At Cool Running Rental, we offer top-of-the-range refrigerated vans for rental and sale. If you’re a new van driver you might not be sure how to correctly drive a refrigerated van, so here are our tips for driving a refrigerated van for the first time.
Checking your blind spots
Checking your blind spot in a van is equally as important as checking it in your car, if not more. In a car, you are fortunate to have a rearview mirror to see if anyone is behind you, however, in a refrigerated van you don’t have access to this.
This might be off-putting for new van drivers, but this is nothing to be concerned about. Refrigerated vans have great wing mirrors, and a main and blind spot mirror on both sides, which should fill you with confidence. Naturally, before you set off ensure that all mirrors are in the correct place so your eyes can visibly see them.
If you have a passenger with you, ask them to walk around the van so you can see if they’re visible to you or not. If you don’t have somebody with you, then we highly encourage you to thoroughly check multiple times, it won’t do any harm as your safety is a priority.
Don’t overload the back of the van
Another tip for you to consider if you’re a newbie van driver is to not overload the vehicle with too much content. If you underestimate the size of the van and overload it, this can cause disruptions whilst you’re driving. The extra weight will lead to more fuel consumption, which means you will be paying for fuel frequently, and this isn’t ideal if you’re on a budget or trying to run a profitable business.
As well as draining your fuel, the heavy load will impact the vans suspension, tyres and breaks which can incur costly repairs down the line.. The less money you have to pay the better as there are many other ways you could lose money from overloading – be mindful of this!
Furthermore, overloading the van has an effect on your driving too as the heavier the vehicle, the tougher it is to control it. This then leads to the van reacting more slowly than usual, which is an issue if you have to deal with an emergency. If you’re in a hurry carrying a heavy load this will further prompt you to take breaks so the van can have a rest. However, when you do leave the vehicle to rest, it’s important to give it plenty of time to recover. Otherwise, your tyres could burst and you’ll be in a tricky situation.
How servicing and MOTS might be different
A poorly performing refrigerated van can result in the spoiling of produce when kept at improper temperatures which can be a costly mistake. So, ensuring that the vehicle is serviced regularly and passes an MOT is essential for long term success and sustainability.
Refrigerated vans differ from regular vehicles in that they’re especially sensitive to dust, dirt and water. This can negatively affect their ability to maintain a consistent temperature in the load area, which is a major cause for concern. Performing regular tune-ups should involve checking that no contaminants have gotten into the refrigeration unit which could impact its temperature performance.
An essential maintenance task you can complete is checking the oil and coolant levels frequently, as this is crucial to ensuring the refrigerated van runs smoothly at all times. If you have no experience with this type of maintenance, then we highly recommend you take it to a professional. There are multiple key components that need to be checked thoroughly to ensure it’s functioning properly, and an expert will know exactly how to check and test them correctly.
When you may need a different licence (HGV)
Currently, anyone in the UK that is holding a standard driving license is able to drive a small refrigerated vehicle as long as it doesn’t exceed 3,500kg in weight, with no extra training or qualifications required. If you’re looking to purchase a bigger van that exceeds that weight limit then you will have to apply for an HGV license.
Although, if you’ve had your driver’s license since before 1997 then you might actually be licensed to drive larger vehicles up to 7500kg. The law changed at the end of 1996, which meant the rules on what was covered under the standard cat. B still apply to those older licenses, who still retain the right to drive whatever is listed on the back of their cards.
We do urge caution to not assume you will be eligible to drive heavier vans, as the DVLA may have withdrawn these permissions if you have changed or replaced your license. Get in touch with the DVLA to find out more information before you decide to buy a refrigerated van.
If you’re able to drive a larger van, then here at Cool Running Rental we have a wide range of large vehicles for you to choose from. All of our refrigerated vans are fully serviced and are capable of storing your goods at cold or freezing temperatures during transportation. You can rest assured we have the perfect vehicle for you. Check our fantastic fleet here.