Almost all businesses, no matter the industry, need a nice fleet of cars. Your vehicles allow you to be as efficient, fast and cost-effective as you can be (this is a great habit for any company), which are the reasons why companies with a fleet grow all the time, despite having bigger costs. And if you approach the costs from the right angle and find ways to keep them under control, it’s possible to have an efficient fleet without wasting money. Here are some easy ways to save money by making all the right fleet management moves.
Buy suitable and practical vehicles
Let’s start from the beginning – investing in the right vehicles for your business. No matter if you’re in need of cars, vans, trucks or planes, they all need to be the right model if you want to save money and grow your business. One of the best things to do for your business is to buy top-quality vehicles. In the long run, top vehicles will exhibit lower fuel consumption and maintenance costs, as well as simply be easier to drive, park and resell. Vehicles that produce less waste are also greener, which is a great image to promote for your business.
Invest in vehicle insurance
Comprehensive insurance for the whole fleet and not every vehicle separately will give you reduced premiums and less paperwork to keep in your safe. To get the best insurance, tell your broker how you manage your fleet and drivers by sharing mileage records, repair records, driving records, etc.
Do regular maintenance
Regular vehicle checkups are crucial to saving money. While you might have some costs upfront, in the long run, you can save a lot of money by letting professionals take good care of your fleet. Those who can do their car service in Sydney can expect a very professional experience that takes great care of their cars, especially their tires. Tires are often neglected, yet crucial for the safety and proper functioning of a vehicle, and tire experts will do everything from tire replacement to tire alignment and brake checks. Other parts of your vehicles also need proper attention.
Employ telematics solutions
Telematics is a combination of GPS and diagnostics used for monitoring fleet vehicles. Telematics solutions can always tell you where your vehicles are, how fast they are going, when they were parked, etc. This data will allow you and your drivers to find the best way to drive and reduce costs. With telematics, it’s possible to find the best routes, identify the best gas stations, notice poor driving behavior (fuel inefficiency, risky moves, abuse of work vehicles for personal needs, etc.), improve safety for drivers and even reduce insurance costs. When your fleet is constantly being monitored, expect exemplary behavior from your drivers and better savings in the long run.
Video recording
If you want to boost safety and thus keep your cars in excellent shape for longer, it’s necessary to invest in dashcams that look inside the cabin and cameras that look outside. The footage you collect can be used in case of an accident because you can easily prove guilt and dodge lawsuits. With cameras, you can notice improper driver behavior and allow drivers a better overview of the road, thus reducing the number of accidents.
Use fuel cards
The best way to save money through fleet management is by investing in fuel cards that can bring you all sorts of benefits. For instance, with a fuel card, you can enjoy a fixed price of fuel for competitive prices, no interest charges (or non-usage fees), reduced admin costs, etc. Also, every transaction you make with a card is tracked and billed to your company, so it’s almost impossible to commit fuel fraud.
Replace vehicles regularly
This might sound contra-productive if you want to save money on your fleet, but replacing vehicles regularly can save you money in the long run. If you keep your vehicles for too long, they will eventually need repairs, experience fuel inefficiency and lose resale value. Therefore, it’s much better to adopt an effective replacement plan than stick to vehicles long-term and pay for expensive maintenance. A good replacement plan requires you to create an inventory of your fleet with all the details about each vehicle as well as pre-established rules on when to replace them.
Hire experienced staff
And finally, it’s crucial to supply your fleet with proper drivers. Without them, it’s impossible to start thinking about money-saving. Sure, everyone today has a driver’s license, but finding experienced and responsible drivers is a harder task. However, with a proper hiring system you can follow, you will find just the drivers you need who know their job and follow your rules.
Running a fleet of vehicles for your business is crucial, yet expensive and hard. But with the tips above, you will have a much easier time handling your fleet tasks, as well as record big savings over time. With a well-managed fleet, your business will be more efficient and more cost-effective than ever.
