What should I check on a commercial laundry’s delivery vans and carts?

Start with the vans. Request a schedule showing make, model year, mileage, condition and whether each is owned, leased or financed. Read the repair invoices and note any vehicle that is often in the shop, because a late delivery affects the customer, not just the laundry. Have a mechanic look at those that matter most.

Look at the inside too. Are shelves, racks and tie-downs sound? Is there a way to keep clean and soiled linen apart? Ask about the day-to-day: who does the checks before a route, who fuels and cleans the vans, and what happens when a van breaks down mid-route.

Then look at the carts. Count them, check wheels, frames and liners, and ask how many are in use at customer sites. Carts go missing, so ask whether anyone tracks them. Finally, confirm that the registrations, insurance and any lease terms match what the seller says, and ask your lawyer and insurance advisor to confirm the details are right for a change of ownership. Ask what the vans cost per month to keep on the road.

Key takeaways

• Get a van list with age, mileage, ownership and repair history.
• Count the carts and ask how missing ones are tracked.
• Confirm lease, insurance and registration details before ownership changes.
• Ask who does the daily van checks, who fuels and cleans them, and what happens when one breaks down on a route.