The Key to Cost-Effective Work Travel: How Ute Rentals Benefit Tradies

Work-related travel expenses have been a hot topic of discussion lately, with the NSW state government’s trial of a card allowing regional apprentices and students to ease the cost of travel to education and training. Not only that, but there are also election promises from NSW Labor to cap tolls on major roads, reducing costs for drivers, especially in Western Sydney. As a ute rental company that caters directly to tradies, we understand that the running costs of travel and your vehicle can play a significant role in your budget. Below, we’ll outline what each of these pieces of news could mean for tradies and how you can already start managing your travel expenses with one of our vehicles.

The Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card

First announced in October 2022, the proposal is to provide apprentices and students from regional, rural and remote NSW with a $250 prepaid debit card to help cover transportation costs. This is particularly useful for people who find it challenging to travel long distances for face-to-face learning due to factors such as fluctuating fuel prices. If you’re a tradie business owner in Sydney with apprentices from these regions, this card can also make it less stressful for them to get to the job site.

Labor’s Promise to Cap Tolls For Tradies

As part of their election campaign, the NSW Labor government has promised to cut the cost of road tolls in Sydney, especially for tradies travelling along the M5 East and M8 motorways. The proposed changes would cap weekly tolls at $60 while also reducing toll costs for utes and trucks from three times that of cars to two times; this would save around $8 per trip. The scheme is capped at ten trips per week, meaning that tradies who spend their time travelling these roads twice a day, five days a week, will save up to $3800. These savings could build up for businesses with a fleet, allowing you to allocate your budget elsewhere.

How Ute Rentals Can Manage Work Travel Expenses

A ute rental company like Tradiespec can help tradies save on work travel costs in several ways:

• Flexible Rental Period: With a flexible rental period, you only need to hire the ute for as long as you need it. This is perfect for business owners, especially if you have a big job coming up and need to scale up your ute fleet for temporary or permanent employees.
• No External Maintenance Costs: When renting a work vehicle, the maintenance costs are already included in the contract. Moreover, 24-hour roadside assistance is also available to prevent any unexpected situations.
• Insurance & Registration Covered: Owning a vehicle comes with various on-road costs that can stack up on top of what you already pay for fuel and tolls. When renting a work vehicle like a ute, the provider will also include insurance and registration as part of the regular payments. Furthermore, depending on the contract, an accident replacement vehicle can also be provided to help minimise any disruptions to your work.

As a tradie, work travel is an essential part of your daily routine. However, it can also come with a significant impact on your budget over time. From paying for insurance to regular maintenance, these costs can eventually hamper business operations. Fortunately, you can start to alleviate some of these pressures by renting a vehicle from a reputable company like Tradiespec. With a range of flexible contracts, access to various vehicles and on-road costs covered, this can be the ideal solution for helping manage your travel expenses.

Contact us today for a free quote on a flexible rental vehicle that comes kitted out for your needs.