Kansas City has long been a transportation hub thanks to its advantageous location; it’s the most centrally located US market, perfectly situated between the Midwest, Great Plains, and Southwest. It’s no wonder that the city has numerous distribution centers, warehouses, and ports that enable the steady movement of goods from one place to another.
However, even those not in logistics may find themselves needing a commercial trailer; for example, a mechanic may purchase a new workbench set for all their employees that must be transported back to their shop, or a motorcycle dealer may want a more secure way to take their prized bikes to a show.
In these circumstances, it’s vital that you carefully consider the pros and cons of either purchasing a brand-new trailer or utilizing a Kansas City commercial trailer rental. Here are some of the factors you must include in your calculations when deciding which option is best for you.
Buying: Easy Access at a High Price
For those who regularly use semi-trucks and trailers, purchasing their own may seem like a wise choice – until you consider how much it costs to buy the whole outfit. A semi-truck and its trailer can cost anywhere from $100,000 to $200,000 or more, necessitating costly financing. There’s also maintenance and insurance, as well as any upgrades that may come from changing requirements, such as side guards.
However, it can make sense, even for companies that don’t regularly do transportation, if you have specific needs. For example, if you often work on tight deadlines and are never sure when you may get a very large shipment, it might be more cost-effective to keep your own trailer. They can also do double duty as extra storage if you regularly keep large, bulky equipment on site that cannot be kept elsewhere.
Renting: Affordable, but With Extra Logistics
Many companies choose instead to rent trailers when they have specific needs; for example, they may need to transport large equipment from one site to another, or they may get an incredibly large order around the holidays that must be sent out quickly. With these more short-term circumstances, renting is obviously the superior choice, as it allows you just-in-time delivery without financing something that you don’t use all the time.
It’s also possible for renting to make sense if you have a more long-term need, such as transporting equipment when moving to a different office and making multiple trips. This depends on how often you expect to need the trailer: is this going to be for several months rather than over the course of many years? If so, a rental makes perfect sense. You can also base this on whether you would need additional storage at the new location; if you don’t expect to require a trailer to store things, or you already know that you’ll be building a permanent structure to hold new shipments, then a rental is a good choice.
Rentals do not come without some downsides, though. For one, you often need to reserve it well in advance, as rental trailers are in high demand throughout Kansas City. If you have a move planned for months from now and are just getting everything coordinated, then you can definitely rent a trailer, but if you have a spur-of-the-moment request, it might be harder to accommodate you.
There’s also the fact that you need to vet the company thoroughly and ensure that there are no hidden pitfalls in the contract. You need to ask questions such as whether their insurance covers accidents, how long you have to cancel the reservation, and whether it’s possible to extend the rental should unforeseen needs arise. An accommodating rental company will be happy to explain all of this to you and negotiate a good contract that satisfies both parties, but you will likely need to vet multiple rental companies before you find the one that will work best for you.
Run the Numbers and Decide Which Is Best for Your Business
Ultimately, the decision between buying and renting comes down to a cost-benefit analysis. Those with long-term needs may find it more advantageous to finance their own trailer over a period of years, as frequent rentals may be more expensive than loan payments. However, those with sporadic transportation requirements and little need for additional storage will get better utility from a short-term or long-term rental rather than spending thousands of dollars per month on equipment that they rarely use.
Overall, renting is the best option unless you’re entirely sure that you will frequently and consistently require your own trailer. Many rental companies also sell used trailers and semi trucks, which can help reduce the cost down the line, and you’ll be sure that you’re working with a company that you can trust.
