Entrepreneur Resources Your source for small business information
If you are in business with a fleet of vehicles, say an owner of a taxi firm, or a long haulage company then there are certain things you will need to be successful. Issues such as cash flow and marketing present issues just like they do to all companies but there are more specific issues that challenge your business as someone who manages a fleet of vehicles. You may already have addressed these issues, but there could be others you are yet to address. Read these tips and consider what you could do to improve.
Cover Yourself
You need the right types of insurance. With such a large fleet if anything goes wrong your position from which to operate from becomes untenable, and as a result you’re essentially losing your operational capacity. You need the right coverage for a commercial fleet. Shop around and see what the insurance firms offer, as some are better than others. Anything could happen. Your fleet could be vandalized overnight for example. Get the best you can, the firm that offers the most.
Employee Checks
They need to be more stringent here than in other companies because you are essentially putting them in control of a vehicle. Always conduct a proper, thorough interview preferably with someone else present. Then you need to do a police check, in which you’ll find out whether they have a criminal record. There is nothing wrong with employing someone who has made mistakes in the past however what you need to watch out for are people with excessive driving infractions. You also need to check they don’t suffer from certain health issues which means you can’t employ them such as narcolepsy. If something happens and someone gets hurt and it turns out you did not do employee checks then it will all come back on you and you’re opening yourself up to a lawsuit.
Vehicle Checks
Try to make sure the vehicles are checked and all issues rectified immediately. If you have a particularly large fleet it might be worth hiring a mechanic yourself to work on issues as they arise. Never send anything out that is under par because it could cause an accident. Create a driver checklist for them, so employees can check their own vehicle before they go out. Some checklist items could include making sure the mirrors are clean, unscratched and in the correct position, checking the fuel level and for proper alignment extend tires. If anything does happen to one of the vehicles, you are showing due diligence by doing these checks in advance.
Keep Your Vehicles Safe
Especially overnight. Sure, your insurance may cover issues that occur, but you need to be sure they are all safe. Try to park them inside a locked building, but if you can’t at least make sure they are parked behind fencing or railings so people can’t get to them. You’d be surprised by what can happen. Paintwork scratches and tires let down. If you think there is an issue, consider using a night watchman and using good CCTV systems to help the police catch anyone who has done your vehicle’s harm. All you can do is do you best to prepare.
