When a fleet vehicle is off the road, it can cause a series of delays for your customers and problems for your business. This is why a crucial part of fleet management is keeping all of your fleet vehicles on the road.
As a fleet manager, you are expected to go out of your way to keep your fleet in tip-top condition. But you can’t do it alone. To keep your fleet in the best condition, you need your drivers on board. After all, they are the ones who spend the most time with the fleet vehicles.
In this blog, we are going to share our tips for encouraging drivers to take good care of fleet vehicles.
Ensure There’s A Company Policy
Your company should have a policy in place that all drivers must sign and adhere to. It should clearly layout the driver’s responsibilities when it comes to taking care of the fleet.
When employing a new driver, ensure they are familiar with the policy before they begin their duties. And any updates or changes to the policy should be communicated with each and every staff member.
The policy should also include regular management check-ins and inspections. This will ensure the drivers are carrying out their duties according to the details outlined.
Outsource The Fleet Cleaning
Cleaning fleet vehicles is a big job. And it isn’t one that should be taken lightly. Your fleet vehicles are seen by thousands of people on a daily basis, including your customers!
Dirty vehicles will look unprofessional and can damage your business reputation. Plus, clean fleet vehicles are important for building brand awareness when on the road.
To avoid expensive repairs, the build-up of dirt, grime, salt and oil should be removed from your fleet vehicles regularly.
Without the correct products and equipment (which is costly), your drivers will not be able to properly clean the fleet vehicles. Plus, without proper training, your drivers will struggle to effectively clean the vehicle. They may even do more harm than good!
Outsourcing your fleet cleaning is a cost-effective and easy way to keep your fleet vehicles clean. Having your fleet vehicles cleaned by professionals can reduce the cost of future maintenance jobs or repairs.
Provide Fleet Management Training
To ensure your fleet vehicles are kept in the best possible condition, you should have a company-wide way of doing things. Providing internal training will help to ensure that each of your drivers is taking care of the fleet vehicles in the best possible way.
It is likely that you have a number of fleet vehicles, ranging in size, make and model. Your drivers should understand the requirements of each vehicle and be able to look after them effectively. This includes keeping them clean and keeping meticulous records of everything from tyre pressure to miles covered.
New drivers who lack experience will require training on the do’s and don’t of driving and caring for fleet vehicles. And experienced drivers may have picked up bad habits, so training can be beneficial to help them brush up on their skills.
Provide The Products Required
Do your drivers have the equipment they need to take proper care of the fleet vehicles? Is your site/warehouse always stocked up with high-quality windscreen wash and anti-freeze?
Having the correct equipment on-site will make it far easier for your drivers to keep on top of the fleet vehicles. This includes interior cab cleaning products, anti-viral sanitising products and superior screen wash.
You could even invest in a heavy-duty pressure washer, to ensure fleet vehicles are kept reasonably clean in between professional cleaning.
Offer Incentives For Fleet Management
Regular inspections will give your management team a chance to determine which of your drivers are going above and beyond with caring for their vehicles.
To encourage drivers to take care of their vehicles, you could offer incentives, such as additional annual leave, gift vouchers or additional company perks.
Regardless of industry or job role, incentives have been proven to motivate employees and increase productivity and performance.
Make Fleet Management Simple
Most fleet managers find it easier to encourage good practice if each driver is assigned one vehicle. Every driver will do things slightly differently and sharing vehicles between drivers can cause disagreements within the workplace. It can also reduce the quality of care each vehicle receives.
Being assigned one vehicle will encourage your drivers to take good care of it and adhere to the company policies.
Using technology, such as a smartphone app is also an excellent way to make fleet management easy for your drivers. Your team will be able to easily document and track key information, such as the route taken and fuel level etc. This information will then be easily accessible to management and engineers if required.
Get In Touch
LPW Europe is a leading commercial vehicle specialist operating across the UK, so we know a thing or two about fleet management. If you require professional fleet cleaning, get in touch with us.
Our Mobile Fleet Wash team will come to your site and return your fleet to its former glory. Our experienced team bring all the equipment and high-quality products they need, including a water containment disposal system.
Alternatively, your drivers could head to one of our Truck Wash sites dotted across the UK. Find out more about LPW Europe and our range of Fleet Cleaning Services here.