What to look for in a hire vehicle if you’re carrying fragile items

When you’ve got relatively fragile items that you need to transport, as you can imagine your choice of hire vehicle is often going make a major difference to how safe those goods remain from start to finish. Fragile loads can include anything from glassware and ceramics to sensitive electronics, so you’ll want to pay close attention to the specifications and features of the vehicle you take on.

That’s exactly where we can help here at Intack Self Drive. With more than 500 vehicles available to hire, we’ve got no shortage of options for you to choose from, whether you’re looking at car hire or van hire. And if you ever need any help or advice, you can always ask one of our team, who will be only too happy to assist. To start off with though, here are a couple of key things you might want to consider!

Vehicle suspension and ride stability

It's a good idea to look closely at the suspension system of any vehicle you plan to hire when fragile goods are involved. A car or van with a more advanced suspension tends to absorb bumps and vibrations in the road more effectively, which reduces the chances of sudden jolts damaging delicate items. If you’re moving goods over long distances or through areas with less-than-perfect roads, the added stability of better suspension can make all the difference. (You may notice that some commercial vehicles are specifically designed with smoother ride quality in mind, which means fewer shocks on to your cargo.)

Stability also extends to the overall handling of the vehicle. Smaller vans tend to be exceptionally stable when it comes to more fragile cargo (as opposed to something taller like a Luton van). So even if you’re confident that everything can be firmly strapped in, it might be worth looking at the panel vans first and foremost.

Load securing options

You’ll need reliable securing points and restraint systems in your hire vehicle to keep fragile items steady. Anchor points that are firmly fixed into the structure of the load space give you the ability to strap down goods with ratchet straps or bungee cords, preventing them from shifting during transit. Firmly tying items down also cuts down the risk of them colliding with each other or the walls of the vehicle. Cargo barriers and dividers can also prove useful when you want to separate fragile items from heavier loads. These features mean you can customise the space to suit the type of goods you’re moving.

Driver awareness and control systems

Fragile goods face the highest risk of damage when a vehicle is forced into sudden or unpredictable movements. Driver assistance technology can be useful in reducing that risk by providing greater stability, visibility, and consistency throughout a journey. For example, stability control can help maintain balance when road surfaces are slippery or during sharp turns, whereas parking sensors can assist during tight manoeuvres, minimising the chance of abrupt stops or contact with obstacles that could unsettle items inside. Lane assistance can prove valuable on long-distance routes, helping to prevent drift and the sharp steering corrections that often follow. Essentially, the more control and awareness you have behind the wheel, the easier it is to avoid situations that might involve sudden braking or swerving that could send your load off balance.

Climate and environmental control

As well as movement, fragile items can sometimes be sensitive to temperature and humidity. If you’re transporting products like certain perishable goods (food items for example), you’ll want a hire vehicle that offers climate control in the cargo area. Regulated temperature and ventilation reduce the risk of condensation, warping, or other environmental damage.

To be honest, with something like that you’re better off looking for a specialised refrigerated van rather than the options we provide here at Intack Self Drive, as it’s likely your cargo will need dedicated levels of climate control that our vans aren’t equipped for. When you do go through a different company, it's worth asking about insulation too, as a well-insulated load space keeps the internal environment more stable, even if the outside temperature changes drastically. It might cost slightly more, but it’s worth it when you consider the alternative to be lost stock!

Again though, if you’re ever unsure of exactly how suitable our vans or hire vehicles are to transporting certain cargo, one of our team will happily be on hand to help here at Intack Self Drive. If you’ve got any questions, you can find some answers on our FAQs page, or you can even just give us a call on 01254 57811. Our team is always happy to help! Alternatively, if you’re ready to hire a van today, head on over to our van hire page. Let’s get you on the road!