When it comes to connected vehicles, you’ve already paid for the intelligent hardware when you purchased it. Every gigabyte of data output by your vehicle contains insights to help potentially lower TCO and improve driver safety. If you’re not collecting and analyzing this information, it’s going down the drain.
Learn more: Add Value to Your Business Through Integrated Fleet Data | Merchants Fleet
There are more than 13 million connected vehicles in the United States, and over 90% of new cars sold include this technology. While it’s easy to estimate that most 2020 MY vehicles and newer are connected capable, we’d be happy to review your fleet and pinpoint which vehicles can advantage of connected technology and where you still need a legacy telematics plug in device.
With a connected vehicle, telematics capability is already built into the vehicle including the cellular modem and advanced computer systems. Using these onboard systems reduces the costs associated with device installs and prevents device tampering.
Having your fleet connected allows for ease of access to the date as it will all live in TotalView through TotalConnect.
Most modern cars have a digital MPG display, but it may not always be correct. For a more accurate reading, follow these steps:
For example, if you drove 100 miles on 10 gallons of gas, your MPG is 10.
The Utility kWh rate is the price of power supplied by the utility company — in this case, electricity. It can be calculated by multiplying your kWh by the cost of electricity.
Mile per kWh (kilowatts per hour) is a measurement of energy consumption for electric vehicles.
There are many benefits, including the ability to lower costs, improve fleet safety, and track fuel spending. You will also have full visibility into vehicle lifecycle costs, and our customized short- and long-term leases make it easy to find exactly what you need to fit your business goals and budget.
Our most popular vehicles for engineering include a range of sedans, light duty pickups and SUVs. The Ford F-150, Honda CR-V, Nissan Pathfinder, and Chrysler Voyager are all popular options.
We offer a lot of upfit options, including logos, branding, decals, truck boxes, safety lights, lift gates, cranes, shelving modules, drawer units — and much more. Check out our page on vehicle upfitting and branding for more information. If you aren’t sure exactly which type of upfits you need, we can help with that, too.
It depends on the number of vehicles and which types of upfits you’ve chosen. Contact Merchants to discuss your upfit needs, and our team can provide more detailed information about potential costs and timeframe.
Upfits will depend on your specific needs. Some of the more popular upfits for construction vehicles include logos and branding, trailer and hitch options, shelving and drawers, roof racks, ladder racks, and power locks.
Some of our most popular vehicles for the construction industry include Ford F-250, RAM 2500, Nissan Titan XD, Chevy Silverado 2500 HD, GMC Sierra 2500 HD, and ½ ton pickups from Ford/Chevy/Ram. We also offer flatbeds and service bodies from Ford, Chevy, and RAM.
We offer a variety of flexible leasing and funding options designed to meet your budget and needs. These include open-end leases, close-end leases, short-term leases, rent-to-lease, and value leases. Electric vehicle leasing and funding is also available.
Benefits include lower costs, improving fleet safety, easily tracking your fuel spend, and full visibility into vehicle lifecycle costs. Contact us for more information — we’d be happy to review the many advantages!
Upfits will depend on your specific needs. Some of the more popular ones include logos and branding, trailer and hitch options, shelving and drawers, alarm systems, and safety lights.
It depends on your needs and budget. We have a large selection of cargo vans, shuttles, and passenger vans from top manufacturers.
We offer a variety of flexible leasing terms, including open-end and close-end leases, short-term leases, rent-to-lease, and value leases.
There are many advantages to partnering with a fleet management solution, including lowering costs, improving fleet safety, faster deployment to job sites — and much more. We’ll work with you to tailor a fleet solution that fits your needs and budget.
Upfits will depend on your specific needs. Some of the more popular ones include logos and branding, trailer and hitch options, shelving and drawers, alarm systems, and safety lights.
Whether you’re transporting produce or hauling machinery to a job site, we have you covered. We offer a wide variety of trucks and cargo vans so you can find exactly what you need.
TotalConnect can provide deep visibility into your fleet data without the need for a plug-in device. With TotalConnect, multiple sources of connected vehicle data and telematics device data are seamlessly consolidated into a single dashboard, enabling you to save processing time by only needing to use a single platform. No aftermarket devices are required. TotalConnect delivers cutting-edge vehicle visibility that starts as soon as the vehicle leaves the factory.
In addition to the advantages we just mentioned, telematics allows you to see where your vehicles are in real-time — and how long they stay at a particular location.
By monitoring trip data, vehicle systems information, and driver behavior, you identify key areas of improvement to drive cost savings and improve safety. Some companies have even seen a reduction in their insurance premiums.
Telematics is an aftermarket GPS-tracking device that’s installed in a vehicle, which provides added insight into more detailed aspects of data, such as accurate odometer readings and driver behavior.
Choose from new and late model cargo vans, flatbeds and pickup trucks, and a variety of EV options. Specific models include the RAM ProMaster, Chevy Express, GMC Savana, Ford Transit, Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500, Isuzu 16’ Box Truck, and many more. If you can’t find the commercial vehicle you need, please contact us to check our availability.
No matter where you are in the United States or how many locations you have, Merchants can deliver a commercial truck rental product to you. We take care of the pickup and delivery nationwide for any number of trucks needed.
To return a vehicle, notify your Account Manager who will start the offboarding process by sending a form for each vehicle being returned. These forms must be completed within 7 days, otherwise a new request must be made. Vehicle pickup is coordinated with logistics; they will relay any chargeable vehicle damage costs to your Account Manager for payment or insurance claim info.
We offer flexible, month-to-month rental terms on pickup beds with unlimited mileage options available.
We have developed a variety of service packages to meet your company’s needs. With our full maintenance program, you pay one fixed monthly payment, and we handle everything. The fee never changes, no matter how much we work on your fleet. Administered maintenance enables you to pay for repairs as you go. Reserve maintenance allows you to pay a fixed amount each month, and at the end of the lease term, all bills are reconciled, and the account is balanced. The final option is tailored maintenance, which is a customized solution for your fleet.
