Singapore has pledged to reduce its Emissions Intensity (EI) by 36 percent by 2030, which is an ambitious target. It would require concerted efforts by the government, businesses, households, and individuals.

One of the fastest and most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint as an individual and business is to switch to Electric Vehicles (EV) for your business. Carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases generate by an individual or organisation. Greenhouse gases are gases in the atmosphere that trap earth, causing global warming and subsequently, climate change.

Besides helping in the concerted efforts to reduce emissions, switching to electric vehicles has a real benefit to your business. With the price of oil continuing to hike, it is a no-brainer to make the switch to EV. As oil is not a renewable source of energy, the oil price is only going to go upward. EVs on the other hand, use lesser to no fuel with batteries being able to charge even with a home charging unit at a fraction of the cost. In the long run, you will be saving cost for your business vehicle in Singapore by switching to EVs.

Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts, so the cost of maintaining the vehicle is greatly reduced. Battery EVs have no petrol engine and so do not need oil changes; spark plugs or timing belts. The main consumables involved are tyres, air conditioning, brake pads. Due to the nature of EV vehicles, they are more low maintenance than traditional petrol-powered cars. This means less downtime for your business due to vehicle maintenance and breakdowns.

As a business owner, using an EV in Singapore can be great brand image marketing. Consumer attitudes today are shifting to ones that are increasingly conscious and emphasise sustainability practices to minimise their carbon footprint. Paired with the Singapore government’s Green Plan, your target audience will be more educated on their carbon footprint and supporting a business that actively works on reducing their carbon footprint is a great way to support our government’s Green Plan.

Switching to an EV for your business in Singapore not only helps you reduce your carbon footprint, it also saves you cost in the long run and improves your brand image in a world that’s more environmentally conscious. At Pan Pac, we have introduced a range of EVs in Singapore for leasing to help businesses reduce their carbon footprint.

Give our friendly team a call today at +65 8482 3003 to find out more or email us at sales@panpacificleasing.com.sg

Whether you’re running a catering business out of your home or a restaurant, it’s not secret that the competition in this industry has increased with the rise of home-cooks and many different catering offerings. Here we outline some tips that any caterer will find helpful to grow their business.

1. Create an online presence

In this day and age, it is essential that a business has an online presence. Regardless of whether you’re starting you are just starting your catering business or are well established, having a social media profile is necessary. To take it up to the next level, you can also build a website which showcases your offerings, information about the chef and the team as well as a gallery of photos to inspire future customers. Once you have a website, you can then work on ranking your website as the first result on search engines, also known as search engine optimisation. You can even run ads on google to be the first name to pop up when someone searches for catering in Singapore or run ads on social media to tap into a new audience segment. The avenues for growth are endless using your online presence!

1. Engage your customers

Often, businesses, regardless of the industry, tend to ignore sleepy clients, and this is especially true in the catering industry. These are clients that might only order occasionally, but it’s important to keep your brand in their mind for the next event. You can start a monthly email newsletter highlighting your newest offerings and offering any promotions you might be running. For your loyal clients, who frequently order from you, offer a loyalty programme. This can especially be helpful when catering for businesses as they frequently need caterers for events. To add the ‘wow’ factor to your business, and truly leave a lasting impression in your customers’ minds, send them a thank you note and a simple gift after an event. Sending a hand-written thank you note with a bouquet of flowers or a piece of cake, shows your customers how much you value. Personal touches such as this is not something many businesses do, allowing you to stand out and have a lasting memory in the customer’s mind.

1. Ensure you have the right commercial vehicle

As a catering business, it’s important to have a commercial vehicle to transport your goods and your service team if your business provides the service of having servers at the event. Whether you’re catering for 20 people or 200 people, a commercial vehicle is non-negotiable for a catering business. You need to safely transport different types of food in a controlled temperature. When looking for a commercial vehicle for your catering business, here a few points to consider:

• Consider the type of food you cater and what your vehicle needs to safely transport it.
• Consider the door configuration that you would like a vehicle to have, for ease-of-use purposes. For example, if you do huge scale catering, it would be better to have a vehicle with a door that opens widely.
• Customisation of the vehicle should also be a factor to consider. As a catering business, there are certain needs of your business that other businesses simply don’t have. Customising the inside of the vehicle can provide you more space to transport your goods.
• Towing capability for additional materials if you will be catering large events in the future.
• A vehicle wrap that promotes your business and leaves a good first-impression.

