A midsize fleet is like Goldilocks in the three bears’ house—everything seems to be sized for someone else. With 20–75 vehicles, midsize fleets are too large to benefit from small fleet advantages yet too small for the enterprise-level treatment that national fleets receive. Many fleet managers find themselves in a procurement purgatory, scrambling for commercial van inventory, juggling maintenance costs, and struggling to scale. Kingbee exists to change that by providing fleet leasing and rental solutions designed specifically for midsize operators.
A Procurement Predicament for Midsize Fleets
Unlike massive fleets with secure OEM allocation, midsize fleets often rely on dealer inventory, hoping their preferred partner has the vehicles they need when growth opportunities arise. Too often, they face:
- Little to no OEM allocation
- Dealer-dependent procurement with limited inventory
- Aging vehicles with rising maintenance costs and downtime
This cycle forces fleet managers into a frustrating cycle: factory ordering when possible, patching the rest from dealer stock, and settling for older vehicles that increase total cost of ownership (TCO). This results in fleet managers spending more time hunting than managing, and their companies suffer from inconsistent vehicle availability that can delay growth plans.
Case Study: LGCY Solar’s Scaling Success
LGCY Solar exemplifies the challenges and opportunities that midsize fleets face. Originally a smaller operation, LGCY was positioned to capitalize on the massive solar boom of 2021-2022. However, their growth ambitions were constrained by a familiar problem: their preferred dealers couldn’t deliver the vehicles they needed when they needed them.
Kingbee provided LGCY with over 100 upfitted and wrapped vans, delivered in 2-4 weeks instead of the typical 6-8 months. This rapid deployment allowed LGCY to capitalize on market demand, turning a potential missed opportunity into sustained growth.
The True Cost of Vehicle Procurement
Midsize fleet managers understand total cost of ownership (TCO) better than most. Unlike massive fleets with deep pockets that can absorb inefficiencies, or small fleets that may not fully grasp TCO implications, midsize fleets operate with just enough sophistication to recognize that true procurement costs extend far beyond monthly payments. This includes:
- Capital Costs: purchase price, lease terms, licensing, insurance
- Operating Costs: fuel, maintenance, repairs, downtime
- Disposal Value: residual value at resale
Hidden costs like downtime, breakdowns, and project delays can add up to six-figure losses. By comparison, Kingbee’s fleet rental model makes the math simple: paying a few hundred more per month is far cheaper than absorbing massive revenue losses due to unavailable vehicles.
How Much Is Immediate Availability Worth?
For midsize fleets, the biggest struggle isn’t vehicle costs, it’s vehicle uncertainty. Will their preferred dealer have the stock they need when opportunities arise? If not, they face inventory gaps that can cost far more than the price difference between procurement methods.
Traditionally, rentals were seen as a stopgap—too expensive compared to lease or purchase. But today, the gap between a lease payment and Kingbee’s rental payment is slim. In some cases, we’re talking an extra few hundred per month.
A traditional lease might cost $1,000 monthly with $4,000 down over 36 months. Kingbee’s rental model might add $400-500 monthly, but delivers vehicles in weeks instead of months, fully upfitted and work-ready.Â
The critical question becomes: is paying an extra $400-500 worth getting vehicles in a fraction of the time, generating revenue immediately, and avoiding the hidden costs of ownership? For most midsize fleets, the answer is overwhelmingly yes.
Fleet Flexibility = Competitive Advantage
When a midsize fleet faces a 6-8 month wait for properly equipped vehicles, they’re not just delaying revenue. They’re potentially losing market position, disappointing customers, and watching opportunities pass to better-equipped competitors.
The extra monthly premium for immediate access to work-ready vehicles becomes insignificant when weighed against:
- Lost revenue from delayed project starts
- Customer satisfaction impacts from longer lead times
- Administrative costs of managing aging, breakdown-prone vehicles
- The risk of $6,000+ repair bills on older fleet vehicles
Midsize fleets that limit themselves to traditional dealer relationships are essentially denying themselves a crucial procurement option. As the gap between lease payments and rental costs narrows, the value proposition of immediate vehicle availability becomes even more compelling.
Smart fleet managers recognize that vehicle procurement isn’t just about monthly costs, it’s about strategic flexibility. Having access to work-ready vehicles in 2-4 weeks instead of 6-8 months is a competitive advantage that can determine whether growth opportunities are captured or missed.
Find Your Fleet’s Sweet Spot with Kingbee Vans
Kingbee provides the speed, certainty, and specialization that traditional channels cannot. While dealers struggle with allocation and OEMs prioritize large fleet orders, Kingbee maintains inventory specifically designed for immediate deployment.
Every Kingbee van comes upfitted with productivity-enhancing shelves and racks, wrapped to match existing fleet branding, and delivered in 2-4 weeks. Midsize fleets don’t have to accept procurement mediocrity. By rethinking procurement through the lens of TCO, midsize fleets can see that a small monthly premium unlocks faster scaling, lower downtime, and higher revenue.
Contact us today for a free assessment to discover how we can scale your midsize fleet.
