One of my customers is a medical supply company. They are nation wide and have contracted with my employer on a national level to purchase and maintain their fleet. They have recieved discounts on trucks, parts and labor. But they comsume ALOT of those three things.

One problem with this sort of commitment is that usually your company isnt centrally located and you end up with the headquarters on the east coast, a dist. center in Kansas, another in Denver and one in LA. When you go with a national account, each location will end up with the same equipment but will each have a different dealer servicing each location. What should be all on an evel keel, may not as each dealer has different commitments to service, different skill levels and different capabilities.

There are so few companies that have branches nation wide it becomes difficult to keep everything level, due to dealer differences. This can even get down to individual mechanics, salesmen and service management, which could all change the bottom line that eash division of your company has to deal with.

There are serious advantages though. If you can find a Manufacturer that has its own branches nation wide, or at least in your area, you can negotiate for lower truck prices, lower service labor rates, and volume parts buys. Again as Dave and Wayne said this isnt simple cut and dry. Volume, needs and relationship play a big parts of this. This really only works if you are buying a "stock" type truck. If you need special engineering, well, its not going to happen as easily or as cost effectively.

I'd be happy to talk to you more on this, please anyone interested, send me an email at ntoleranse @ yahoo.com and I'd be happy to help anyway I can.

Doc.