At Pan Pac, our team of experts will be able to recommend a commercial vehicle in Singapore that fits all the needs of your catering business. We also offer customised vehicles that can be fitted with stainless steel sheets on the inside as well as a freezer to transport the food. Our team will help ensure that your vehicle complies with Singapore Food Agency standards and will even assist in the process of applying for the NEA or SFA permits for you if your business needs it.

Our hassle-free process and low-upfront fee as compared to buying a vehicle makes leasing a commercial vehicle a better choice for you to grow your business. Contact us today to find out more about the types of catering vans you could have for your business.

Are you a business owner contemplating if you should buy a commercial vehicle in Singapore? Before embarking on your journey, read on about some common problems faced by commercial vehicle owners so you might avoid these traps.

(1) The initial cost & paperwork of buying a vehicle

Besides the cost of buying a commercial vehicle, in Singapore you would also have to factor in the cost of the COE for the vehicle. A brand-new Toyota Hiace, which is a popular commercial vehicle, costs around $55,000. The COE* on such a vehicle cost around $106,000! The COE rate in Singapore has been steadily growing and is expected to rise in the near future. Besides the high price you would have to fork out at the acquisition of your vehicle, you will also need to factor in all the time needed to research and apply for loans and COE. This can eat up into the time you would use instead to grow your business operations.

(2) Breakdowns causing disruption to your business operations

Have you heard the saying time is money? When running a business, it really is! Every second lost is a lost opportunity. Having downtime on your vehicles due to breakdowns and maintenance work results in disruption to your business operations and as a result, loss in income. Some common causes of breakdown in commercial vehicles are:

(a) Overheating

when your engine overheats, it doesn’t immediately cause your vehicle to stop. Instead, there would be warning signs on your dashboard. Most drivers tend to ignore this. Eventually, the engine temperature would rise to the point where the extreme heat warps the engine cylinders and pistons, and the vehicle comes to a halt. At this stage, the engine is lost, and repair works would take as long as 2-3 weeks and cost a bombshell!

(b) damaged or flat battery

a damaged or flat battery causes ignition problems and affects the vehicle’s electrical systems. This results in the vehicle not being able to start, or the engine starts and then dies off quickly, and headlights flickering. Repair works to replace the damaged battery with a new one takes about 1 day.

(3) Maintenance Costs

When buying any type of vehicle, always factor in the maintenance cost. Speak to the salesperson to find out the frequency and cost of maintenance works on the vehicles you’re browsing. For businesses, maintenance not only costs you money, but also time. Sending your commercial vehicle for maintenance works would disrupt your business operations. Depending on the duration of the maintenance works, you might even need to rent a temporary vehicle, which is an added cost to your business. Some common maintenance works are government mandated vehicle inspections, servicing to mitigate potential mechanical failure and scheduled type replacement after the tyre thread reaches a certain depth.

hese are some common problems faced by commercial vehicle owners in Singapore. As an alternative, consider leasing a commercial vehicle instead from Pan Pac. Our team handles all the paperwork, and the upfront cost is much lower compared to buying a vehicle, which allows you to invest that money into your business instead. We also provide 24/7 breakdown services and vehicle replacement allowing you to continue your operations without disruption. Contact us today to learn more and get a free quote.

* COE price reflects the time of publication. Pan Pac is not liable for any changes in the COE price.

Commercial vehicles such as trucks can be extremely beneficial to your business to transport goods or perform other tasks. If you’re considering a truck for your business, leasing a commercial truck might be a good option. But what does leasing a commercial truck entail? Here we list out some tips when looking to lease a commercial vehicle.

