Your company vehicles do so much for you. They transport your employees from one point to another, help you carry heavy cargo and raw materials, and allow you to meet your clients whenever you need to conveniently. Therefore, taking good care of them in return would only be fair. Maintaining company vehicles also ensure the safety of your drivers and everyone else on the road.
Here are a few ideal ways to properly manage your company vehicles.
Prioritize maintenance
Fleet downtime occurs when you encounter an issue that prevents you from using your company vehicles. To mitigate this risk, it would be wise to prioritize preventive maintenance that nips any potential problem in the bud before it gets a chance to materialize. Ensure the mechanic performs basic checks like tire rotation, replacement of brake pads, oil changes, and cleaning filters.
Hire a fleet manager
If you own numerous company vehicles, you might have difficulty monitoring each one. It would be a shame to lose track of what each vehicle needs to perform optimally, only to get a nasty surprise when you need the car for a job.
The best solution to this predicament would be to hire a fleet manager. Essential duties of a fleet manager include GPS tracking, fuel management, procurement, scheduling maintenance, and up-fits.
Understand how much maintenance each car needs
Like humans, each car has its own unique set of needs that vary depending on the brand, the time it was procured, and the frequency of use. A crucial part of fleet management is anticipating what each car needs to ensure it runs optimally. Under-maintenance prevents your vehicle from performing well, while over-maintenance wastes resources.
Ensure communication is clear and concise
Without proper guidance, your drivers and employees that use company vehicles are bound to make grave mistakes.
Therefore, it would help to arrange regular meetings where you communicate your expectations and relay how they should handle the vehicles. You could also remind them of the company policy and assign duties and schedules they should follow.
Monitor the cost of ownership
As much as you need a car to run your business, it is still a liability. If the cost of owning the company vehicle eats into your revenue and reduces your profit margin, it is high time you rethink your options. For instance, you are better off selling an old company vehicle that requires regular maintenance. However, it would be wise to determine the best time to sell the model you own so you get the best returns.
Create and implement a company policy
It is not enough to verbally communicate how your drivers should handle company vehicles. A company policy cements everything you have said in writing and keeps all your employees in check. You could also create policies around the average lifetime of company vehicles and when you should consider replacing them.
In conclusion
The benefits of managing your company vehicles include increased productivity, reduced costs, enhanced safety, and increased revenue. As you heed the tips we have mentioned, we urge you to leverage technology such as fleet management software to streamline all your operations.
