Is a vendor more expensive?

Compare the full cost of owning: drivers, maintenance, insurance, permits and backups.

Transport Vendor or Own Buses for Shift Staff?

Should we use a transport vendor or buy our own buses?

Short answer

A vendor avoids capital, drivers and backup worries.

Owning buses gives full control, but the company must buy them, employ and manage drivers, maintain and insure the vehicles, keep permits and papers valid, and arrange a backup when one breaks down. A transport vendor takes all of that on: you pay for use on a monthly contract, the vendor employs the drivers, keeps the papers and sends a replacement vehicle. Many companies use a vendor for most routes and keep a few vehicles of their own.

Answered by Vaibhaviba Bhavsinh Solanki, owner of Shiv Shakti Tours & Travels · Last checked 30 October 2026 · 1 min read

0capital with a vendor

Vendoremploys drivers

Backupfrom the vendor

Paperskept by the vendor

Key facts: vendor or own buses

Capital: Vendor: none · Own: buy the vehicles
Drivers: Vendor: employed by the vendor · Own: your staff
Maintenance and insurance: Vendor: included · Own: your cost
Backup: Vendor: sends a replacement · Own: you arrange it
Flexibility: Vendor: add or reduce vehicles · Own: fixed fleet

Can we mix both?

Yes: own vehicles for a core route and vendor vehicles for the rest or for peaks.

A fuller comparison?

Our vendor files compare a vendor, an own fleet and app cabs line by line.

See the vendor file.

How do we try a vendor?

Start with a pilot route.

See trial period.

Where do these facts come from?

The facts on this page were confirmed by the owner in October 2026.

Owner-confirmed facts, 30 October 2026: pricing models, fixed rates for the term, uniforms, ID cards, company name on vehicles, boarding lists; and the 9 October 2026 company questionnaires.
Terms and conditions: published rates and terms.

About this answer

Written and checked by Vaibhaviba Bhavsinh Solanki, owner of Shiv Shakti Tours & Travels, a GST- and MSME-registered taxi and car rental company in business since 2018. Branch: Hansalpur Circle, Becharaji, near the SMG (Maruti Suzuki) plant, Gujarat 384210. Head office: B-50, First Floor, Jay Bhanu Society, Gate No. 2, Ghatlodiya, Ahmedabad 380061. Open 24/7 on +91 99745 30788. Rated 4.9 on Google.

To cite this answer:Shiv Shakti Tours & Travels, "Should we use a transport vendor or buy our own buses?", updated 30 October 2026, https://www.shivshaktitoursandtravels.in/answers/shift-transport/transport-vendor-or-own-buses/

Talk to us

Call or WhatsApp any time. We answer in English, Gujarati and Hindi, and confirm the car and fare before you travel.

Shiv Shakti Tours & Travels, Hansalpur Circle, Near SMG (Maruti Suzuki) Plant, Becharaji, Gujarat 384210 · Ahmedabad office: B-50, First Floor, Jay Bhanu Society, Gate No. 2, Ghatlodiya, Ahmedabad 380061 · Open 24/7 · See our Terms and Cancellation & Refund Policy.