A cargo van, as the name suggests, is a type of road vehicle used for transporting goods. Depending on the kind of the van it can be bigger or smaller than a truck and SUV, and bigger than a common car. Large vans with only front seats for passengers are used for business purposes, to carry goods and equipment. Some vans are specially equipped and used by television stations as mobile studios.

The standard size vans appeared with the innovation of Ford’s engine under a short hood and using pickup truck components and taillights. The cockpit of the engine is often known as a dog house. Over time, they evolved longer noses and sleeker shapes. Second stage manufacturers also modify the original manufacturer’s body to create custom vans for the general public.

Five years ago, if you’d wanted a cargo van for your business, you’d have had four choices: Ford’s long-in-the-tooth E-Series, Chevrolet’s ancient Express, Dodge’s Ram converted minivan or the pricier Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. But today, there are a number of options encompassing cargo vans. Vans offer a large range of choices for interior customization; modern diesel and gas engines, which deliver more power with better fuel economy; and a slew of sizes, from car-size wheelbases for easy city driving to models with more than 500 cubic feet of cargo volume and 5,000 pounds of payload.

Companies like Nissan, Ford, and Mercedes have a range of models to pick from. However, there are a few things that need to be looked into before buying a van for your business. Anyone considering small vans should be aware of payload constraints and the weights they’ll need to haul. Fuel will not be saved if you overweight them, and they don’t handle well if you overload them.

Cargo vans are often touted as extremely reliable because no matter where employees drive them, cargo locked up in a van is very secure.