Inventory management, fuel efficiency, maintenance costs, retaining talent, vehicle acquisition, vehicle life-cycle strategy… No matter the size of the fleet, the challenges of fleet management are the same. The good news is that there’s a solution to these challenges that can be found by right-sizing the vehicle, upfit, or fleet. We’ve gathered the 6 most common and costly mistakes we see.
1. MANAGING A FLEET OF OVERSIZED SALES VEHICLE
A classic case of “my laptop needs leg room”
Ask yourself: Does your sales team carry other passengers? Do you have empty or under-utilized cargo space?
Tip: Compact cargo vans are a great solution for many sales teams and allow them to do their same job in a smaller vehicle. Click here to see how one business downsized their sales fleet’s vans to save thousands on fuel.
2. OVERLOADING TRUCKS AND TRAILERS PAST PAYLOAD
A classic case of “sure it’s heavy, but it fits!”
Ask yourself: What equipment, parts, tools, and products will the vehicle be used to haul? Does your vehicle meet the payload requirements?
Tip: To identify your vehicle’s available payload use this equation: GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) – Curb weight – Occupants – Alternative Equipment = Available Payload
3. UNORGANIZED INVENTORY
Classic case of “it’s in there somewhere”
Ask yourself: How do you track/restock inventory and equipment? How do you store the inventory and equipment and ensure everything is where it should be?
Tip: Bins can be labeled with scan-able bar codes, allowing you to actively monitor inventory levels at all time.
4. REQUIRING DRIVERS TO DOUBLE AS CONTORTIONISTS
Classic case of “my job could be so much easier”
Ask yourself: What would your drivers change about their vehicles? Are there new trends in your industry you can incorporate to be more efficient and safe?
Tip: Adding a side-ladder rack is a great solution for high-top vans. View some of our truck teams recommendations
5. EVERY VEHICLE IS UNIQUE
Classic case of “one size does not fit all”
Ask yourself: Can multiple delivery-requirements be met by right-sizing a few vehicles? Which vehicles aren’t being used as often?
Tip: Talk to all internal stakeholders across departments to align on what is required of the operators. You may find a solution there.
6. UNNECESSARY UPGRADES
Classic case of ”the first option is not the best option”
Ask yourself: Do you have a vehicle life-cycle strategy? Can you wait 4-6 weeks to replace vehicles?
Tip: More often than not, it’s more expensive to keep an aging vehicle in the rotation than it is to replace the vehicle. You pay more for reactive maintenance and you also miss out on the vehicle’s potential resale value. Planning ahead with a vehicle life-cycle strategy is a great way to avoid unnecessary costs and risks, and the extra effort can save significant money in the long run.
Do you fall into at least one of the traps laid out above? You’re not alone! Time and time again our clients are amazed by how much cost is saved by right-sizing their fleet to the specifications of the job and vehicles. (Here is an example of how one company saved thousands of dollars by optimizing their fleet’s vehicles.) Working with an experienced and established partner to help avoid these pitfalls saves time, money, and headaches.