When a company employee represents your corporate image at a business meeting, you don’t want them rolling up in an old rust bucket, but you also don’t want a gaudy sports car. Having corporate vehicles can be an excellent way to control your image. By putting company logos on your cars, you can even get some good advertising out of them. If you’re going to use company cars, it’s very important that you take care of them so that they last, otherwise they will turn into a major expense. Here are a few tips that will keep your company fleet looking shiny and new longer.
Regular Upkeep
It is extremely important that you keep your vehicles well maintained. There are several routine maintenance procedures that many car owners like to put off, but if you want to get the most miles on your cars, you can’t afford to do that. A simple example is that of a regular car wash. If you want your company to have a good image, you should be washing your cars weekly.
Regular car washes are very important for protecting your car’s paint job. Dust and dirt may seem harmless, but it isn’t. Each dust particle is like a tiny knife that will put micro scratches into your car’s paint job. Eventually this will give your car a look that is blotchy and uncared for. Aside from regular cleanings, you also need to schedule regular fluid checks and oil filter replacements. Follow the recommended schedule in your vehicle handbook.
Relevant Driving Experience
To protect your cars from getting beaten up, it’s important that your employees practice safe driving habits. You may be tempted to just rely on your employee’s experience, but you shouldn’t. By providing training to drivers, you can lower your insurance premiums and protect yourself from potential lawsuits. There are many ways to conduct this training. Simulators can expose drivers to a hazard-laden controlled environment. This is an excellent way to provide driver’s with experience in dangerous situations. At a bare minimum, you should have them undergo a supervised driving test before handing over the keys to the car.
Smart Driving Systems
Smart driving systems are an excellent way to maintain oversight on your company vehicles. There are many systems available that will allow you to track vehicle location, driving speed, and how hard your employees are cornering or stopping. If anyone unplugs these systems, you will be alerted immediately. This will allow you to identify employees that are dangerous drivers and track down any vehicles that get stolen.
By adequately caring for your cars, training your drivers, and supervising them, you can ensure that your wheels keep rolling for several years. Even if you want to sell the cars after a few years to maintain an updated fleet, by doing these things your cars will retain their value better. All-in-all, these practices are going to save you a lot of time, stress, and money.
Here’s another great article: What Should I Do If An Employee Wrecks a Company Vehicle?