For the most part delivery contractors have always preferred diesel vehicles over gas. Reasons such as, decent fuel mileage, “bullet-proof” engines, and cheaper to operate than gas vehicles, have been true for decades. But with a new crop of gasoline fueled work trucks, the traditional diesel platform is getting a run for its money.
In today’s work truck market we see much more variety than we have ever seen before. In a world that used to be dominated by diesel Freightliners and Workhorses, we now see manufacturers such as Chevrolet, Ford, Isuzu, and Nissan offering both gas and diesel options.
Are these gas work trucks just full of hot exhaust or are there reasons why they have become popular as of late? Let’s look at some pro’s and con’s of both gas and diesel vehicles.
Gas Vehicles
Gas Pros:
- Lower initial cost – Gas work trucks in the 1,000 – 1,200 cubic foot range tend to be $10,000 – $15,000 cheaper than their diesel alternatives.
- Lower maintenance cost – Gasoline engines are the most popular engine in the United States. Gasoline engines don’t need special mechanics or special parts to stay up and running. A Ford gas V-10 in a F59 P1000 is the same Ford gas V-10 in a consumer F-350.
- Noise – Gas engines tend to be quieter than diesel engines. For the average person that drives a couple of hours a day at the most this isn’t a big deal, but when your vehicle is your office and you are on delivery routes for 8-10 hours a day, engine noise is a difference maker.
- Fuel Prices – With the nationwide average of gas selling at $3.50/gallon and diesel at $3.80/gallon, it is becoming much cheaper to fill up on gas rather than diesel.
Gas Cons:
- Fuel Mileage – While gasoline engines have become more efficient over the years, they are still not as fuel efficient as diesel engines.
- Durability – Diesels are known for being “workhorses”. Gas motors have never been able to tick the odometer as high as a diesel engine. While advancements in technology have made gasoline engines more durable, diesels still take hard beatings the best.
Diesel Vehicles
Diesel Pros:
- Fuel Mileage – Diesels typically get 20%-30% better fuel efficiency than the average gas engine. This can be a huge $$$ saver when your delivery route is 150 miles a day!
- Durability – As mentioned before, diesels take a beating (and usually) keep on ticking.
- Torque – Diesel engines have the unique ability to move heavy loads without straining engines. While they will not win any top speed tests, diesels can move outrageous cargo loads slowly but surely.
Diesel Cons:
- Initial cost – Diesels can be pricey, with price tags about $10,000 – $15,000 higher than comparable gas vehicles.
- Maintenance cost – While diesels may not need as much work as gas engines, the work they do need can often be more expensive. Also newer diesel engines often require special additives to create cleaner emissions. This additive is fairly cheap in the grand scheme, but if that additive isn’t replaced when required, it effectively turns your $60,000 investment into a stationary storage unit, as the engines are programmed to not operate in the absence of the additive.
Whether it is gas or diesel, both engine options their up’s and down’s. It is up to you to figure out which works best for you and your business. Work Truck Direct makes available all the most popular Gas Work Trucks and Diesel Work Trucks, pick your poison.
Work Truck Direct is the vehicle sourcing division of First Star Capital. Whether it is a fleet of vehicles or single vehicle, Work Truck Direct can source it. We help commercial drivers and delivery contractors find the vehicles they need to operate their business and provide the industry’s best funding solutions to acquire the newest addition to your fleet.
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