Firstly, look for a vehicle leasing company that offers commercial vehicle leasing. This ensures that legally they can handle the paperwork and are leasing out the legally correct vehicle or truck to you.

Secondly, consider if the vehicle leasing company offers customised solutions. If you are looking for a fleet of vehicles, heavy duty trucks or vehicles with special features, ensure that the leasing company can meet this demand. Communicate your needs from the get-go so not to waste time on either side. Before surveying different leasing companies, list down what your needs are as a business and what type of commercial vehicle you are looking for. Allocate a good amount of time to shop around different companies with customisation options instead of wanting to drive off the lot in a single day.

Lastly, ensure that the commercial vehicle leasing company is compatible with your business’s payment methods as well as clarifying how the insurance and other legal paperwork are handled. Consider not just the upfront payment, but also the instalment schedule and any administration fees. Be sure that you are also aware of the terms to end the leasing contract, so you don’t incur unwanted expenses in the future.

At Pan Pac, we offer customised commercial vehicle solutions for all our customers. Our customers are happy with our vehicle leasing company in Singapore because:

• We are specialised in leasing commercial vehicle. We are familiar with all the paperwork and legality around leasing a commercial vehicle.
• We offer customised solution for each client, regardless of industry. Choose from over 2500 vehicles in our fleet for your perfect business vehicle.
•  We offer a range of payment methods to fit our customer’s needs. Our team handles all paperwork to ensure you have a hassle-free experience.
• We have a dedicated in-house service centre which means that in the case that your vehicle breaks down, we will get to it as soon as we can with no middle man to get it back on the road as soon as possible.

Contact us today for a quote and find out how a vehicle can help grow your business in Singapore.

If you are a business owner with a truck fleet or a truck driver, use this checklist before starting a journey to inspect your vehicle.

1. Inspect the tires

Inspect the tire pressure on all the tires and ensure it is optimal and is even on all tires of the vehicle. Too much tire pressure can cause blowout on the road and endanger the safety of your driver and other road users. Besides checking for tire pressure, physically inspect the tire treads for any signs of strain, bulges, or damage. You might need to change the tire to ensure it has adequate grip when driving. Also ensure there is a spare tire in the vehicle for emergency situations.

2. Check your fluid levels

Just like any other vehicle, a truck depends on several different fluids and lubricants to run smoothly. For example, it could be the coolant that stops your engine from overheating or the windshield washer fluid. Use your truck’s owner manual to check for the location of the reservoirs and ensure that the fluids are at the optimum level.

3. Brake check

The brake system is a crucial part of any vehicle. If there is any squeaking or grinding when you brake, take it to the mechanic to get the brake system to be checked. This requires inspection of all brake accessories such as brake pads, drums, and brake fluids.

4. Windshield wipers

Vehicle owners often overlook the windshield wipers. Windshield wipers wear out from prolonged use. Check that your windshield wipers displace water effectively to ensure that you can drive safely when it rains. Get your windshield wipers replaced if there are any signs of damage.

5. Test your lights and horn

Ensure that all your headlights and taillights are working. Replace the ones that are not. Test your signal lights to ensure that they are functioning. Honk the horn to ensure that it works as you would need to use it in emergency situations.

6. Assemble an emergency kit

Most trucks come pre-equipped with emergency tools; however, you should check to make sure they are all in proper working condition and add your own tools where necessary. Some common tools to have in an emergency kit are emergency jack, tire iron, jumper cables, road flares, and flashlight.

7. Clean the inside of your truck

Truck drivers spend a lot of time in their trucks and there might be personal belongings that are left there. Have a look around and clean out items that you don’t need. Look under your seats to ensure there are no bottles or plastic bags stuck underneath. These items can get trapped under the accelerator and brake pedals and be fatal.

At Pan Pac, our trucks are regularly maintained, and we provide 24/7 breakdown services for all our clients, which means that you don’t need to spend your time and endure additional costs to service your commercial truck. Fill out the form below to find out more information on our commercial truck leasing options.