We offer multiple trim levels of popular full-size pickups including the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, Ram 1500, and a wide selection of commercial trucks, including ½ ton, ¾ ton, 1 ton, and EV models. We also offer cargo vans, which are a great option if you’re looking for a business truck rental with more space since cargo vans are designed with storage in mind.
Our truck rental custom packages allow off-road use and towing. Some vehicles may be better suited for certain terrain or towing capabilities, so it’s best to contact us to discuss your specific situation.
We have an entire team dedicated to managing the license, title, and registrations of your fleet. Our experts understand all the intricacies and requirements pertaining to vehicle paperwork for all 50 states. We can help, no matter what you need — including title changes, specialty plates, interstate registration, and registration renewals.
Our license and title experts are assigned to specific states, which means they understand the laws, processes, and standards for registering and licensing your fleet vehicles. We also keep track of changes that occur from state to state, which means fewer errors and quicker turnaround.
A simple, consolidated billing pass through is placed on your Merchants invoice each month for any vehicles associated with any vehicles on your account.
Toll Management enables the use of all electronic and cashless tolling lanes. Fleet tolling is consolidated into one centralized account, which reduced or often eliminates costly toll violations and activates toll region interoperability.
With TollGuard, we systematically check for any toll violations, like when a transponder is not detected in the lane; we then pay them automatically to eliminate any violation fines.
Our electronic toll payment solution provides an easy, centralized way to control and process your toll expenses. Our solution is compatible with all in-vehicle transponder and license plate video toll recognition systems across the United States. Plus, our solution can help you save up to 50% on tolling expenses.
We have dedicated specialists who handle the details of subrogation, which means your claim is handled as efficiently as possible. Our specialists, who will review the claim to determine who is at fault, have extensive knowledge of all relevant laws and regulations so you can focus on other important business. Clients can see all claim details, demands, and funds collected throughout the process.
Within 24 hours of a claim being filed, an FNOL (First Notice of Loss) is emailed to the distribution point of contact that was set up during the discovery. This can be one contact, a strig, or multiple contacts depending on preference. If a serious accident or fatality is reported, the claim is escalated immediately, and all emergency contacts are informed according to account preferences.
Telematics proactively track driver behavior and aggregate it into individual scorecards, providing a platform for managers to address problems and reward improvements. Driver safety should also be a top priority. Evaluating this data will guide decisions regarding policies, training, and incentive programs. Drivers should be completely familiar with all their vehicles’ equipment, including GPS, company-issued field service devices, telematics, and even the entertainment system. Telematics can also track engine hours and mileage and provide maintenance schedules to ensure vehicles are running optimally.
Fleet accident management services includes seamless claims processing, repair and subrogation recovery, and coordinating loaners vehicles. Plus, no matter when accidents happen, your drivers will have 24/7 support.
Telematics is a powerful tool that will help you manage expenses, productivity, compliance, safety, and more. You can use data to identify key areas of improvements; plus, Merchants Fleet telematics is easily scaled and customized to your specific business needs.
With telematics, you can view data from the vehicle’s engine, drivetrain, instrument cluster, and other subsystems. You can also monitor driver behavior, including braking habits, speed, after-hours usage, and acceleration.
Telematics will streamline ELD logging procedures, reduce paperwork, and facilitate quicker inspections, which makes it easy to stay compliant with the latest ELD regulations.
Failure to properly maintain your fleet can result in serious safety and compliance problems, business downtime, loss of revenue, and high repair costs. Fleet maintenance will help keep you and your business running safely and efficiently.
We allow you to choose a pricing structure that works best for you. With our full maintenance program, you pay one fixed monthly payment, and we handle everything. The fee never changes, no matter how much we work on your fleet. Administered maintenance enables you to pay for repairs as you go. Reserve maintenance allows you to pay a fixed amount each month, and at the end of the lease term, all bills are reconciled, and the account is balanced. The final option is tailored maintenance, which is a customized solution for your fleet.
Our selection of maintenance programs includes a nationwide network of more than 45,000 preferred vendors. We also have EV specialized maintenance facilities within our vendor network to ensure your EVs are properly maintained and serviced.
With TotalView, our fleet management software, you can access purchase order data and key reports. We can also set you up to receive email or text-based preventative maintenance alerts to help ensure your vehicles stay on the right track.
We order vehicles from the OEMs in addition to upfit manufacturers. We can help you develop an acquisition strategy to ensure you receive the vehicles you need.
Our Merchants Fleet consulting team combines industry experience, analytical skills, big data, and the latest fleet technologies to provide tailored solutions across the entire fleet lifecycle. Whether you are looking to reduce costs, enhance corporate sustainability, upgrade fleet policies, or improve driver behavior, we will develop the most effective strategies to meet your goals.
In addition to TotalView, we offer connected vehicle technology for commercial fleets, otherwise known as TotalConnect. With TotalConnect, multiple sources of your fleet data are seamlessly consolidated into a single dashboard, enabling you to see data from a variety of telematics providers and OEMs in one platform. Get the information you need — when you need it. This includes vehicle locations, mapping, geofencing, trip and event history, driver behavior, vehicle utilization dashboards, diagnostics codes, and much more. TotalConnect delivers cutting-edge vehicle visibility, starting as soon as the vehicle leaves the factory with no aftermarket devices required.
We have an in-house upfit engineering team that will help you select the right vehicles for your fleet, spec the best aftermarket equipment, and choose the most qualified vendors for jobs. We are your single point of contact and ensure a streamlined upfit process.
The most popular type of commercial vehicles are typically medium-duty trucks, or any vehicle with lighter upfits, an enhanced engine, and four-wheel drive. These include the Ford F-250, RAM 2500, Nissan Titan XD, Chevy Silverado 2500HD, and GMC Sierra 2500HD.
