Complete package is designed to boost TCO, peace of mind, for commercial customers.

In the Commercial Vehicle Fleet space, purchasing and support represent key elements of a successful operation. Total Cost of Ownership is more critical than ever, especially in today’s more expensive operating environment where fleets have seen operational costs soar due to higher interest rates and inflation. For the last 24 months, many fleet managers have also struggled to acquire new assets, either because they simply weren’t available (primarily due to pandemic era shutdowns in vehicle and supplier production), or if they were available, the right configuration and price point were not.

Trusted partner

In these kinds of situations, operating a fleet can be very tough, which is why having a trusted partner that offers a complete end to end solution for fleet needs, from the vehicles themselves, to upfitting, network support, connected services and even EV charging has a very strong appeal.

That’s something Stellantis is betting on with the launch of its Ram Professional commercial vehicle division. According to Chris Feuell, CEO of Ram and Chrysler Brands for Stellantis, the commercial vehicle space represents a significant and growing chunk of the automaker’s overall business. Feuell notes that 80% of Stellantis commercial vehicle sales in North America come via the Ram brand, and with the commercial division having seen business grow by 40% since 2018, the need to have a strong presence in the segment is critical.

Ken Kayser, Vice President, Ram Professional, says that the aim is to offer a wide range of vehicles and services for small businesses, work truck fleets and demanding buyers who rely on commercial vehicles for their livelihood. Within the lineup of Ram Professional vehicles are pickups, vans and chassis cabs. These include the Ram 1500 REV and Ram Charger, Ram Heavy Duty Pickups and Chassis Cab variants, as well as the full range of ProMaster vans, including the new all-electric ProMaster EV.

“With Ram Professional, our commercial-vehicle customers will benefit from a simplified and all-encompassing business solution with products and services that feature best-in-class performance, capability, advanced technology and value to best fit their business needs,” says Kayser. “We know our customers depend on us day-in and day-out, and Ram Professional is committed to delivering the best commercial vehicle lineup and serving our customers with the most important tools of their trade.”

Vehicles to get the job done

Central to offering a solid commercial fleet solution are the vehicles themselves. For 2024, Ram Professional is highlighting the new ProMaster EV delivery van (see separate article) as well as its newly revamped Ram 1500 pickup line for the 2025 model year including a new Ram 1500 Tradesman aimed at commercial fleet customers.

Additionally, Ram’s lineup of Heavy Duty pickups and chassis cabs, available with either gasoline fueled Hemi V8s or Cummins turbodiesels are among the most capable on the road, able to haul payloads of up to 7,680 lbs (3,484 kg) and tow a whopping 37,090 lbs (16,824 kg).

Besides vehicle capability, commercial fleet customers look for ease of upfitting, and Ram Professional’s network of dealers work with local upfitters to help their customers find the best upfitting solutions for their specific requirements, whether it’s for Ram pickups, chassis cabs and/or vans.

While vehicles and ease of upfitting are key drivers for fleet customers, having a complete support system is where having a trusted commercial vehicle partner really makes a difference.

“With Ram Professional, we are going beyond the vehicle,” explains Kayser. “We’ve got the products, we’ve got the software, we’ve got the technology services.” He says the aim is to be able to provide this complete solution for any kind of commercial customer, from small, independent businesses, to large commercial operators.

Maximizing uptime

Fleets need to ensure their vehicles are in service, earning revenue for the business and operating as reliably as possible, which means breakdowns and downtime due to unscheduled maintenance need to be avoided at all costs. “We know that uptime for fleets is absolutely critical,” says Kayser. “Time is money and the quicker we can get the customer back on the road, the better it is for them and for us.”

Ram Professional’s own dealer network recognizes this and has its own commercial customer focused specific maintenance programs. Kayser notes that Ram Professional dealers take a business first approach and “have gone through rigorous training both on the sales and service side, so we can address any reliability and durability concerns that customers are facing.” These include available maintenance contracts that cover basic maintenance requirements, including oil, lube and filter servicing, as well as roadside hazard and mechanical breakdown coverage.

Furthermore, should a Ram Professional vehicle breakdown while on the road, there is full mechanical coverage and 24-hour roadside assistance available to ensure fleet customers are on the move again as soon as possible.

Tracking performance

In this age of connectivity, fleets are increasingly looking at efficient ways to actively manage their assets and track performance, reliability and utilization. Dave Sowers, Director of Commercial Vehicle Product Marketing for Ram Professional says a key factor that’s likely to appeal to modern fleet customers is the brand’s Connected Service Centre built around the Ram Connect System that’s powered by Mobilisights.

“As of this year, 100% of the [Ram Professional] vehicles we build are connected. They all have telematics box modules, which means we can pull the data and work with the telematics suppliers our fleet customers use, as well as providing our own telematics information.”

Sowers notes that this approach allows Ram Professional customers to stay connected with and monitor their vehicles in operation. Data insights are available in real time, so fleet operators can accurately track each vehicle, know what tasks that vehicle is performing and what maintenance is required and when. The Connected Services Centre also provides access to additional services, including navigation and GPS services, safety, vehicle security functions as well as infotainment features.

Shared vehicle opportunities

One challenge that many fleets currently face is access to the vehicles they need. Manufacturing and supply disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, created a shortage of new vehicle leasing and purchase options for fleet customers, meaning they often had to extend the use of existing assets or scramble to find alternatives. In this regard, OEMs and their commercial divisions are stepping up to the plate.

Part of Ram Professional’s complete turnkey solution approach for fleet customers, includes options through its Free2move global mobility provider. This provides shared vehicle service opportunities to both individuals and organizations—including vehicle sharing, vehicle rental and vehicle subscription, as well as mobile parking services.

With Free2move also providing charging electric vehicle hardware, software and, related solutions for the new Ram ProMaster EV, fleet customers have a lot of reasons to consider partnering with Ram Professional to maximize utility, efficiency and total cost of ownership.