Even though the public transport system in Singapore is excellent, as a business owner, it’s important to have your own vehicle to transport your goods. And yes, the cost of buying a vehicle in Singapore is almost six times as much as in other countries, so you do have to be very thorough with the process and make up your mind before investing. We have put together this list so you can go through the process thoroughly whether you’re purchasing a vehicle for personal or business purposes.

Get a COE (Certificate of Entitlement)

To own a vehicle in Singapore, you must obtain a COE. This certificate will represent your right to own a vehicle and use already limited road space for the next ten years. Please keep in mind that expensive to fluctuate pretty regularly. This year alone, it went up by 3.2%.

Figure Out Loans and Instalments

Buying a vehicle in Singapore is expensive. Most people can’t afford the full price of the vehicle to the dealer upfront, which means loans and instalments. It’s best to liaise with your dealership to this for you – they can help you determine where to get financing from and handle all the paperwork on your behalf. Make sure you have all the information regarding the loan caps for the vehicle category you’re buying from.

Pay The Road Tax

Like COE, all vehicle owners must pay the road tax before their vehicles can hit the road. The road tax can be renewed yearly or bi-yearly. However, there are certain prerequisites that you must fulfil before the renewal. These include passing inspections, clearing any outstanding dues, and getting insurance coverage.

Get Insurance

You can choose between basic auto insurance or the comprehensive one, and we suggest the latter because you’ve already spent so much; why skip on insurance now? Look at the policies of different vendors and go for the best deal you can get.

Consider Parking Options

When buying a vehicle, it is important to take into account not only the cost of the vehicle but also the costs associated with parking. Parking space is scarce in the country, and you might have to pay an additional fee to park your company vehicle at home or work.

Buying a vehicle in Singapore can quickly turn into a headache. Luckily, Pan Pac’s commercial vehicle leasing makes it easy for business owners to have a vehicle for their business operations without going through the stress of being a vehicle owner. Contact our friendly team today to find out how we can help you!

Trucks play an important role in many businesses’ operations today. Regardless of their size, they help you transport your goods and service around the country. If you own a truck, read on for how to maintain it in good condition.

Firstly, review your vehicle’s owner manual for any specific truck maintenance needed monthly, quarterly, or annually. By scheduling routine maintenance for your vehicle, as well as taking some simple precautionary measures, your truck will remain in great condition for many years.

Don’t Neglect Your Brakes

It is recommended that you change your brake fluid at least once a year to save yourself from having to replace more expensive, and time-consuming parts of your vehicle in the long run. Regular brake fluid checks and scheduled lubrication on your trucks will ensure that your engine is running smoothly.

Replace Your Coolant Routinely

Did you know that your coolant system is the main thing stopping your engine from combustion? In other words, it keeps your engine from overheating. A failure in your coolant system eventually will result in engine failure. Unfortunately, you might only notice failure of the coolant system when it’s too late. To prevent a costly repair, be sure to schedule a check on the coolant in all your business vehicle on a bi-monthly basis.

Check Your Tires

Faulty tires are one of the common causes of truck repairs. Not only do they disrupt your business operations, they can also be a danger on the road and be an unnecessary expense. Always stay on top of your tire pressure. Schedule a reminder to check your tire pressure regularly as overinflated tires are more vulnerable to a blowout or premature tread wear. Maintaining your tires well helps lower fuel consumption and saves you from spending money on unnecessary costs.

Appearances matter

Always keep your truck looking in good-as-new condition. After all, your truck is a moving billboard for your business. Moreover, corrosion and deterioration are also reasons why trucks retire earlier than any other types of vehicles. Wash your truck regularly even if you’re strapped for time. It is recommended that you wash your truck every 7 to 10 days to avoid any residual containment seeping through the paint and outer body work. When repainting your truck, use good quality pain as most parts of the truck are made of metals, which weakens over time.  A well-sealed coat of paint will help keep your truck body more durable.