A fleet management solution will help keep you and your company running safely and efficiently. Benefits include reducing operational costs, reducing administrative burden, lowering fleet repair costs, and ensuring the highest level of safety for you and your employees. Even if you own your own vehicles, we can help. We can add fleet management services to help with administration time and manage operational costs.
From simple to complex, Merchants has the experience, skills, tools and expertise to enable your transition to EV. It’s no secret that the EV movement is happening, and we’ll be your trusted partner who can help you stay ahead of the curve and achieve both your fleet and sustainability goals. A fleet can make a large impact on sustainability and vehicle operations and working with a fleet management company is a low-risk way to do that. They are a viable option for your business and total cost of ownership.
The term “mobility” has long been an integral part of fleet management, but in today’s ever-changing world, it has evolved into something far more extensive. Mobility now stands as a new way of thinking; a transformative, on-demand philosophy that can unlock new opportunities in delivering the most efficient transportation that is needed, when it is needed, and for exactly how long it is needed. We invite you to explore our Mobility Calculator, which is designed to model out a scenario in which a mix of mobility and long-term leasing solutions can potentially save money while increasing flexibility within your fleet.
Fuel is the second largest expense for fleets after depreciation. Since you can’t control prices at the pump, examining your fleet’s MPG is one way to manage your fuel spend. Use our Fuel Savings Calculator to see how much you’re spending today, and how much you can potentially save by focusing on your MPG.
Electric vehicles can lower maintenance costs, lower fuel costs, and reduce downtime, all of which contributes to a reduced Total Cost of Ownership.
Our EV experts and fleet team will create a custom EV adoption plan best suited to meet your organizational goals and needs. You will also receive a tailored strategy to execute your adoption, including vehicle reservations, best locations for EV conversion, ordering and leasing, EVSE charging and funding options, and more.
We provide vehicle upfitting services for any type of vehicle — Class 1 to Class 8 trucks; light, medium, and heavy duty vehicles; commercial buses, vans, and shuttles; and passenger vehicles.
No matter your industry, our truck and van upfitting services will be tailored to your business, fleet size, and goals.
With a fleet management solution, you can streamline processes, improve fleet safety and maintenance, and enjoy faster deployment to job sites. You can also monitor all your equipment, track fuel management and manage driver behavior.
Trucks Include:
Vans Include:
Delivery timelines vary depending on the make and model selected and the level of upfitting required. Our acquisitions and upfitting teams will work with you closely to keep you apprised of vehicle production timelines for your orders.
Our consulting team can help tell if EVs are right for you through AdoptEV, our EV adoption solution that helps you get from concept to execution. We’ve made significant commitments to OEMs, and we’re on the front lines to get vehicle allocations and ensure there is EV availability for our clients.
Our analysts can help you evaluate this based on industry trends, forecasts, and third-party research. Our remarketing programs can help you get the most value.
Yes, fuel cards can be used at many card reader capable chargers.
Our team of experts and infrastructure partners can help establish the right charging infrastructure strategy for your fleet, including identifying the right charger, installation, and station maintenance.
It depends on the number of vehicles and which types of upfits you’ve chosen. Contact Merchants to discuss your upfit needs, and our team can provide more detailed information about potential costs and timeframe.
Common van upfitting requests include installing partitions, lights, ramps, and lift gates. We also focus on safety improvements and performance enhancements, including anti-slip flooring and storage unit installation. Common truck upfits include floor drawers, pickup truck hitches, hitch accessories, ladder racks, roof racks, boxes, and cargo trailer equipment. No matter what you need, our vehicle upfitting engineers will work diligently to get the job done on time and efficiently.
If you are looking to sell buses or non-traditional/specialty vehicles you already own, consider our GuaranteeBUY program. Similar to fleet lease disposal, this program will offer you a guaranteed price up front for your vehicles. We assess your vehicles, and then our remarketing experts determine the appropriate value. From there, we handle the entire fleet remarketing process, including any inspections and fees associated with selling.
It depends on your needs, but our most popular vehicles for residential care include the Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Voyager, and passenger buses.
We provide a variety of leasing and funding to meet your needs. Closed-end leases offer a fixed monthly payment. An open-end lease gives you complete leasing structure flexibility. If you have purchased your own vehicles, we can add fleet management services.
A fleet management solution will help keep you and your residential care community running safely and efficiently. Benefits include: reducing operational costs, reducing administrative burden, lowering fleet repair costs, and ensuring the highest level of safety for you, your employees, and your residents. Plus, even if you own your own vehicles, we can help! Merchant Fleet can add fleet management services to help with administration time and manage operational costs. With FleetAssist and our administered maintenance program, our experts take on the day-to-day administration of your fleet, which frees up more of your time.
We offer a GuaranteeBUY program, where we offer you a guaranteed price up front for your vehicles and handle the entire process for you, including market research and outreach, resale strategies, pricing, and transfer of ownership. We also offer our OpenTRAC option where we remarket your vehicles on your behalf using multiple sales avenues, including closed auction sales, physical and online auctions, specialty auctions, and retail and wholesale.
Discounts and benefits include low, guaranteed fixed rates, tax-exempt leasing and registration, and unique lease structure. There are also options for flexible payment terms.
With a closed-end lease, you control your costs and minimize risks. You never have to worry about market price volatility, rate fluctuations, or seasonal resale influences. At the end of your closed-end lease, you will only be responsible for excess mileage and damages.
An open-end lease give you complete leasing structure flexibility. This is ideal if you want a plan that’s as close to vehicle ownership as possible, but with all the benefits of leasing. You retain the equity in your vehicle, with a long-term structure to pay for your fleet.
Our fuel card can be used at most national and regional fuel retailers where MasterCard® is accepted. You can put rules in place and lock down your cards so that drivers can only use them at more secure fueling stations that will always require driver ID and odometers to be entered.
Driver support is just a phone call away. A Merchants Fleet representative who understands your fleet practices and services will work to address issues quickly and efficiently. If more support is needed, your representative will collaborate with internal and external resources. Even if you aren’t enrolled in our extended services program, we’ll do our best to give the drivers the help they need, especially when it comes to accidents and urgent situations. We also provide 24/7 responses to just about any situation that arises on the road.
