Business of all types rely on vehicles, especially in this age of online shopping. You may have delivery vehicles or even just company cars for your remote workers. Whichever it is, the smooth running of those cars equates to the smooth running of your enterprise. If a delivery is late, you’ll need to offer money back, on top of repair costs. Not to mention that the negative word of mouth could cost you from gaining further custom. Equally, if a remote worker is late for a meeting due to breakdowns, you could lose big orders, and gain a bad reputation. Neither of which is ideal!
So, it makes sense to have an emergency procedure in place for company cars. And, we’re going to look at some of the step worth including in yours.
Regular maintenance
All cars need regular maintenance for smooth running. But, this becomes even more crucial when so much is at stake. It’s worth giving your company’s vehicles a once-over every time they’re about to set off for a long drive. That way, you’ll be in a better position to deal with any issues you spot. Areas to pay attention to are wheels, brake fluid, and the sound of the engine. Problems with any of these areas could spell trouble on the road.
Learn some basic maintenance pointers to ensure you can take care of small issues fast. It may also be worth getting friendly with a local garage. That way, you can let them take a look if you’re unsure how to solve something.
A list of emergency numbers
You need to rest easy that your drivers will know what to do if they encounter an issue on the road. Hence, it’s worth putting together a list of emergency numbers and placing one in each vehicle. Make sure to select companies which offer good deals here. You’ll want to find the right windshield replacement service, list a breakdown service with speed, and even jot down garages your drivers could stop at. The more extensive your research, the better off your drivers will be. Plus, this step allows you to ensure they call the cheapest companies when the time comes!
A vehicle first aid kit
You should also provide some essential equipment for each car. Sometimes, small niggles have easy fixes. But, you need to ensure your driver has access to equipment which can fix them. Otherwise, they’ll have to pay for a professional service which could’ve been avoided.
It is possible to buy ready-made kits, but bear in mind that could cost you. Instead, you could always make your own. Items within should include:
-
Jumper cables
-
A can of fuel
-
A fire extinguisher
-
A spare tire
-
A tire pressure gage
-
A jack
-
A lug wrench
And anything else you think might come in handy. Bear in mind that, the more you include, the better chance your driver’s can fix things on their own.
It’s also worth considering that your driver’s safety should be at the forefront of your mind. As such, you should include some personal care items. These could include blankets, energy bars, and bottles of water. That way, you can rest easy that driver’s stuck waiting for breakdown cover can do so in relative comfort. It’s also worth providing a torch, in case something happens when it’s dark. There’s no denying that these kits will soon add up cost wise, but one major repair without them could easily cost more.
Train your drivers
Of course, that emergency kit won’t do you any good if your drivers aren’t trained to use it. So, that should be the next priority on your list. That’s not to say, of course, that you need to get them training like mechanics. For the most part, car ownership should already have taught them everything they need to know. But, it doesn’t hurt to go through the essentials. It may even be worth setting aside a few hours where you get them to change tires and do some basic checks. You could also show them some instructional videos, to ensure they know how to do things safely. You certainly don’t want repair injuries coming back to bite you!
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