In summary, maintaining a truck is a lot of work and can be costly, but it is essential to ensure your business operation runs smoothly. Alternatively, you can lease a truck where the leasing company manages the scheduled maintenance, unforeseen breakdowns and provides you a replacement truck immediately to ensure your business operations is not affected. Leasing a truck also frees up capital to invest in goods and equipment for your business. Contact Pan Pac’s team today to find out which truck is suitable for your business needs.

Whether you own or lease a vehicle, here are some useful tips to save fuel while transporting your goods and services.

Do not idle your vehicle excessively

Did you know that idling uses more of your vehicle’s fuel? Idling includes:

• Warming up the engine longer than needed
• Running the engine during stops or deliveries
• Keeping the engine on to use in-vehicle equipment i.e., cell phone charger

It is reported that idling burns up to 1.5 gallons per hour and an average heavy-duty truck idles around 1,800 hours per year. This amounts to losing up to 2,700 gallons of fuel every year on idling, which is a cost that can be avoided.

Improve routes and delivery schedules

Another way to save on fuel cost is to optimise your route and delivery schedules. If your business vehicles are not fitted with GPS or route optimisation software, you are missing out on cost-saving measures. By getting more stops in with less time on the road, you can maximise the use of your vehicle.

Small steps like knowing traffic and road conditions ahead of time can also help save fuel cost by avoiding unnecessary detours.

Avoid excessive speeding

Reducing your driving speed is one of the most straightforward ways to reduce fuel consumption on your vehicle. Each vehicle has a different mileage for optimum fuel economy, but in general, driving above 80km/h consumes more fuel.

Keeping an eye on the speedometer is possibly the most immediate way to increase your fuel efficiency.

Schedule regular maintenance checks

There are parts of your vehicle that are not functioning at its best that can decrease fuel efficiency. Here are the items that can affect your fuel efficiency:

• Old / fouled spark plugs
• Dirty intake / exhaust ports
• Dirty oil
• Clogged catalytic converter
• Dirty MAF sensor
• Clogged air filter
• Clogged fuel filter
• Misaligned axles
• Body damage
• Low tire pressure

Schedule regular maintenance checks for these parts to ensure that your vehicle is not using more fuel than necessary. The great thing is all Pan Pac vehicles are regularly maintained and while they undergo their routine maintenance, our clients will be given a replacement vehicle so they can continue their business operations as usual.

Check your local petrol stations for loyalty programmes

Participating in membership programmes where you can collect rewards or bonus mileage is one of the easiest ways to save on fuel costs. If you are a business owner and have a few different business vehicles and drivers, using a fuel card can also help you manage your budget and maintain accurate records for accounting purpose.

These are a few tips to maximise fuel efficiency on your vehicles. Our friendly team at Pan Pac is ready to help you grow your business with your next vehicle lease. Contact us today to find out more about our commercial vehicle leasing.

As a business owner or an aspiring entrepreneur, it is important to lay a good foundation for your business. With limited resources, most business owners spend their capital to purchase machinery or inventory and  hire labour, which are two very vital parts of the business. But what about the commercial vehicle needed to  transport your goods and staff to ensure your business runs smoothly? As an aspiring entrepreneur or if  you’re a business owner in the midst of scaling your operations, you might be undecided if you should buy or  lease a commercial vehicle in Singapore.

Whilst owning a vehicle comes with the upside of having full ownership, leasing has many benefits and can  make a lot of sense for many different types of business owners. At Pan Pac, we help our clients focus on expanding their business, whilst we take care of their fleet. With a variety of vehicles in our fleet, we can help  you find the right type of commercial vehicle you need. In this article, we shed light on the benefits of leasing  a commercial vehicle in Singapore and how it can make sense for your business.

No upfront payment

It is common knowledge that leasing a vehicle instead of buying one for the business cuts down the capital  required to run the business. This is very beneficial to business owners who are just starting out who have a  limited amount of capital. The capital that would have been used for the vehicle down payment can be used  to purchase inventory and equipment and even hire extra staff to scale your business quicker. The lease  amount payable every month is between 30% to 60% of the value of the vehicle which is way cheaper than  acquiring a new vehicle. This allows you to utilise the savings from buying a vehicle on other vital assets  required by the business.

