Here's our review of the latest models available in the medium-duty segment, Classes 4-6, which is growing and becoming a larger part of many business fleets. And that's happening for a variety of reasons.
Medium-duty trucks allow fleets to fine-tune their equipment to handle only the weight and payload they need, should these trucks match up with their duty cycles. "Right-sizing" for the job at hand rather than overkill with trucks can make for a far more efficient operation. You'll find straight trucks, chassis cabs ready for upfits of all kinds, a few tractors, and the largest work vans across this segment, and often with surprisingly big capabilities.
Launch photo/ info slideshow: Medium-duty models
Another key factor is that medium-duty trucks don't require a commercial driver's license to operate, which can open up hiring to a much broader potential pool of employees—particularly when driving is secondary to a service being provided as with landscaping, utilities, telecommunications, and many other companies.
Meanwhile, e-commerce and metropolitan area delivery and distribution have continued to grow and are now a major focus in logistics as trucking companies adapt and innovate to meet those needs. Trucks in this class range can be ideal for that space but require flexibility and may have to meet particular requirements.
Manufacturers are responding with some of the widest powertrain and alternative fuel options, including electric and hybrid-electric power, you'll find in any commercial truck segment. And on that note, several OEMs have suggested that medium-duty trucks are the likeliest place that trucking will first "go electric."
