Why the Ford F-Series Is Perfect for Your Small Business

Running a small business can be a struggle. You have to balance making the right choices for your business strategy while also limiting your expenses. If you need a vehicle for your business shipping, pick up, or delivery needs, one of the best-value choices you can make is to visit your local Ford commercial vehicle dealer. Shop for a new or used pickup truck in the popular Ford F-Series to balance practical performance, amazing towing and hauling capacity, and an affordable price.

But why a pickup truck and not a delivery van or car? Thanks to their optimized designs, pickup trucks have plenty of benefits that you can’t get from other vehicles – and the difference doesn’t just come down to brute strength. Here is your guide to commercial pickup trucks, including the many surprising benefits of buying a Ford pickup for your business transportation needs.

New to Commercial Trucks?

If you are new to commercial vehicles, you might not be aware that government regulations classify them by weight rather than by type. While you may think commercial driver’s licenses are only required for vehicles like tractor-trailers and large box trucks, that is not always the case. Although most pickup trucks are small enough that they will not require any special considerations for commercial use, some of the more powerful models can require a commercial driver’s license when towing large trailers.

The key number to keep in mind is a Gross Combined Vehicle Weight (GCVW) of 26,000 lbs. If your truck and trailer combination weighs more than this, you will likely require a commercial driver’s license to operate it for your business. It may sound odd that both pickups and large 18-wheelers have similar licensing requirements, even though they have very little in common besides being heavier than a car and engineered to carry large loads. However, modern pickups now offer incredible towing power. The new 2021 F-150, supposedly a “light-duty” truck, can pull up to 14,000 lbs with the proper configuration – that’s only 500 lbs less than a 2000 F-350 Super Duty could handle. Meanwhile, the top of the line F-450 is all set to pull up to 37,000 lbs.

However, this capability also means that a modern Ford F-Series pickup offers the sort of capabilities you used to only get with a large commercial truck. While companies with nationwide or even international shipping needs still rely on tractor-trailers or box trucks, a small business works differently and has smaller-scale needs and a Ford F-Series pickup can usually fill them easily. When you think of the term “commercial truck,” you might automatically think of one of those large purpose-built vehicles, a pickup truck like a Ford F-150 is actually the best choice for small business needs. Here are some of the top reasons why.

Small and Versatile

A pickup truck is much smaller than a chassis cab or tractor-trailer, but this factor is actually useful for small businesses. Even if you have a large property that you occupy, conserving space is essential for running your business smoothly and making the most of your property investment. Dedicated commercial trucks are simply too large for many small businesses. Pickup trucks, meanwhile, are more compact; they can fit easily into any typical parking space.

Even a hefty pickup like the Ford SuperDuty is easy to maneuver in and out of your business’ parking lot, garage, warehouse, alley, or driveway. If you run a business in a dense commercial zone like a typical downtown or a strip mall, parking is sparse and should primarily be reserved for your clientele. A Ford pickup truck is ideal for any business in a crowded area because you’re still able to handle your pickup, shipping, and delivery needs while also benefiting from prime business real estate in a dense, customer-packed setting.

Strong and Reliable

At the same time, you don’t just need any tiny vehicle. If “small and versatile” were your only concerns, you’d be just as well off investing in a smart car. Ideally, just about any small business would benefit from a pickup truck because they’re designed to be strong and reliable for their size. They may fit comfortably into the standard parking space, but they’re also strong enough to get the job done – transporting heavy cargo, delivering goods to customers, picking up supplies, you name it.

For example, the new Ford F-150 can carry a payload of up to 3,325 lbs! In fact, many Ford F-series trucks offer best-in-class payload and towing capacity, meaning that they can hold more cargo in their bed and tow more weight than any other, similar-sized pickup truck. While many people assume that vans are the best vehicle for transporting cargo, F-series pickups can carry far more payload than any van and certainly more than any sedan or small car. Do you need some serious power to get the job done? Consider the 2021 F-450 with up to 37,000 lbs of towing capacity and specially tuned engines that churn out immense power with best-in-class displacement.

Pickups like the Ford F-series trucks handle well, too. The 2021 F-150 has several available engines, including the 5.8-liter V-8 that produces up to 400 hp, a turbocharged V6 that also has 400 hp, and a brand-new hybrid V6 that provides 430 hp and can serve as a 7.2 kW mobile generator. Each F-series truck is designed to accelerate powerfully, drive like a smaller vehicle, and provide stability with features like traction control – all while offering best-in-class towing.

Easy to Load and Unload

Vans may seem like the obvious choice for transporting products, but the wide, open bed of most pickup trucks makes loading and loading far easier. You won’t have to worry about doors in the way, nor the low, awkwardly curved ceiling that many vans have. While cargo vans often claim to have an enormous storage capacity, these measurements often include areas like the space next to side doors where it’s actually very difficult to fit large cargo. Pickup trucks have ample bed space that you can load and unload simply by opening the tailgate.

What about the weather or other environmental factors? It’s simple to drape your cargo in a protective tarp or even store your most fragile goods inside the cabin. Crew cab trucks with a 4-door cab have plenty of interior room to utilize, too. It’s easy to select the right Ford F-series truck from multiple cab and bed configurations to get the perfect balance of size, price, cabin space, and bed capacity. Talk to your local Ford dealer about customizing the perfect pickup for your business.

Great Value

Cars aren’t always priced by size. In fact, some large pickup trucks are actually more affordable than many sedans and compact SUVs. For example, a brand-new 2021 Ford F-150 has a starting price of $28,940 – a competitive price for any body style. Certified pre-owned and used pickups will be even more affordable if you are seeking to save some more money.

A vehicle may be one of the most costly investments that you can make for your business – right behind property rental or ownership – so it’s important to invest in quality commercial vehicles that are built to last. Overall, you get the best value when you select one of the Ford F-series trucks for your business. Choose the popular F-150 for the perfect balance of excellent driving performance and strength; the F-250, F-350, or F-450 for heavy-duty towing with enhanced torque and stronger engines; or even the F-450 or F-550 Super Duty chassis cabs for a custom build.

Get Ready to Find Your Commercial Truck

Visit Kings Ford to explore a wide inventory of commercial pickup trucks at low prices. Our stock of new and used vehicles includes the popular F-series pickups, as well as other trucks, cars, vans, and SUVs by America’s top automaker. Cincinnati trusts in Kings Ford for great service, a spectacular lineup, top finance teams that can help you get a great deal on a Ford vehicle, and an expert service department. Stop by our dealership to see which commercial vehicles we have in stock, or look through our website to explore our inventory and learn more about our commercial vehicles – including specs, prices, and features. We promise to help you find exactly what you’re looking for at a price that works for your business.