Upgrade to new vehicles more often

If your business involves working with the public in any way, then a well-maintained looking vehicle carrying your company’s name enhances your brand name as well as impresses your clients. When leasing a commercial vehicle with Pan Pac, it is easier to upgrade to a new model of vehicle without the hassle or the  paperwork. This allows you to upgrade to a new vehicle with upgraded features and present your business  well, but not wasting precious time on the paperwork of selling and acquiring vehicles.

No down-time on maintenance

When you lease with Pan Pac, in case of any vehicle break-down, we will be there at the breakdown site to  tow your vehicle for repairs and immediately arrange for a temporary replacement vehicle, so you don’t lose  precious time on your business operations. If you own a vehicle, any type of break-down will impact your  business operations as you would have to postpone or incur extra costs to find a replacement vehicle. All our  vehicles at Pan Pac are well maintained regularly and pass our rigorous safety inspection. The maintenance  of the vehicles is undertaken by us, and this is a cost you will be saving when you rent a commercial vehicle  at Pan Pac instead of buying one.

To put it simply, leasing commercial vehicles in Singapore can save time and cost for a business and help  you scale your business quicker. To find out more about further benefits and offers for our customers,  contact our friendly team at sales@panpacificleasing.com.sg.

Defensive driving is a driving technique to anticipate hazards and minimise road accidents. Defensive driving help drivers spot potential hazards effectively and avoid danger by practising defensive driving techniques. There are 3 key areas to defensive driving; general principles, regarding other vehicles on the road, and your own vehicle. In this article, we will highlight some of the techniques from each area so you can practice these and stay safe on the road while driving Pan Pac commercial vehicles.

Control your speed

Always keep to the maximum speed limit of each area. In fact, speed limits are for ideal conditions. In bad weather or heavy traffic conditions, decrease your speed below the speed limit so you can have greater control of your vehicle if there is an emergency. To maintain control of your vehicle, you must maintain control of your speed.

Be alert and distraction free

The golden rule of driving is to always keep your eyes on the road. This includes not being distracted by anything that will take your attention away from the road, such as using the phone, eating, turning your head to speak to passengers in the car and even tuning the radio. While these should all be avoided whenever you are driving a truck in Singapore, it is even more important when you are in hazardous conditions such as bad weather and roads with heavy pedestrian traffic.

Avoid engaging with aggressive drivers

You might sometimes encounter drivers who honk or stare at you and in some instances even show rude finger signs! Do not engage with such drivers. Keep calm and your attention on the road and carry on to your destination. Confrontation can be dangerous as you don’t know the state the other person might be in such as being intoxicated or a poor mental state. Here are a few common road rage examples and what you should do:

1. If a drive is tailgating you, let them know they’re not maintaining a safe distance by tapping your brakes two or three times. If they don’t back off then gradually slow down and allow the driver to overtake.
2. If a car is speeding or changing lanes in an aggressive manner, maintain your speed whilst remaining in your lane. When safe, move to the left lane and fall back to allow more space behind the driver ahead so that the speeding driver can safely overtake you.
3. In any case, whenever you see a vehicle being driven aggressively, avoid them by either slowing down or pulling over.

Keep your distance

Did you know that the greatest chance of collision is with the vehicle in front of you? Use the 3- to 4-second rule to maintain a safe following distance and provide adequate time for you to brake if the vehicle in front of you breaks suddenly. When driving your commercial vehicle in Singapore during bad weather, increase your following distance by an additional second.

It’s important that your fleet drivers are well versed in defensive driving as these techniques can help avoid accidents, which can be a disruption to your business operations. Carry out regular trainings on defensive driving for your team, and consider sending your drivers for the defensive driving course so they can be officially certified and be safer drivers.

To request a quote on Pan Pac commercial vehicles for your business, fill out the form
below.