you expect to be carrying? How easy is it to upfit this van?

2. ACCESSIBILITY. What kind of door configuration best meets your needs? How many points of access do you require? How important is access to

different parts of the van?

3. WORK-SITE UTILITY. Is it rugged enough to stand up to heavy-duty worksite use? How easy is it to load and unload materials? How thoroughly has it been tested for quality and durability?

4. CABIN CONFIGURATION AND AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY. Are there sufficient power outlets for phone, laptop, and other mobile devices? Appro-priate connectivity and technology options? Is the space designed to make your paperwork easier? Is there storage for brochures, invoices, forms, etc.?

5. DRIVABILITY AND MANEUVERABILITY. Are there sufficient power outlets for phone, laptop, and other mobile devices? Appropriate connectiv-ity and technology options? Is the space designed to make your paperwork easier? Is there storage for brochures, invoices, forms, etc.?

6. COST AND RELIABILITY. What’s the expected cost of ownership? How good is the warranty? What kind of fuel economy does it get?

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G

rowth comes with plenty of challenges. Just ask Jerry Hall, president and owner of Assured Comfort in Winston, Georgia. His company began as a residential HVAC (heating/ventilation/air conditioning) contractor but has expanded into larger commercial projects, and more re-cently, plumbing. Assured Comfort also does duct cleaning and attic insula-tion and is preparing to launch a specialized remodeling division.

The company has seen revenue grow by 25 percent for each of the past two years and expects a 40 percent rise in 2016. Along the way, this multi-location business has grown from a handful of employees to more than 30.

One thing that will remain constant as the company grows, however, is its reliance on Nissan vans. To maximize employee performance and productiv-ity in each of the niches it now serves, the company demands different

char-CASE STUDY

New Markets, New Vans;

But Always Nissan

This fast-growing contractor needs different kinds of

vans for different lines of business and says Nissan is

always the right choice.

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acteristics in its vans. Hall’s fleet includes more than a dozen Nissan NV Cargo vans, ranging from the NV200 Compact Cargo van to the NV1500 Cargo van to the NV2500 Cargo High Roof van. All the vehicles are from model years 2012, 2013, and 2014, and each is upfitted to its specific use.

For example, the sales team travels in 2013 NV200 SV Compact Cargo vans equipped with the Nissan Technology Package and Exterior Appearance Package. “We have laptops and printers mounted in the cockpit, and the Blue-tooth connectivity makes it easy for our salesmen to communicate with cus-tomers, prospects, and the home office,” Hall says. “They can create and print proposals on-site, and everything is neat and professional looking. The NV200 is a great mobile office.”

Assured Comfort’s five NV1500 Cargo vans and six NV2500 Cargo vans (three of which are High Roof models) serve as the workhorses of the fleet. All are upfitted with the HVAC Package, which includes a cargo partition, Adrian Steel shelving units, drawer units, a parts bin system, hook bars, a tank rack, and a literature rack.

Many Happy Returns on Investment

“The difference between the Nissan vans and other commercial vans we have used is just night and day, especially in terms of interior space and accessibil-ity,” Hall says. “The way those doors open up (243 degrees) is sweet, and the cargo capacity on those 1500s and 2500s (up to 323 cubic feet in the NV2500 High Roof) is just a beautiful thing.”

Hall appreciates the appearance, practicality, and simplicity of his Nissan NV fleet, but as a businessman he’s even more impressed by the vans’ reliability and projected ROI. “We’ve put more than 100,000 miles on some of them already, and they are holding up very well. I fully expect them to go 300,000 miles with-out major problems,” he says. “My mechanic says the Nissan vans are head-and-shoulders above other vans, and he rarely sees an NV in his shop.”

Hall adds the Nissan NV vans beat everything else he looked at in terms of price, and that he got a great deal from Nissan Finance. “These vans are built to work, and built to last,” he says. “With the way they are designed and with the upfitting options available, they help my employees stay organized, and that has a big impact on the bottom line.”