All vehicles and fuel spending are managed within the TotalView platform, which allows full visibility into your employee fuel spend so you can prevent fraud and identify areas for cost savings.
A fleet fuel card is a credit card specialized for fuel purchases that allows you to monitor costs, determine each driver’s fuel usage, capture odometer readings and more. It also allows you to limit and verify purchases and ensure only authorized employees are using the fuel card.
Yes. We offer month-to-month options for short-term extensions or you can realize additional cost savings by converting to a long-term lease.
Merchants Fleet will cover all maintenance over the life of the vehicle through one of its Maintenance programs. We have vehicle repair partners throughout the country and will be able to recommend one near you.
No.
It is the renter’s responsibility to insure the vehicles.
Delivery to your location is included.
Yes. Our team will arrange the pickup and transportation of your vehicles.
We take over all risk and handle the entire process for you, including, market research and outreach, resale strategies, pricing and transfer of ownership.
There are certain fees associated with our OpenTrac third-party remarketing option. Under GuaranteeBUY, all fees are covered by Merchants Fleet.
With our GuaranteeBUY fleet remarketing program, you can receive payment for your vehicles in less than one business week. Our OpenTRAC program can take a few extra days (vehicles sell in an average of 18 days), but will give you the highest return for your vehicles.
If you need to extend the term on your vehicle, you have options! We offer month-to-month terms if you need to extend for a short period, or you also have the option to change your vehicle over to a long-term lease if you need a more permanent arrangement.
Yes. Our vehicles are insured by the renter. You should have insurance to cover $1,000,000 liability policy for each vehicle.
We will arrange for the transportation of your vehicle when you are ready to return them. When you are approaching the end of your contract, please notify your Merchants account manager via phone or email correspondence at least 7 days prior to your anticipated end date. This allows our logistics team to arrange and schedule the pickup, and transport of your vans from where they are located.
You will need to remove all magnets, stickers, or other cosmetic changes made to the vehicle, sweep the cargo area and cabin, and clean out any trash from the inside of the van. You will also need to complete a digital condition report prior to releasing your vehicles to the transporter.
Yes, we will cover all maintenance over the life of the vehicle. Our maintenance team will track and approve maintenance items. All manufacturer warranty items need to be brought to the appropriate dealership. Any maintenance or repairs that are a result of driver error or negligence fall under the renter’s responsibility.
In most cases, deposits are not required.
We will deliver your vehicles to you. Complimentary delivery is included with our program.
Yes. Our short-term vehicles are insured by the renter. You should have insurance to cover $1,000,000 liability policy for each vehicle.
The number of vehicles your company is able to rent will be subject to credit approval.
Most commercial umbrella insurance policies will suffice. We do require our clients to have automobile liability insurance at a minimum of $1 million combined single limit per occurrence, as well as comprehensive and collision insurance.
Yes. We have options to structure your rental terms so that you can convert to a long-term lease or buy out your vehicles.
We only rent vehicles for commercial use.
Yes. We have a full team of upfitting experts who can add vehicle wraps and logos to your rental vehicles. With our short-term rentals, these upfitting services are performed at the clients’ expense, and the upfits cannot affect the condition of the vehicle. At the end of the rental terms, the vehicle must be returned to its original condition.
Yes. Our fleet rental programs can include custom mileage options so that you can travel to and from wherever you need.
Our pickup truck rentals can be used for off-road use. However, our car and van rentals are not available for off-road use.
Once the contract is signed, you will receive your vehicles within 5 to 7 business days.
Our process takes an average of 3 to 5 days, which includes performing a credit check.
The shortest fleet rental program we offer is 1 month. However, our clients will be responsible for transportation fees for rentals that are less than 90 days.
Merchants Fleet is flexible and works with fleets of all sizes. We have worked with large enterprises that need nationwide coverage, small and medium-sized businesses that need a turnkey solution, and businesses that need short-term and seasonal options. We have also worked with a wide variety of industries, including specialized programs for government, academic institutions, summer camps, work trucks, and hospitality transportation.
Merchants Fleet believes in a tailored approach and understands leases are not a one-size-fits-all product. We will work with you to determine exactly what you need for lease funding. Some of our options include open-end, close-end, short-term leasing, re-leasing, and value leasing. We also offer fleet buyback and vehicle acquisition programs. Learn more here.
Merchants Fleet offers leases as short as a few months, up to traditional lease lengths. Our team can help you determine the optimal lease duration for your individual needs.
Merchants Fleet works with manufacturers and dealers nationwide. Your sales executive will work with you to determine your needs and get your vehicles as soon as possible. However, timeframes may vary according to the type of vehicle you need, your specifications, and manufacturer timelines.
Telematics combines GPS technology with integrated communications, providing real-time and historic data about your vehicles and driver behavior.
There are many ways to reduce your total cost of ownership. Examining fuel costs, idling, driver behavior, maintenance patterns, and vehicle lifecycle can all lead to opportunities for improvements. Merchants Fleet strategic consulting has a team of analytics-minded experts who can examine your fleet data to identify ways to make meaningful changes to your fleet operations. Learn more about fleet consulting.
FleetShare is the Merchants Fleet car sharing technology solution. Drivers utilize wireless card access and online reservations, so they just activate their card, reserve a vehicle, unlock it, and go. By empowering drivers to book vehicles for only the time they’re needed, you can reduce idle time and right-size your fleet. Learn more.
TotalView is a Merchants Fleet-exclusive software platform that gives you detailed, up-to-the-minute data about your fleet. It offers over 500 pieces of vehicle-specific information, a vehicle model analyzer, and customizable dashboards. Designed to give you the information you need to lower your cost of ownership and make informed decisions, you can access key information quickly. Learn how TotalView combines with our consulting to help you optimize your fleet.
