Cutting the Costs of Running a Fleet of Vehicles

In the current economic climate a large number of businesses are looking for ways in which they can reduce the cost of running a fleet of vehicles. Unfortunately there is no on size fits all answer to this, but there are ways in which you can reduce the costs if you are willing to make the effort to do so. This article considers how you can reduce the costs of your fleet.

Update and Upgrade

Upgrading your fleet will of course cost you money in the short-term, but it can help to reduce the running costs dramatically. If you are running old and battered fleet vehicles then they are likely to be costly to maintain. Investing in some ex-fleet vehicles at a used car auction can do enough to give your fleet the upgrade that it needs. With some careful planning and some sensible bidding, auto auctions give you the opportunity to refresh your fleet with more efficient vehicles that will lower your overall costs.

Running a Mixed Fleet

Usually a fleet of business vehicles will be made up of identical cars, but this is not always the best way in which to operate. Whilst some employees may need the power to transport items across the state, others may simply need a small car to travel around the nearby towns in. By diversifying your fleet to actively suit the needs of the individual members of staff it is possible to significantly improve fuel efficiency and reduce the running costs.

Fuel Card Investment

Fuel cards offer a good system to enable you to manage the cost of petrol and diesel. When driving company cars, employees will tend to be careless about where they fill up because they will not be paying for the fuel. With a fuel card, however, you will be able to make an arrangement with suppliers for a set price for the fuel because you will be buying in bulk. By signing up to such a system the fuel stations benefit from repeat business and your company can benefit from lower fuel costs for your fleet.

Regular Servicing

Servicing a vehicle is expensive, but in a fleet it is essential that you do not skimp on getting services done. A vehicle that is well maintained and regularly serviced will be cheaper to run over the long-term than a vehicle that is left until there is a significant issue. The biggest mistake that companies can make with regards to servicing vehicles is to try and save money because this just leads to bigger bills and longer periods with inactive vehicles.

Driver Training

Driver training is another aspect of company fleets that can be beneficial in reducing costs. Whilst employees will of course be required to have a driving license, spending a small amount of time familiarising them with a new vehicle can reduce the risk of accidents significantly. This is particularly important if the driver is about to drive a larger vehicle for the first time. If they are put under the pressure of having to meet a deadline in a new large vehicle, then the risk of an accident will be far higher. Making the effort to provide training will provide no visible savings, but it can potentially save you a significant amount on repair costs and insurance excess.