Whether you’ve been running a business for years or you’re creating a new startup, building a car fleet may be necessary for your business. Depending on the operations your company performs, having a fleet of reliable cars can take your business to the next level. For example, common business types that utilize fleet cars include taxi cab services, car rental companies, public works agencies, and even companies who need their employees on the road. If you’re considering investing in a fleet of cars for your business, take a look at these five steps below first.
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Step 1: Find the Right Dealership
Choosing the right vehicle for your business is no easy task. If your sales team is out on the road meeting customers and showing them around, you’re going to want vehicles that show your clients your company means business. Or, if you need a fleet of cars for people to rent from your rental agency, you’re going to need a variety of makes and models for people to choose from.
When searching for cars for sale, you’re going to want to start by doing your research. This means gathering the information from all the local car dealerships in your area. From here, email, call, or visit each dealership in person and inquire about bulk orders. Many dealerships will be ecstatic when they hear a customer needs more than one car, and more often than not, these dealerships will give you a pretty substantial discount as you buy more cars.
Step 2: Purchase Fleet Insurance
The next line of business in building a car fleet is purchasing fleet insurance. As you search for insurance premiums for your business, you’re going to notice it’s pretty expensive. That’s why it’s important to take some preventative measures to keep your insurance costs low.
One way to do so is by conducting a background check on all of your employees and getting access to their driving records. If their records show they’re prone to accidents, it may not be worth hiring them or allowing them to drive company cars. Additionally, investing in roadside assistance is another excellent way to save money in case an accident or break down were ever to occur.
Step 3: Hire Fleet Drivers
Now that you have your car fleet and fleet insurance covered, it’s time to hire the right people for your business. Hiring new staff can be difficult, which is why it’s important you take enough time during the hiring process to ensure you’ve hired only the best of the best. This means having multiple hiring rounds, conducting background checks, and bringing potential drivers on test drives to ensure they fit the bill when it comes to operating your company’s vehicles.
Step 4: Train Your Fleet Staff
Now that you have a team of dedicated staff ready to take the roads by storm, you must begin training them. At first, you may be wondering why you need to train a fleet crew if they already know how to drive. However, there’s a lot more to operating fleet vehicles than meets the eye. Fleet driver training helps improve performance, which in turn can increase your company’s profits. There are numerous online fleet training modules online, such as those offered by SafeMotorist and the National Traffic Safety Institute. These fleet training programs will teach your drivers about the laws of the road, how to maneuver their vehicle, how to respond in emergencies, and more. Investing time in training your fleet will pay off in the long run.
Step 5: Manage Your Fleet
Once your fleet staff is on the road and out of reach, it’s important you know how to manage your mobile sales fleet. Luckily, technology has made managing fleets much easier, with gadgets that record miles driven, easy communication between employer and employee, and live GPS tracking. Incorporating tools like these will allow you to keep track of your employees, even when they’re on the road. This will enable you to stay in the loop, and provide cost-saving decisions such as rerouting their navigation if you notice a large detour or traffic ahead.
Building Your Car Fleet
At first, the idea of building a car fleet may seem daunting. However, following these five steps will ensure you hire the best drivers and save the most money when your employees are going from customer to customer. From buying the right cars to investing in the proper technology, building a car fleet will take your business to the next level.
About Carson Derrow
