Fleet Vans to get abused....
Discussion
Just started a new job with a garden maintenance company (in the office), owner is selling up, new investor/owner wants the vans to look more presentable, but they do take abuse. It's not really part of my role, but I guess if we're missing a trick, I could point them in the right direction.
There are currently 4 big vans on MY08-10 plates, another on a 15 plate, a tipper style (not sure, maybe 5 years old) a crew-cab pickup (15) and a 66 plate small van (this one leased, others are owned - not that many have much of a value). Plus an abandoned/broken big van outside the unit (no customers go there thankfully). Some of the older ones are looking a bit shabby and the work is regular maintenance at some pretty fancy houses. Accounts would suggest historically around £15k a year gets allocated for vans etc, but this seems to be slowing down. £15k a year seems a feasible budget to be leasing/financing a half-decent fleet, but I think a lot of vans would be going back a different shape to that supplied! Tools/mowers in and out, plus scrapes and dings from access/parking (I'm guessing) and maybe a bit of "it's an old van" mentality. Two vans go home with the lads (a pair of local workers in each). I knew the brand before starting the job, only from seeing the vans around and I don't remember them being so beaten up - maybe a little of the original proprietor losing interest.
Not really studied it or looked into it properly, was a brief discussion with the new investor and as we discussed it - a shiny, modern, spotless pickup from a similar local business pulled onto the road in front of us. If anyone has experience of running a small fleet of vans that get abused and has a solution or suggestions I'd be curious to hear.
There are currently 4 big vans on MY08-10 plates, another on a 15 plate, a tipper style (not sure, maybe 5 years old) a crew-cab pickup (15) and a 66 plate small van (this one leased, others are owned - not that many have much of a value). Plus an abandoned/broken big van outside the unit (no customers go there thankfully). Some of the older ones are looking a bit shabby and the work is regular maintenance at some pretty fancy houses. Accounts would suggest historically around £15k a year gets allocated for vans etc, but this seems to be slowing down. £15k a year seems a feasible budget to be leasing/financing a half-decent fleet, but I think a lot of vans would be going back a different shape to that supplied! Tools/mowers in and out, plus scrapes and dings from access/parking (I'm guessing) and maybe a bit of "it's an old van" mentality. Two vans go home with the lads (a pair of local workers in each). I knew the brand before starting the job, only from seeing the vans around and I don't remember them being so beaten up - maybe a little of the original proprietor losing interest.
Not really studied it or looked into it properly, was a brief discussion with the new investor and as we discussed it - a shiny, modern, spotless pickup from a similar local business pulled onto the road in front of us. If anyone has experience of running a small fleet of vans that get abused and has a solution or suggestions I'd be curious to hear.
22 said:
Just started a new job with a garden maintenance company (in the office), owner is selling up, new investor/owner wants the vans to look more presentable, but they do take abuse. It's not really part of my role, but I guess if we're missing a trick, I could point them in the right direction.
There are currently 4 big vans on MY08-10 plates, another on a 15 plate, a tipper style (not sure, maybe 5 years old) a crew-cab pickup (15) and a 66 plate small van (this one leased, others are owned - not that many have much of a value). Plus an abandoned/broken big van outside the unit (no customers go there thankfully). Some of the older ones are looking a bit shabby and the work is regular maintenance at some pretty fancy houses. Accounts would suggest historically around £15k a year gets allocated for vans etc, but this seems to be slowing down. £15k a year seems a feasible budget to be leasing/financing a half-decent fleet, but I think a lot of vans would be going back a different shape to that supplied! Tools/mowers in and out, plus scrapes and dings from access/parking (I'm guessing) and maybe a bit of "it's an old van" mentality. Two vans go home with the lads (a pair of local workers in each). I knew the brand before starting the job, only from seeing the vans around and I don't remember them being so beaten up - maybe a little of the original proprietor losing interest.
Not really studied it or looked into it properly, was a brief discussion with the new investor and as we discussed it - a shiny, modern, spotless pickup from a similar local business pulled onto the road in front of us. If anyone has experience of running a small fleet of vans that get abused and has a solution or suggestions I'd be curious to hear.
nominate a driver for each vehicle build in time outside thier normal work for cleaning and basic maintanace weekly or pay an hours overtime for this There are currently 4 big vans on MY08-10 plates, another on a 15 plate, a tipper style (not sure, maybe 5 years old) a crew-cab pickup (15) and a 66 plate small van (this one leased, others are owned - not that many have much of a value). Plus an abandoned/broken big van outside the unit (no customers go there thankfully). Some of the older ones are looking a bit shabby and the work is regular maintenance at some pretty fancy houses. Accounts would suggest historically around £15k a year gets allocated for vans etc, but this seems to be slowing down. £15k a year seems a feasible budget to be leasing/financing a half-decent fleet, but I think a lot of vans would be going back a different shape to that supplied! Tools/mowers in and out, plus scrapes and dings from access/parking (I'm guessing) and maybe a bit of "it's an old van" mentality. Two vans go home with the lads (a pair of local workers in each). I knew the brand before starting the job, only from seeing the vans around and I don't remember them being so beaten up - maybe a little of the original proprietor losing interest.
Not really studied it or looked into it properly, was a brief discussion with the new investor and as we discussed it - a shiny, modern, spotless pickup from a similar local business pulled onto the road in front of us. If anyone has experience of running a small fleet of vans that get abused and has a solution or suggestions I'd be curious to hear.
make sure they get serviced and checked every 6 monthes , repair minor damage as it happens things like light lenses ,mirrors and trim ...
The only way round this is to get the drivers to take proper responsibility, and the only way of doing that i have seen that works is making them pay for the damage i don't know if you are still allowed to do that as my experience of witnessing thesifference that made was in the 90s. A particularly memorable event was the business owner asking one of the workers to see the keys to brand his new escort, then he asked him to follow him out to the car park. He went in to the van the employee was driving, picked up the fag ends off the floor and seats, the mouldy food from under the seats an alll the litter strewn around the cab and threw it inside his immaculate escort. He was slightly upset by this but was told that f
king van is mine, i paid for it , not yours to treat like a piece of ste. The next time i see that van in that state don' t bother coming back and dont expect your wage packet.
All the vans in the fleet were a lot tidyer for a long time after that.
That memory stuck with me for a long time when i got my first company car, a well used and abused montego countryman, not a very ph car for a 17 year old i bought a touch up paint for it and machine polished it.
king van is mine, i paid for it , not yours to treat like a piece of ste. The next time i see that van in that state don' t bother coming back and dont expect your wage packet.All the vans in the fleet were a lot tidyer for a long time after that.
That memory stuck with me for a long time when i got my first company car, a well used and abused montego countryman, not a very ph car for a 17 year old i bought a touch up paint for it and machine polished it.
Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Wednesday 8th March 08:24
Most as above.
We have 122 vans at the moment, the magic time was when we had them all fitted with trackers.
If they fart on a roundabout, we know, linked to insurance. 3 Strikes and they're unemployed. Sort the driving, and its surprising how soon the dents disappear.
They get an hour a week for cleaning, it's a mobile advert after all.
We have 122 vans at the moment, the magic time was when we had them all fitted with trackers.
If they fart on a roundabout, we know, linked to insurance. 3 Strikes and they're unemployed. Sort the driving, and its surprising how soon the dents disappear.
They get an hour a week for cleaning, it's a mobile advert after all.
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