Buying a New Vehicle

The way you plan to buy, deploy and use vehicles can be a key to smooth operations and the most effective and efficient use of project resources. Start by asking the right questions before you make your purchases to select the right vehicles for the job, check your resources - local and imported, determine how you will get the vehicles to your destination - and through customs and make sure you know where and how to keep them in good working order. These advance preparations will have a significant impact on your success in achieving your and the project's goals.

Where will the vehicle be used?

Take into consideration a variety of factors: road conditions, extreme climatic and physical conditions, political and civil unrest. If you want to use your vehicles in the desert, they should be equipped with special tyres, sand ladders and jacks. Do you need the protection of a roll-over bar? A 10-litre water tank, dual fuel tanks and an antenna console may be very useful and high intake valves may be needed. In areas that are very muddy, you need higher road clearance and you may consider having a winch fitted to the vehicle. A snorkel can be useful in case of crossing rivers. In areas with temperature extremes, the vehicle should be fitted with a high-capacity air conditioning system, fuel and engine heaters, double batteries and anti-freeze systems for the brakes. In areas of unrest, you may want to equip them with mine carpets and, if the situation is very dangerous, you might be better off with completely armoured vehicles.

What tasks will be handled?

Do you need to carry passengers? How many? How often? How far? Do you need to transport goods? What type? If transporting tools or other heavy supplies, equip the vehicle with a steel- reinforced truck bed floor. If you need to send individuals into a remote area and/or small amounts of equipment, it might be practical to choose motorcycles instead of vehicles. You might be able to get eight motorcycles for the price of one 4x4.

Time is money: the quicker the delivery, the more costly. Should you ship your vehicles by sea or air? You can save a lot of money if your project does not require emergency delivery. Track the progress of your consignments. Make sure that the supplier can and will keep you informed along the way.

Lynn Bell is Regional Marketing Manager with Bukkehave Inc., a global distributor of vehicles and spare parts with over 75 years' experience supplying transportation solutions for humanitarian aid programs in developing countries. For further information, visit www.bukkehave.com or email [MAILTO] tch@bukkehave.com

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