There are many reasons why your employees may need access to a company vehicle, and most of them serve to effectively enhance the overall operation of the organization. That being said, you want to be able to protect your investment and ensure that these cars and trucks keep running for the length of time that they were designed for. Failing that, the rationale behind having such vehicles will become counter productive. As you consider this, think about the following four policies that will help your protect the investment you have made in your company vehicles.
Educate Your Employees
Part of your company vehicle policy should include some type of training and education program. Company cars and trucks need to respected, and they need to be cared for in a certain way. This will, of course, vary depending on the industry that you operate in. Fleet vehicles must be kept in great running condition, and employees play a vital role in making sure that this happens. If just one vehicle is knocked out of commission for even a day, the financial impact on the company can be immense. Employees need to be educated about this and trained to act accordingly.
Create a Reward or Incentive Program
No matter how hard you try, getting employees to treat a company vehicle as they would their own can be an uphill task. You can combat this feeling by developing a company-wide rewards and incentives program that honors employees who demonstrate the care and concern you are looking for. This can include rewards for no traffic tickets in any given quarter, the lowest number of needed repairs, and overall cleanliness of the vehicle. Employees will appreciate the gesture and be more likely to take care of the car or truck that they have been assigned. This does not have to be elaborate in scope. Just design a program that works and has some value to your employees.
Visit a Car Dealership
If possible, take your employees to visit a St. George Subaru dealership and give them a hand in helping to select their vehicle. Within reason, this can be an effective way of gaining the respect that you are looking from your staff in terms of how they take care of their assigned vehicle. A car dealership can help provide incentives and special deals when you order multiple vehicles at once, so this is something to consider as well. This will also demonstrate to your employees that their opinions are valued. This is a win-win for everyone involved.
Set Clear Policies
Part of dictating company policy relating to vehicles is to set clear expectations. This is often overlooked. Having policies is one thing, but it is another thing entirely to make sure that they are clearly communicated to every employee that is affected. If it is not written down, and employees do not acknowledge a stated policy, then you are only asking for trouble down the road. Include all essential items in your policy statements such as the limitation on personal use of the vehicle, responsibilities to clean up after use, fuel usage, and more. This will help your employees to know exactly what they are expected to do with the issuance of their company or truck.
These four simple guidelines will go a long way towards ensuring that your company vehicle fleet remains intact for a long time. Clear expectations are needed in order to protect your investment, and your employees as well. This will help your company in the long run, so do not neglect the importance of instituting these policies within your operating structure as soon as possible.