Determining the optimum time to replace your fleet vehicles can help you avoid costly maintenance, keep your drivers happy, and preserve remarketing value. When to replace your vehicles depends on a variety of factors, such as maintenance, mileage, utilization, and more. Merchants Fleet strategic consulting can examine your company’s unique data to identify opportunities and make a recommendation. Learn more about fleet consulting.
Choose from any of our 45,000+ preferred nationwide vendors, and if your vehicles are unable to leave your facility, we’ll schedule an ASE-certified technician to visit your location to service your vehicles. You can also find repair locations on-the-go with our mobile app. Plus, if you enroll in our Merchants Fleet Roadside Assistance program, your drivers have a toll-free number to call day or night in the event of a maintenance emergency. What is included will depend on your fleet maintenance program.
Merchants Fleet has extensive experience working with franchises, hotels, resorts, and other businesses that require specific standards for their fleet branding. We will deliver a wrap that is both high-quality and compliant with your standards.
Merchants Fleet has an in-house upfit engineering group. We act as a single point of contact among you, your drivers, and the OEM so you can get the upfit you need, when you need it. Whatever your criteria may be, we will make it happen.
Merchants Fleet has an in-house team dedicated to managing licenses, titles and registrations. We work in all 50 states, and license and title staff are assigned to specific states so the proper documentation can be processed efficiently. Learn more here.
Call or email your customer service representative if you have questions about any of your programs or services. Merchants Fleet customer service representatives are highly experienced and will quickly connect you with the information you need.
Merchants Fleet offers two different remarketing options: GuaranteeTRAC®, which gives you a guaranteed price up front, or OpenTRAC®, where Merchants Fleet remarkets your vehicles on your behalf. Depending on your lease, you may also be able to use our fleet buyback program or extend your terms.
No matter where you are in the United States or how many locations you have, Merchants can deliver a commercial truck rental product to you. We take care of the pickup and delivery nationwide for any number of trucks needed.
To return a vehicle, notify your Account Manager who will start the offboarding process by sending a form for each vehicle being returned. These forms must be completed within 7 days, otherwise a new request must be made. Vehicle pickup is coordinated with logistics; they will relay any chargeable vehicle damage costs to your Account Manager for payment or insurance claim info.
We offer flexible, month-to-month rental terms on pickup beds with unlimited mileage options available.
We have dedicated specialists who handle the details of subrogation, which means your claim is handled as efficiently as possible. Our specialists, who will review the claim to determine who is at fault, have extensive knowledge of all relevant laws and regulations so you can focus on other important business. Clients can see all claim details, demands, and funds collected throughout the process.
Within 24 hours of a claim being filed, an FNOL (First Notice of Loss) is emailed to the distribution point of contact that was set up during the discovery. This can be one contact, a strig, or multiple contacts depending on preference. If a serious accident or fatality is reported, the claim is escalated immediately, and all emergency contacts are informed according to account preferences.
Telematics proactively track driver behavior and aggregate it into individual scorecards, providing a platform for managers to address problems and reward improvements. Driver safety should also be a top priority. Evaluating this data will guide decisions regarding policies, training, and incentive programs. Drivers should be completely familiar with all their vehicles’ equipment, including GPS, company-issued field service devices, telematics, and even the entertainment system. Telematics can also track engine hours and mileage and provide maintenance schedules to ensure vehicles are running optimally.
We allow you to choose a pricing structure that works best for you. With our full maintenance program, you pay one fixed monthly payment, and we handle everything. The fee never changes, no matter how much we work on your fleet. Administered maintenance enables you to pay for repairs as you go. Reserve maintenance allows you to pay a fixed amount each month, and at the end of the lease term, all bills are reconciled, and the account is balanced. The final option is tailored maintenance, which is a customized solution for your fleet.
Our selection of maintenance programs includes a nationwide network of more than 45,000 preferred vendors. We also have EV specialized maintenance facilities within our vendor network to ensure your EVs are properly maintained and serviced.
We order vehicles from the OEMs in addition to upfit manufacturers. We can help you develop an acquisition strategy to ensure you receive the vehicles you need.
Our Merchants Fleet consulting team combines industry experience, analytical skills, big data, and the latest fleet technologies to provide tailored solutions across the entire fleet lifecycle. Whether you are looking to reduce costs, enhance corporate sustainability, upgrade fleet policies, or improve driver behavior, we will develop the most effective strategies to meet your goals.
In addition to TotalView, we offer connected vehicle technology for commercial fleets, otherwise known as TotalConnect. With TotalConnect, multiple sources of your fleet data are seamlessly consolidated into a single dashboard, enabling you to see data from a variety of telematics providers and OEMs in one platform. Get the information you need — when you need it. This includes vehicle locations, mapping, geofencing, trip and event history, driver behavior, vehicle utilization dashboards, diagnostics codes, and much more. TotalConnect delivers cutting-edge vehicle visibility, starting as soon as the vehicle leaves the factory with no aftermarket devices required.
We have an in-house upfit engineering team that will help you select the right vehicles for your fleet, spec the best aftermarket equipment, and choose the most qualified vendors for jobs. We are your single point of contact and ensure a streamlined upfit process.
The most popular type of commercial vehicles are typically medium-duty trucks, or any vehicle with lighter upfits, an enhanced engine, and four-wheel drive. These include the Ford F-250, RAM 2500, Nissan Titan XD, Chevy Silverado 2500HD, and GMC Sierra 2500HD.
Trucks Include:
Vans Include:
It depends on the number of vehicles and which types of upfits you’ve chosen. Contact Merchants to discuss your upfit needs, and our team can provide more detailed information about potential costs and timeframe.
Common van upfitting requests include installing partitions, lights, ramps, and lift gates. We also focus on safety improvements and performance enhancements, including anti-slip flooring and storage unit installation. Common truck upfits include floor drawers, pickup truck hitches, hitch accessories, ladder racks, roof racks, boxes, and cargo trailer equipment. No matter what you need, our vehicle upfitting engineers will work diligently to get the job done on time and efficiently.
