Coastal Cleaning Services: Cleaning Up in Comfort Part workhorse, part hauler and a pleasure to drive

Recently, Chevy and Entrepreneur got together to give mobile entrepreneurs across a range of business types the opportunity to test the Chevy City Express LT in real-world conditions. The following is just one example of what these business owners experienced.

Kathy McDonald, founder and CEO of Coastal Cleaning Services, based in Irvine, California, has been in the janitorial business for 20 years. Currently, Coastal Cleaning serves about 25 clients throughout the Orange County area, and her 40 employees work in teams of two or three, cleaning anywhere from two to six office buildings each night.

An easy ride

McDonald used the City Express to cover her typical daily route, during which, she says, "I log a ton of miles visiting clients." While her regular vehicle is a high-end, German luxury car, she had no trouble adjusting to the City Express.

"As soon as I got behind the wheel, I noticed how intuitive it is," she notes. "Everything is very easy to use and understand, from the stereo—which I really liked—to the back-up camera. I actually took the van all the way into Los Angeles for a meeting. The seats are comfortable, and the ride is smooth. And its maneuverability in heavy traffic is great. I've driven plenty of vans and trucks in my day, and the City Express was almost car-like in comparison."

Carrying the Crew

While Coastal employees use their own vehicles on the job, McDonald notes that she could see the City Express working for her people. "It's a great option between a sedan and a truck; it's not too small, and it's not too big," she says. "I can easily see it carrying a two-person crew and all their equipment. Put a ladder rack on it and you're set."

While most of the cleaning supplies are kept at the office buildings in which they work, the crews often need to carry extra-large garbage cans, vacuum cleaners, buckets, carpet cleaners, buffers, and equipment for special needs, like medical waste disposal. "There's plenty of room in the City Express for crews and equipment," adds McDonald. "And the ground clearance and doors on either side make it easy to load and unload."

In McDonald's view, the City Express's versatility helps makes it a viable option for her crews. "A lot of our people use their vehicles for both work and as their daily driver," she says. "I would recommend it for that. It's affordable and it gets great gas mileage. I can see it moving from an office cleaning to a weekend shopping trip."

When you own a small business, the road to success can be challenging. But with a reliable partner like the Chevy City Express small cargo van, you can be on the go 24/7, tackling a wide range of tasks. Whatever the job requires, the City Express is built with the perfect form and functionality required to get your job done. With a range of conveniences including 122.7 cubic feet of cargo space*, EPA-estimated 24 mpg city, work-ready features, and a mobile office, the City Express is the small cargo van for businesses with everyday jobs. To learn more about how Chevy City Express can drive the success of your business, visit www.chevrolet.com/cityexpress.

*Cargo and load capacity limited by weight and distribution.