Customising a delivery van

If you are a business owner in the UK running a delivery service, customising your delivery van can be an effective way to make the most of your resources. With the right design, you can create an eye-catching vehicle that will help to establish brand recognition and stand out from the competition. Not only that, but customising your van can also offer practical advantages such as increased storage space, improved accessibility and enhanced safety features.

In this article, we'll take a look at some of the ways in which you can customise your delivery van, helping you to make the most of your resources and create a vehicle that works best for your business.

First: a caveat

Insurance companies not not like customised vehicles. This is because they are never completely sure about whether or not the customisations have affected the likelyhood of the vehicle being involved in an accident. So: if you do alter a vehicle in any way, even to the extent of just changing the paint job, you will have to inform them since not doing so could have dire consequences.

An increased van insurance premium is highly possible so before carrying out any alterations you may wish to discuss this with an insurance insurance provider first, so you can find out the likely impact (if any) on what your insurance will cost.

Benefits of customising delivery vans

There are numerous benefits to customising delivery vans, including:

• Brand recognition - if people see your delivery van repeatedly on the road, they're likely to develop a positive association with your brand as a result. A well-designed van can not only look more attractive, but can also make your business appear more professional . This can make it easier for you to secure new customers and generate repeat business.
• Improved driver safety - certain customisations can make your vehicle safer, such as adding extra mirrors or installing signs that are easier to see.
• Improved accessibility - features such as lowered floors or ramps can make it easier for people to access your vehicle, or for large items to be loaded and unloaded.
• Customisation options - there are many ways you can customise your vehicle, and this gives you plenty of freedom to tailor your design to suit your business.
• Cost-effectiveness - although some customisations can be expensive, many can be done relatively cheaply, making them cost-effective.
• Efficiency - some customisations can help to make your vehicle more efficient, particularly when it comes to storage.

Types of customisation available

There are many different types of customisation available for delivery vans, such as:

• Bodywork - this is the external part of the van, such as the paintwork or graphics.
• Interior - this is the internal part of the van, such as the seats, flooring or lighting.
• External features - these are features outside of the van, such as signs, lights or extra mirrors.
• Modifications - these are changes made to the mechanics of the vehicle, such as a lowered floor or ramp.
• Extras - these are additional items added to the van, such as shelving or partitions.
• Signage - This is how you display your company name or slogan.

Safety customisation

Safety is one of the key advantages of customising your delivery van, and there are a number of ways that you can do this. You can

• Install lights: extra lights, such as low-voltage interior lights or LED lights on the outside of the van can help to boost visibility and even be used as warning lights.
• Install sensors: adding sensors, such as those for blind spots, can help to avoid collisions.
• Install a blind spot mirror: this can help to reduce blind spots, thereby reducing the risk of accidents.
• Install a fire extinguisher: these are important for van drivers and can be used to control minor fires if necessary.
• Install a first aid kit: this can be used to treat minor injuries, such as cuts and scratches.

Design considerations

There are a number of factors to consider when designing your delivery van. These include:

• The industry you operate in - certain industries, such as food and pharmaceuticals, have their own design regulations that you should follow.
• Your brand identity - what is your brand identity and how do you want to be perceived? This should come across in your design, and it can help to reinforce your company image.
• The type of vehicle you have - different vehicles have different design considerations, such as size and weight.
• The colour of your vehicle - this can be important when designing a customised van, particularly for branding purposes.

Customising for increased storage

If you are operating a delivery service, the amount of storage space in your vehicle can have a big impact on how efficiently it works. One way to increase the storage space in your vehicle is by installing shelves or cabinets, or adding a bulkhead partition. Other design considerations are making the flooring easy to remove, and using dividers to create smaller storage compartments.

It can also be worth installing a ramp or lowered floor to make it easier to load heavy items, or using wider doors to allow items to be loaded wider items such as furniture.

Getting the work done

When designing your delivery van, it's important to keep cost in mind, as well as the best way to utilise your resources. You can do this by

• Selecting the most cost-effective materials: the materials that you choose for your design can have a big impact on the cost.
• Selecting the best design: a well-designed van will use fewer resources than an inefficient one.
• Finding the right contractor: the right person can help to keep your costs down and deliver the best results.
• Taking your budget into account: It's important to work within your budget, otherwise you may find yourself with something that doesn't match your needs.
• Following a timeline: A timeline and insisting on a firm completion date can help to keep you on track and help to avoid delays.
• Setting realistic goals: this can help to keep your expectations in check.
• Getting everything in writing: Having all specifications in writing can help to reduce misunderstandings and keep all parties on track.
• Following up with your contractor: It's important to stay in touch with your contractor throughout the process.

Aftercare and maintenance

Once you have your delivery van customised, it's important to maintain it, and keep in mind the long-term effects of any design choices you make. Some of the maintenance tips to keep in mind include:

• Taking good care of your van and keeping it clean will help to extend its lifespan.
• If you have installed new equipment in your van, make sure you are familiar with it, and that it is correctly installed.
• Make sure you are using the equipment correctly, and check on it regularly to make sure it's in good working order.
• If you have installed lights or signage, make sure they are kept clean and fully charged.
• If you have installed new flooring, make sure it is properly maintained, and replaced when it is worn out.

Conclusion

Delivery vans are everywhere, and they are a great way to transport goods. However, they are only as good as their design, so if you are in the market for a new van, or your current van could do with a refresh, think about how you can customise it to make it work best for you.

The benefits of customising delivery vans are many, and with the right design, you can create an eye-catching vehicle that will help to establish brand recognition and stand out from the competition.