If you are looking to sell buses or non-traditional/specialty vehicles you already own, consider our GuaranteeBUY program. Similar to fleet lease disposal, this program will offer you a guaranteed price up front for your vehicles. We assess your vehicles, and then our remarketing experts determine the appropriate value. From there, we handle the entire fleet remarketing process, including any inspections and fees associated with selling.
It depends on your needs, but our most popular vehicles for residential care include the Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Voyager, and passenger buses.
We offer a GuaranteeBUY program, where we offer you a guaranteed price up front for your vehicles and handle the entire process for you, including market research and outreach, resale strategies, pricing, and transfer of ownership. We also offer our OpenTRAC option where we remarket your vehicles on your behalf using multiple sales avenues, including closed auction sales, physical and online auctions, specialty auctions, and retail and wholesale.
Yes. Our team will arrange the pickup and transportation of your vehicles.
We take over all risk and handle the entire process for you, including, market research and outreach, resale strategies, pricing and transfer of ownership.
There are certain fees associated with our OpenTrac third-party remarketing option. Under GuaranteeBUY, all fees are covered by Merchants Fleet.
With our GuaranteeBUY fleet remarketing program, you can receive payment for your vehicles in less than one business week. Our OpenTRAC program can take a few extra days (vehicles sell in an average of 18 days), but will give you the highest return for your vehicles.
If you need to extend the term on your vehicle, you have options! We offer month-to-month terms if you need to extend for a short period, or you also have the option to change your vehicle over to a long-term lease if you need a more permanent arrangement.
Yes. Our vehicles are insured by the renter. You should have insurance to cover $1,000,000 liability policy for each vehicle.
We will arrange for the transportation of your vehicle when you are ready to return them. When you are approaching the end of your contract, please notify your Merchants account manager via phone or email correspondence at least 7 days prior to your anticipated end date. This allows our logistics team to arrange and schedule the pickup, and transport of your vans from where they are located.
You will need to remove all magnets, stickers, or other cosmetic changes made to the vehicle, sweep the cargo area and cabin, and clean out any trash from the inside of the van. You will also need to complete a digital condition report prior to releasing your vehicles to the transporter.
Yes, we will cover all maintenance over the life of the vehicle. Our maintenance team will track and approve maintenance items. All manufacturer warranty items need to be brought to the appropriate dealership. Any maintenance or repairs that are a result of driver error or negligence fall under the renter’s responsibility.
Most commercial umbrella insurance policies will suffice. We do require our clients to have automobile liability insurance at a minimum of $1 million combined single limit per occurrence, as well as comprehensive and collision insurance.
Yes. We have options to structure your rental terms so that you can convert to a long-term lease or buy out your vehicles.
We only rent vehicles for commercial use.
Yes. Our fleet rental programs can include custom mileage options so that you can travel to and from wherever you need.
Our pickup truck rentals can be used for off-road use. However, our car and van rentals are not available for off-road use.
Once the contract is signed, you will receive your vehicles within 5 to 7 business days.
Our process takes an average of 3 to 5 days, which includes performing a credit check.
Call or email your customer service representative if you have questions about any of your programs or services. Merchants Fleet customer service representatives are highly experienced and will quickly connect you with the information you need.
We have an entire team dedicated to managing the license, title, and registrations of your fleet. Our experts understand all the intricacies and requirements pertaining to vehicle paperwork for all 50 states. We can help, no matter what you need — including title changes, specialty plates, interstate registration, and registration renewals.
Our license and title experts are assigned to specific states, which means they understand the laws, processes, and standards for registering and licensing your fleet vehicles. We also keep track of changes that occur from state to state, which means fewer errors and quicker turnaround.
A simple, consolidated billing pass through is placed on your Merchants invoice each month for any vehicles associated with any vehicles on your account.
Toll Management enables the use of all electronic and cashless tolling lanes. Fleet tolling is consolidated into one centralized account, which reduced or often eliminates costly toll violations and activates toll region interoperability.
With TollGuard, we systematically check for any toll violations, like when a transponder is not detected in the lane; we then pay them automatically to eliminate any violation fines.
Our electronic toll payment solution provides an easy, centralized way to control and process your toll expenses. Our solution is compatible with all in-vehicle transponder and license plate video toll recognition systems across the United States. Plus, our solution can help you save up to 50% on tolling expenses.
Telematics is a powerful tool that will help you manage expenses, productivity, compliance, safety, and more. You can use data to identify key areas of improvements; plus, Merchants Fleet telematics is easily scaled and customized to your specific business needs.
With telematics, you can view data from the vehicle’s engine, drivetrain, instrument cluster, and other subsystems. You can also monitor driver behavior, including braking habits, speed, after-hours usage, and acceleration.
Telematics will streamline ELD logging procedures, reduce paperwork, and facilitate quicker inspections, which makes it easy to stay compliant with the latest ELD regulations.
With a fleet management solution, you can streamline processes, improve fleet safety and maintenance, and enjoy faster deployment to job sites. You can also monitor all your equipment, track fuel management and manage driver behavior.
Our consulting team can help tell if EVs are right for you through AdoptEV, our EV adoption solution that helps you get from concept to execution. We’ve made significant commitments to OEMs, and we’re on the front lines to get vehicle allocations and ensure there is EV availability for our clients.
Common van upfitting requests include installing partitions, lights, ramps, and lift gates. We also focus on safety improvements and performance enhancements, including anti-slip flooring and storage unit installation. Common truck upfits include floor drawers, pickup truck hitches, hitch accessories, ladder racks, roof racks, boxes, and cargo trailer equipment. No matter what you need, our vehicle upfitting engineers will work diligently to get the job done on time and efficiently.
It depends on your needs, but our most popular vehicles for residential care include the Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Voyager, and passenger buses.
