Fleet vehicles are important assets to any modern business, regardless of its size or the number of its employees, as they serve an important role in maintaining a well-organized, presentable brand to the world. What’s more, company vehicles play an important role in forming an internal brand employees will love and gladly display wherever the road may take them.
While your employees will be tasked with the upkeep of their vehicles, fleet management is far more complex than simply handing out a pair of keys, as it requires strategic thinking along with the implementation of technology and proper education in order to ensure the safety and upkeep of your fleet. With that in mind, here are the essential ways to manage your company’s vehicles.
Setting Up Rules and Responsibilities for Drivers
In an ideal world, you wouldn’t need to introduce strict user policies for the handlers of your vehicles, as everyone would naturally adhere to proper car care in terms of cleanliness and technical maintenance. Alas, this is not how the real world operates, and setting up clear rules and responsibilities is essential in ensuring the proper care and upkeep of your vehicles.
While the aesthetics and top mechanical conditions should be maintained across your fleet, one of the two aspects should be emphasised based on the type of vehicle and the role it plays. While a sales vehicle should emphasise aesthetic appearance, a service vehicle should prioritise technical prowess. However, regular reliability maintenance should be emphasised in both cases.
Using Technology and Providing Constant Support
Modern technology is transforming the concept of fleet management, as companies are nowadays able to track the performance and state of every vehicle from a centralised location, all with the help of smart and intuitive software. This not only means that you are effectively eliminating the risk of your drivers getting stranded in the middle of nowhere, but it also means you can optimise the performance of your every vehicle and every task for maximum ROI.
That said, modern technology can only do so much in case of an emergency without on-hand contingency plans. This means that your drivers need to have an emergency car key locksmith on speed dial should they lose their keys, and that their vehicles should have all the necessary tools to fix a tyre and even small electrical issues on the spot.
Educating Your Employees
It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to enforce eco-friendly policies in your company or car maintenance policies for your drivers to follow, you cannot expect these positive habits to take root without proper education – without your employees understanding the benefits of a well-maintained vehicle. The key is to explain to your team members how car maintenance is connected to their safety, your brand image, and ultimately, their job security.
What’s more, driver training should hold top priority in your company, as you need to assess which team members are fit to drive, as well as how skilful at driving they actually are. Don’t forget to re-educate your veteran drivers periodically as well in order to ensure their safety and protect your company.
A Little Encouragement Goes a Long Way
As a good employer, you should have a comprehensive reward system in place, detailing how and when your employees will earn rewards for their good work, incentive, and compliance with company policies. Not only can your brand benefit in a myriad of ways by rewarding its employees down the road, but with this type of encouragement, you can create a strong collective of loyal team members.
So, make sure your employees understand the potential rewards for stellar car handling and maintenance. What’s more, you can even give them the opportunity to purchase the vehicle at a sizable discount at the end of its term, provided that it was kept in mint condition throughout.
The tasks of fleet management and upkeep do not fall on your shoulders only, as your employees will play a vital role in preserving the state of the vehicles in both the technical and aesthetic sense. With that in mind, be sure to follow these steps in order to manage your company’s vehicles successfully and keep your employees happy in the process.
