West Midlands Hire

13/10/2026

AUTUMN'S HERE. IS YOUR FLEET READY?

The days are getting shorter, the roads are getting wetter, and winter is just around the corner.

For truck and van operators, autumn is the ideal time to make sure your fleet is prepared for the challenges ahead.

5 THINGS EVERY FLEET OPERATOR SHOULD BE CHECKING:

1. Tyres & Tread Depth
Wet roads mean reduced grip and longer stopping distances. Check tread depth, tyre pressures and general condition. Don't just aim for the legal minimum — make sure your tyres are fit for the conditions.

2. Lights & Visibility
Dark mornings, early evenings and poor weather make working lights essential. Check headlights, brake lights, indicators and fog lights to ensure your vehicles can see and be seen.

3. Windscreens, Wipers & Washers
Rain, spray, mud and road grime can quickly reduce visibility. Inspect wiper blades, top up screenwash and check demisters are working properly.

4. Batteries & Electrical Systems
Colder temperatures can expose weaknesses in ageing batteries. A quick check now could prevent an unexpected breakdown on a freezing morning.

5. Preventative Maintenance
Small problems can quickly become expensive ones when the weather turns. Regular inspections and preventative maintenance can help keep vehicles on the road and businesses moving.

THE COST OF DOWNTIME DOESN'T STOP AT THE REPAIR BILL.

Missed deliveries, disrupted schedules, unhappy customers and replacement vehicle costs can all add up.

At Thomas's Group, we understand how important vehicle reliability is to your business. Whether you're looking for additional rental capacity, a newer vehicle or a contract hire solution with maintenance included, we're here to help keep your business moving.

Don't wait for winter to find out your fleet isn't ready!

If you would like a "No Obligation" review of your fleet set-up and costs, get in contact and we can happily assist.
Call - 0121 356 5050 or email [email protected] or visit www.thomassgroup.com

12/10/2026

Latest VAN advert with price reductions

Call Joe on 07932005523 or Benjy on 07527908030

or visit https://westmidscommercials.com/used-vans/ to view all of our vans for sale

12/10/2026

06/10/2026

Latest TRUCK advert "WITH PRICE DROPS"
Call
Martin 07422936316
or
Benjy 07527908030
for more info
or visit: https://westmidscommercials.com/used-trucks/

06/10/2026

If electric trucks and vans are the future, why aren’t we seeing more of them on Contract Hire?

One of the biggest reasons is surprisingly simple:

Nobody can confidently say what they’ll be worth at the end of the contract.

With a conventional diesel truck or van, the contract hire model is relatively well established. A funder buys the vehicle, calculates what it expects that vehicle to be worth in 3, 5 or 7 years, and uses that residual value to help calculate the monthly rental.

There is a mature second-hand market, years of historical data and established demand for used diesel commercial vehicles. With electric commercial vehicles, that picture is much less certain.

Questions still remain around:

• What will the battery condition be in 5–8 years?
• How much will an equivalent NEW electric vehicle cost by then?
• How quickly will improving battery technology make today's vehicles less desirable?
• Will charging technology and infrastructure have changed?
• How strong will the second-hand market actually be for a used electric truck?
• Will there be the same export and second-life markets that currently exist for diesel vehicles?

And ultimately…

What will somebody actually pay for that vehicle when the contract finishes? That uncertainty creates a problem for Contract Hire.

If a £150,000 vehicle might be worth £70,000 at the end of its contract, that's one calculation.

If it might only be worth £35,000, that's a completely different one.

Someone has to carry that risk.

And if the funder can't confidently predict the residual value, that risk normally has to be reflected somewhere — through higher monthly rentals, larger upfront payments, shorter agreements or tighter funding criteria.
Ironically, Contract Hire should be one of the most attractive ways for an operator to move into electric vehicles, because the operator doesn't necessarily want to take the future residual-value risk themselves.

But for that to work, the manufacturer, funder and leasing company need enough confidence to take that risk instead. Electric trucks and vans aren't necessarily being held back because operators don't want them.
The industry is still working out what they are going to be worth when their first working life is over.
And until the used electric commercial vehicle market becomes more established, residual value could remain one of the biggest challenges to making electric Contract Hire genuinely competitive.

If you would like a "No Obligation" review of your fleet set-up and costs, get in contact and we can happily assist.

Call - 0121 356 5050 or email [email protected]

02/10/2026

30/09/2026

Need to move heavy loads across sites or deliver bulk materials?

Our HIAB Crane Trucks on contract hire are a powerful asset for merchants and landscapers.

* Control Your Costs
Avoid high upfront capital spend with fixed monthly payments — perfect for growing builders merchants and landscaping firms.

* All-In Maintenance
Keep your crane trucks safe and operational with comprehensive servicing and maintenance — no more budget surprises or downtime.

* Cash Flow Confidence
Fixed pricing protects you from market shifts and seasonal swings, letting you focus your funds on stock and site work.

* Strong, Modern Trucks
Our modern HIAB-equipped trucks are designed for maximum uptime and reliability, helping you deliver efficiently, every time.

* Support Your Team
Reliable equipment boosts morale and productivity on-site, and a modern fleet shows you invest in the best for your drivers and teams.

If you would like a "No Obligation" review of your fleet set-up and costs, get in contact and we can happily assist.
0121 555 5558 or visit www.westmidlandshire.com