A fleet management solution will help keep you and your residential care community running safely and efficiently. Benefits include: reducing operational costs, reducing administrative burden, lowering fleet repair costs, and ensuring the highest level of safety for you, your employees, and your residents. Plus, even if you own your own vehicles, we can help! Merchant Fleet can add fleet management services to help with administration time and manage operational costs. With FleetAssist and our administered maintenance program, our experts take on the day-to-day administration of your fleet, which frees up more of your time.
Yes. We have options to structure your rental terms so that you can convert to a long-term lease or buy out your vehicles.
Yes. We have a full team of upfitting experts who can add vehicle wraps and logos to your rental vehicles. With our short-term rentals, these upfitting services are performed at the clients’ expense, and the upfits cannot affect the condition of the vehicle. At the end of the rental terms, the vehicle must be returned to its original condition.
Telematics combines GPS technology with integrated communications, providing real-time and historic data about your vehicles and driver behavior.
There are many ways to reduce your total cost of ownership. Examining fuel costs, idling, driver behavior, maintenance patterns, and vehicle lifecycle can all lead to opportunities for improvements. Merchants Fleet strategic consulting has a team of analytics-minded experts who can examine your fleet data to identify ways to make meaningful changes to your fleet operations. Learn more about fleet consulting.
FleetShare is the Merchants Fleet car sharing technology solution. Drivers utilize wireless card access and online reservations, so they just activate their card, reserve a vehicle, unlock it, and go. By empowering drivers to book vehicles for only the time they’re needed, you can reduce idle time and right-size your fleet. Learn more.
TotalView is a Merchants Fleet-exclusive software platform that gives you detailed, up-to-the-minute data about your fleet. It offers over 500 pieces of vehicle-specific information, a vehicle model analyzer, and customizable dashboards. Designed to give you the information you need to lower your cost of ownership and make informed decisions, you can access key information quickly. Learn how TotalView combines with our consulting to help you optimize your fleet.
Determining the optimum time to replace your fleet vehicles can help you avoid costly maintenance, keep your drivers happy, and preserve remarketing value. When to replace your vehicles depends on a variety of factors, such as maintenance, mileage, utilization, and more. Merchants Fleet strategic consulting can examine your company’s unique data to identify opportunities and make a recommendation. Learn more about fleet consulting.
We have developed a variety of service packages to meet your company’s needs. With our full maintenance program, you pay one fixed monthly payment, and we handle everything. The fee never changes, no matter how much we work on your fleet. Administered maintenance enables you to pay for repairs as you go. Reserve maintenance allows you to pay a fixed amount each month, and at the end of the lease term, all bills are reconciled, and the account is balanced. The final option is tailored maintenance, which is a customized solution for your fleet.
Failure to properly maintain your fleet can result in serious safety and compliance problems, business downtime, loss of revenue, and high repair costs. Fleet maintenance will help keep you and your business running safely and efficiently.
Discounts and benefits include low, guaranteed fixed rates, tax-exempt leasing and registration, and unique lease structure. There are also options for flexible payment terms.
If you need to extend the term on your vehicle, you have options! We offer month-to-month terms if you need to extend for a short period, or you also have the option to change your vehicle over to a long-term lease if you need a more permanent arrangement.
Yes. Our vehicles are insured by the renter. You should have insurance to cover $1,000,000 liability policy for each vehicle.
Choose from any of our 45,000+ preferred nationwide vendors, and if your vehicles are unable to leave your facility, we’ll schedule an ASE-certified technician to visit your location to service your vehicles. You can also find repair locations on-the-go with our mobile app. Plus, if you enroll in our Merchants Fleet Roadside Assistance program, your drivers have a toll-free number to call day or night in the event of a maintenance emergency. What is included will depend on your fleet maintenance program.
Merchants Fleet has extensive experience working with franchises, hotels, resorts, and other businesses that require specific standards for their fleet branding. We will deliver a wrap that is both high-quality and compliant with your standards.
Merchants Fleet has an in-house upfit engineering group. We act as a single point of contact among you, your drivers, and the OEM so you can get the upfit you need, when you need it. Whatever your criteria may be, we will make it happen.
Merchants Fleet has an in-house team dedicated to managing licenses, titles and registrations. We work in all 50 states, and license and title staff are assigned to specific states so the proper documentation can be processed efficiently. Learn more here.
When it comes to connected vehicles, you’ve already paid for the intelligent hardware when you purchased it. Every gigabyte of data output by your vehicle contains insights to help potentially lower TCO and improve driver safety. If you’re not collecting and analyzing this information, it’s going down the drain.
Learn more: Add Value to Your Business Through Integrated Fleet Data | Merchants Fleet
There are more than 13 million connected vehicles in the United States, and over 90% of new cars sold include this technology. While it’s easy to estimate that most 2020 MY vehicles and newer are connected capable, we’d be happy to review your fleet and pinpoint which vehicles can advantage of connected technology and where you still need a legacy telematics plug in device.
With a connected vehicle, telematics capability is already built into the vehicle including the cellular modem and advanced computer systems. Using these onboard systems reduces the costs associated with device installs and prevents device tampering.
Having your fleet connected allows for ease of access to the date as it will all live in TotalView through TotalConnect.
Fleet accident management services includes seamless claims processing, repair and subrogation recovery, and coordinating loaners vehicles. Plus, no matter when accidents happen, your drivers will have 24/7 support.
With TotalView, our fleet management software, you can access purchase order data and key reports. We can also set you up to receive email or text-based preventative maintenance alerts to help ensure your vehicles stay on the right track.
A fleet management solution will help keep you and your company running safely and efficiently. Benefits include reducing operational costs, reducing administrative burden, lowering fleet repair costs, and ensuring the highest level of safety for you and your employees. Even if you own your own vehicles, we can help. We can add fleet management services to help with administration time and manage operational costs.
A fleet management solution will help keep you and your residential care community running safely and efficiently. Benefits include: reducing operational costs, reducing administrative burden, lowering fleet repair costs, and ensuring the highest level of safety for you, your employees, and your residents. Plus, even if you own your own vehicles, we can help! Merchant Fleet can add fleet management services to help with administration time and manage operational costs. With FleetAssist and our administered maintenance program, our experts take on the day-to-day administration of your fleet, which frees up more of your time.
