The average length of van and truck rental is growing during the recession, according to TLS Vehicle Rental.

The GE-owned firm said that businesses are turning to rental when they need transportation in the longer term because it offers more flexibility than outright purchase or leasing.

Carl D’Ammassa, chief executive officer at TLS, said: “On our fleet, the average rental length has risen during the last year and requests for quotes are 25% up, both factors that have almost entirely been prompted by the recession.

“Rental is attractrive to so many people at the moment – firms that would normally lease may be uncomfortable entering into three or four-year agreements; those that would normally buy may want to hang on to their money to preserve cash flow; others may simply not have the lines of credit available to them to lease or buy.”