From plumbers to florists, plenty of professionals in the Bay Area can get more done with a commercial van. Along with the latest Ford commercial trucks for sale, at The Ford Store San Leandro, we have Ford commercial vans that are ready to work as hard as you. When you buy a commercial van, you’re investing in your business and your image. It sends the message that you’re practical and committed to your customers, doing what it takes to serve their needs. Which Ford work van is the right one for your business? Let’s look at the available vans and how they make your job easier.

The Advantages of Commercial Vans

Whether you’re in the trades, food service, emergency response, or transportation industries, a van has a lot to offer. Think about some of the benefits of a commercial van:

• Service vans have more storage space than pickup trucks.
• Since vans are fully enclosed, they offer better protection against weather and theft, keeping valuable tools, equipment, and cargo safe.
• The much larger roof is a good place to mount ladders and other items that don’t fit in the cargo area.
• Vans offer much more customizability, letting you add shelves, compartments, and other features.
• Vans often cost less than a comparable truck and maintain their value very well.
• You have more available space to put vinyl logos, phone numbers, and other information to advertise your business.

When you choose Ford commercial vans, you get all that plus many of the benefits of a truck, including available all-wheel drive, driver assistance technology, Bluetooth connectivity, and other features. Plus, they’re built Ford tough to handle rough roads, rush hour traffic, and everything in between.

Ford Transit: A Workhorse Cargo and Passenger Van

Movers, construction workers, mobile workshop operators, and others need a lot of space to fit everything. The Ford Transit Cargo Van is one of the most spacious vehicles you can operate without needing a commercial driver’s license. It’s available with a regular, long, or extended wheelbase and a low, medium, or high roof, giving you plenty of options. The smallest option has a maximum cargo volume of 280.9 cu.ft., and the biggest has 536.4 cu.ft. However you slice it, that’s a lot of space. What if you’re operating a shuttle service? The Ford Transit Passenger Van can seat up to 15 people, allowing you to maximize each trip and thus increase your bottom line. These vans also offer customization—you can remove some or all the seating rows as needed, letting you transport a full work crew and all their tools. The independent front suspension and heavy-duty rear shock absorbers ensure a smooth ride for everyone and everything. This vehicle is designed from bumper to bumper for getting things done. The 180-degree rear doors and sliding passenger-side door make loading and unloading easy. A variety of well-placed mounting locations let you secure shelves, safety straps, and more to the sides for organization. The floor is coated in vinyl that resists gouging, and you get full interior lighting to find your way around. You receive all the latest driver assist features as well, including Auto High-Beam Headlamps, a Lane-Keeping System, Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, Side-Wind Stabilization, and Automatic Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers.

Ford Transit Connect: For Jobs on the Go

For some professionals, while they want the advantages of a van, like security and roof mounting, a full-size van would be overkill. In this case, the Ford Transit Connect is the right vehicle. Think of it as a minivan that’s been turned into a work van. You can drive it like a family van, but inside, you get a smaller version of the Ford Transit that’s scaled to your business. The Transit Connect is an ideal van for courier services, HVAC technicians, electricians, and many others. Like the Transit, it’s sold as a cargo van or passenger van, though with a standard roof height. The Transit Connect Cargo Van has up to 145.8 cu.ft. of cargo volume, which is plenty for many independent contractors. Its smaller size lets you move nimbly through cramped downtown streets, turning onto Marina Boulevard or accelerating down I-880 with ease so you can stay on schedule. Many of the same features we mentioned about the Transit are also available on the Transit Connect, from the 180-degree rear doors to the litany of safety features. You also get dual side doors, integrated spotter mirrors, and an interior experience more like that of a commuter car. As a bonus, the Ford Transit Connect gets some of the best fuel mileage of any gas-powered commercial vehicle, with an EPA-estimated 26 MPG combined for the 2023 model. For business owners on a budget, this efficiency will make a huge difference in your bottom line. Unfortunately, Ford has discontinued the Transit Connect following the 2023 model year, but there are still a few new vans and plenty of used vans to meet your needs.

Ford E-Transit: Business Goes Electric

What if you want the large cargo capacity of the Transit in an eco-friendly package? The answer is the Ford E-Transit. Introduced in 2022, this fully electric cargo van looks and performs much like a regular Ford Transit Cargo Van in every way. Under the hood, though, is an electric motor that almost perfectly replicates the performance of the standard 3.5L V6 engine in the traditional Transit. It even has similar horsepower numbers. For 2024, Ford has increased the size of the battery pack from 68 kWh to 89 kWh. The result is an estimated range of 159 miles for the low-roof model and 143 miles for the high-roof model, which is more than enough for a day of driving to work sites around the Bay Area. You can charge it wherever, too—at home using a Ford Mobile Power Cord, by setting up a charging station at your depot, or by using the Ford BlueOval network of public charging stations. A few other updates are worth noting. In addition to the independent front suspension, the E-Transit also has an independent coil-spring rear suspension for a smoother and more responsive drive even when packed full or hauling a trailer. You also get a high-resolution digital camera for viewing traffic and obstacles around you. However, the Ford E-Transit is currently not available as a passenger van.

Accelerate Your Business With a Ford Commercial Van

There are always new business opportunities out there, and you can’t afford to miss out or fall behind because your work vehicles are lagging. A Ford commercial van is the ticket to operating more efficiently and better serving your clients. With an assortment of choices to emphasize cargo capacity, responsiveness, or a commitment to sustainability, there are options for every fleet. Anyone looking to buy their first commercial van or upgrade their fleet can find the right Ford van here at The Ford Store San Leandro. As a family-owned and operated dealership, we are here to provide you with a great experience—and we won’t waste your precious time since we know you have a business to run. With transparent pricing and a dedicated commercial sales team, you’ll get exactly what you’re looking for from our full lineup of Ford commercial vehicles. Contact our team, and we will help you procure the vehicles you need and open a commercial account with us.