Yes. We have a full team of upfitting experts who can add vehicle wraps and logos to your rental vehicles. With our short-term rentals, these upfitting services are performed at the clients’ expense, and the upfits cannot affect the condition of the vehicle. At the end of the rental terms, the vehicle must be returned to its original condition.
Merchants Fleet offers two different remarketing options: GuaranteeTRAC®, which gives you a guaranteed price up front, or OpenTRAC®, where Merchants Fleet remarkets your vehicles on your behalf. Depending on your lease, you may also be able to use our fleet buyback program or extend your terms.
Choose from new and late model cargo vans, flatbeds and pickup trucks, and a variety of EV options. Specific models include the RAM ProMaster, Chevy Express, GMC Savana, Ford Transit, Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500, Isuzu 16’ Box Truck, and many more. If you can’t find the commercial vehicle you need, please contact us to check our availability.
We offer multiple trim levels of popular full-size pickups including the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, Ram 1500, and a wide selection of commercial trucks, including ½ ton, ¾ ton, 1 ton, and EV models. We also offer cargo vans, which are a great option if you’re looking for a business truck rental with more space since cargo vans are designed with storage in mind.
Our truck rental custom packages allow off-road use and towing. Some vehicles may be better suited for certain terrain or towing capabilities, so it’s best to contact us to discuss your specific situation.
Delivery timelines vary depending on the make and model selected and the level of upfitting required. Our acquisitions and upfitting teams will work with you closely to keep you apprised of vehicle production timelines for your orders.
Our analysts can help you evaluate this based on industry trends, forecasts, and third-party research. Our remarketing programs can help you get the most value.
We provide a variety of leasing and funding to meet your needs. Closed-end leases offer a fixed monthly payment. An open-end lease gives you complete leasing structure flexibility. If you have purchased your own vehicles, we can add fleet management services.
With a closed-end lease, you control your costs and minimize risks. You never have to worry about market price volatility, rate fluctuations, or seasonal resale influences. At the end of your closed-end lease, you will only be responsible for excess mileage and damages.
An open-end lease give you complete leasing structure flexibility. This is ideal if you want a plan that’s as close to vehicle ownership as possible, but with all the benefits of leasing. You retain the equity in your vehicle, with a long-term structure to pay for your fleet.
If you need to extend the term on your vehicle, you have options! We offer month-to-month terms if you need to extend for a short period, or you also have the option to change your vehicle over to a long-term lease if you need a more permanent arrangement.
Yes. Our vehicles are insured by the renter. You should have insurance to cover $1,000,000 liability policy for each vehicle.
We will arrange for the transportation of your vehicle when you are ready to return them. When you are approaching the end of your contract, please notify your Merchants account manager via phone or email correspondence at least 7 days prior to your anticipated end date. This allows our logistics team to arrange and schedule the pickup, and transport of your vans from where they are located.
You will need to remove all magnets, stickers, or other cosmetic changes made to the vehicle, sweep the cargo area and cabin, and clean out any trash from the inside of the van. You will also need to complete a digital condition report prior to releasing your vehicles to the transporter.
Yes, we will cover all maintenance over the life of the vehicle. Our maintenance team will track and approve maintenance items. All manufacturer warranty items need to be brought to the appropriate dealership. Any maintenance or repairs that are a result of driver error or negligence fall under the renter’s responsibility.
In most cases, deposits are not required.
We will deliver your vehicles to you. Complimentary delivery is included with our program.
Yes. Our short-term vehicles are insured by the renter. You should have insurance to cover $1,000,000 liability policy for each vehicle.
The number of vehicles your company is able to rent will be subject to credit approval.
Most commercial umbrella insurance policies will suffice. We do require our clients to have automobile liability insurance at a minimum of $1 million combined single limit per occurrence, as well as comprehensive and collision insurance.
Yes. We have options to structure your rental terms so that you can convert to a long-term lease or buy out your vehicles.
Yes. We have a full team of upfitting experts who can add vehicle wraps and logos to your rental vehicles. With our short-term rentals, these upfitting services are performed at the clients’ expense, and the upfits cannot affect the condition of the vehicle. At the end of the rental terms, the vehicle must be returned to its original condition.
Yes. Our fleet rental programs can include custom mileage options so that you can travel to and from wherever you need.
Once the contract is signed, you will receive your vehicles within 5 to 7 business days.
Our process takes an average of 3 to 5 days, which includes performing a credit check.
The shortest fleet rental program we offer is 1 month. However, our clients will be responsible for transportation fees for rentals that are less than 90 days.
Merchants Fleet is flexible and works with fleets of all sizes. We have worked with large enterprises that need nationwide coverage, small and medium-sized businesses that need a turnkey solution, and businesses that need short-term and seasonal options. We have also worked with a wide variety of industries, including specialized programs for government, academic institutions, summer camps, work trucks, and hospitality transportation.
Merchants Fleet believes in a tailored approach and understands leases are not a one-size-fits-all product. We will work with you to determine exactly what you need for lease funding. Some of our options include open-end, close-end, short-term leasing, re-leasing, and value leasing. We also offer fleet buyback and vehicle acquisition programs. Learn more here.
Merchants Fleet offers leases as short as a few months, up to traditional lease lengths. Our team can help you determine the optimal lease duration for your individual needs.
Merchants Fleet works with manufacturers and dealers nationwide. Your sales executive will work with you to determine your needs and get your vehicles as soon as possible. However, timeframes may vary according to the type of vehicle you need, your specifications, and manufacturer timelines.
Merchants Fleet offers two different remarketing options: GuaranteeTRAC®, which gives you a guaranteed price up front, or OpenTRAC®, where Merchants Fleet remarkets your vehicles on your behalf. Depending on your lease, you may also be able to use our fleet buyback program or extend your terms.
Our customer service representatives can help answer your fleet management questions and discuss your specific needs.
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