Hino 300 Series: Light-duty and ready for anything

The benefits of a Hino 300 Series light-duty truck

From one person operations, to medium sized businesses and large transport companies shipping goods across the country, vehicles keep businesses moving.

As of June 30, 2021, there are 2,402,254 active business in Australia, many of them small or one-person operations using utes or commercial vans.

However, a trend has emerged during 2021 showing the surging popularity of light commercial vehicles like the Hino 300 Series. A report published by Comm Bank back in June 2021, showed a 187% increase in the financing of light commercial vehicles.

So, what is it about light-duty trucks that makes them so popular, in particular the Hino 300 Series?

Safety

When it comes to choosing the right light-duty truck for your business, safety needs to play a big part in your decision, and the Hino 300 Series is one of the safest light-duty trucks offered in the Australian market.

Equipped with Hino SmartSafe, a comprehensive safety package, all 300 Series trucks include safety features like:

• Pre-Collision System (PCS): Detects the possibility of a collision using radar and image sensors, waring you to apply the brakes.
• Pedestrian Detection (PD): Detects pedestrians stepping in front of your vehicle. Warns you or applies breaks if you don’t respond.
• Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS): Uses PCS camera to detect lane deviation if indicators are not activated and provides audible and visual warnings.
• Vehicle Stability Control (VSC): Helps drivers maintain control and prevent sliding or rolling if entering a corner to fast.
• Reverse Camera: Offers wide view, high definition and infrared vision, along with a volume controlled microphone so drivers can hear their surroundings.
• Daytime Running Lamps (DRL’s): Helps highlight a trucks presence to other road users when headlamps are not in operation.

When you are constantly on the road, you can never be too safe. These features not only keep you and your driver’s safe, but other road users as well.

Driveability

What also sets the Hino 300 Series apart from other light-duty trucks in its class, is its driveability. What does that mean?

In years gone past, if you had to drive a truck then you needed a truck licence, restricting the types of vehicles businesses could use to passenger type utes and commercial vans if they didn’t have a qualified driver,  businesses now have no such restrictions.

A benefit of the 300 Series for car licenced drivers is having a nominal payload up to 2.5 tonne with the ability to tow a 3.5 tonne trailer. Now that’s some serious heavy hauling capability without the need for a truck licence.

However, one of the biggest advantages of the Hino 300 Series is the offering of a True Automatic Transmission across the range. No longer do you or your team need to have a truck licence, nor will you need to hire someone specifically because they know how to drive a truck with a manual transmission, and being a True Automatic Transmission means that it drives just like a passenger car, with smooth shifting between each. As long as someone has a car licence, they can jump in a 4,495kg GVM 300 Series and help out.

Versatility & Power

Another element that makes the Hino 300 Series light-duty truck popular for any business is its versatility and power. No matter the type of business or industry you are in, having a vehicle that meets your needs is essential.

The Hino 300 Series is available in a wide range of cab options such as Standard Single Cab, Wide Single Cab and Wide Crew Cab. All variants comfortably fit 3 people and the Wide Crew Cab with seating for 7 people is capable of doing the job of both a large SUV and a commercial ute combined into the one vehicle.  

Depending on your requirements, you may already have a custom body lined up for your truck. But for those who are looking for a more streamlined approach to buying a fully built up and ready to work truck, Hino have the 300 Series ‘Built to Go’ (BTG) range, with a wide choice of body types to suit an array of industries.

Providing high quality, durable, and cost-effective solutions for your business, backed by Hino’s reliability and support network, another benefit of the BTG range is reduced delivery lead times.

With a Hino BTG, it’s possible to order your truck today and pick it up tomorrow from an authorised Hino dealership.

Greater Convenience and Comfort

The Hino 300 Series is all about greater convenience and comfort. It’s a truck that drives like a car and the best part is anyone with a car licence can drive it.

Many light-duty trucks on the market are available with an automated manual transmission (AMT). While an AMT can in many situations make operation easier, they do require a degree of driver control at times to manually hold or change gears, so for best results an AMT equipped truck is better suited to a driver who is already competent in driving a manual transmission truck or has undergone some basic driver training.

A 300 Series with its True Automatic Transmission is operated just like an automatic passenger car, meaning anyone can jump behind the wheel and get the job done when needed.

Yet another reason why a True Automatic Transmission Hino 300 Series is so advantageous for businesses of any size, helping them to be more adaptable when needed.

And comfort? That’s where the cab of the Hino 300 Series comes in its own.

Designed specifically with the driver in mind, the Hino 300 Series provides greater levels of comfort through its ergonomic design. The dash layout ensures that everything the driver needs can be easily reached, while having ample storage for all the day-to-day needs.

This design thought even extends to the steering wheel. The tile and telescopic steering column is fitted with an energy-absorbing steering wheel to protect the driver and can be positioned to suit any driver.

And the seat?

Each Hino 300 Series is fitted with a fully adjustable driver’s seat with adjustable lumbar support for maximum comfort, while all Wide Cab variations of the 300 Series are fitted with a variable damper equipped torsion bar suspended driver’s seat.

Lower Carbon Footprint, Greater Fuel Efficiency

Many businesses use earlier model utes, 4x4s and commercial vans. With the average age of a vehicle in Australia being around 10.6 years, many aren’t compliant with Euro 5 vehicle standards.

Why is this a concern? Unfortunately, small businesses don’t understand the importance of having a vehicle that meets Euro standards. It’s not just from an environmental perspective, but a business perspective as well.

The Hino 300 Series light-duty truck is Euro 5 compliant. Aside from it being better for the environment, with lower emissions resulting in less pollution and a reduced carbon footprint, it’s also a blessing for businesses.

Something many businesses owners aren’t aware of is that an engine designed to reduce emission levels in a vehicle, is also designed to reduce fuel consumption. Which is a major contributor to carbon emissions.

Given that fuel is a major operating cost for any business running trucks, having one (or a fleet of trucks) that are designed to reduce emissions, and fuel consumption, is certainly a good idea.

But if you’re someone who wants to experience the next level of light-duty truck operational efficiency to your business, the Hino 300 Series Hybrid is the vehicle you’ll want to check out and meets Euro 6 exhaust emissions standards. Using a combination of diesel and electricity to propel the vehicle, with over 650 Hino Hybrids operating Australia, the Hybrid has proven itself Quality, Durability and Reliability as well as being a reliable fuel saving solution. With its improved fuel efficiency, lower maintenance requirements resulting in reduced operating costs the Hino Hybrid will prove to be an efficient investment for your business.

No matter the size of your business, or how long it has been operating, the Hino 300 Series has a wide variety of options and models to suit your needs.

If you’re looking for a light-duty truck that can easily manage the heavy-duty workloads, then look no further than the Hino 300 Series. Think outside the gearbox and contact your local authorised Hino Dealer today.