How Leasing Helps Fleets Stay Ready for Peak Season

Effective strategies for managing peak-season pressures

Three people load packages on and off a white cargo van.

Seasonal surges, whether in retail, agriculture or another segment of the industry, increase demand for capacity. Even if fleets aren’t handling freight directly related to a peak season, they may be affected by the overall shift in the market. Leasing can be a strategic solution to help fleets ramp up to maintain service levels or take advantage of increased business.

Improve Uptime With Proactive Maintenance and Support

Downtime during peak season can lead to signficant operational losses and hurt a fleet's reputation, impacting future business. Penske's full-service leases include data-driven preventive maintenance that analyzes specifications and trends unique to each individual fleet. Technicians customize maintenance and proactively address potential issues before they lead to downtime. Penske's team also monitors information coming from the vehicle and determines which codes are critical and which can wait until the next scheduled service. If over-the-road repairs are needed, Penske has a 24/7 roadside assistance team and can provide replacement vehicles.

Preserve Working Capital

Peak season often brings higher operational costs, including driver pay, fuel and maintenance. Leasing allows fleets to access late-model, reliable trucks without significant upfront capital expenses. Full-service leases also give fleets locked-in monthly costs that include maintenance and, if necessary, replacement vehicles. They also eliminate many of the hidden costs associated with owning, such as taxes and licensing. Having set costs helps fleets conserve capital for essential expenses during the busiest months of the year.

Access the Latest Equipment and Technology

Seasonal surges increase the need for efficiency. Leasing provides access to newer, more fuel-efficient trucks equipped with the latest on-board technology, advanced safety systems and driver comfort features. Combined, these can improve driver satisfaction, decrease risk and reduce overall operating costs. For example, the 2025 National Private Truck Council Benchmarking Survey says that due to shorter trade cycles, fleets who rely on leasing have a fuel economy of 7.24 miles per gallon compared to 6.84 for fleets that own most of their equipment.

Access Data-Driven Insights

Running a fleet today requires data and benchmarking. Advanced analytics platforms, such as Penske's Catalyst AI™, enable fleets to track performance across both peak and off-peak cycles and compare their operations to similar fleets. By reviewing the data, fleet managers can identify underutilized assets, make vehicle-level and hub-level comparisons, and identify the specific metrics that matter the most to their business, enabling them to control costs and increase efficiency during peak seasons.

Lease With Penske

Tracking peak seasons and getting ahead of demand early ensures capacity is available before the rush. It also allows fleets to lock in predictable costs early. Penske can work with fleets to add more leased units or transition from ownership to leasing through its Sell2Lease program.

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