The key to buying vehicles for your business
When purchasing a vehicle fleet for your business, it is essential that you pay close attention to every little detail.
Just as you might employ an individual who fits in perfectly with the culture of your business, so your vehicle fleet is representative not only of what services you render, but the manner in which this is done. For this reason, it is imperative that you devise a definite strategy before you make the fleet purchase.
Consult your vehicle users
One of the first things to do is canvass drivers, passengers and other users on how their view the fleet should be managed. They are, after all, in the best position to give an opinion as they will use the vehicles the most.
You never want to be in a situation where these users complain about the vehicles once they have been procured, as that can only lead to unhappiness down the line.
The approach to purchasing a vehicle fleet is vastly different to that taken when buying your own car.
While it is obvious that we all want our cars to last as possible, the multi-purchase carries with it a much greater focus on maintenance as you cannot allow even one “member” of the fleet to be off the road.
Some drivers may cause more wear and tear than others, and this has to be factored in when selecting the make of vehicle. Essentially you are looking for a vehicle that will stand up to the toughest tests and not require regular maintenance.
Of course, the fleet has to be an extension of your business, so each vehicle has must reflect what it is you do.
Choose the right vehicles for your business
Say for example you run a very successful catering business, in which carefully prepared foods are transported from one side of the city to the next. In this case, you would want your vehicle to have enough space for heavier loads as well as any refrigeration mechanisms you might need.
In addition, a canopy such as a np 200 canopy fitted on a bakkie will ably protect the load in warmer weather, while also allowing easy access to it once the vehicle has reached its destination.
Florists are especially fond of these types of vehicles and fittings.
Another very important factor to consider, especially given South Africa’s ever-escalating petrol price, is how much the fleet will use in the long run.
Working out exactly which vehicles will get the most kilometres to the litre is probably one of the key aspects before making a purchase.
While initially the difference may seem small, you will definitely feel the extra costs should you choose to run a fleet of gas guzzlers instead of more fuel efficient vehicles.
The best policy is always to think long-term when making a fleet purchase, so always weigh up not only the costs of making the buy, but the number of years it will be before you have to do it again.
Some business owners like to set targets, for example, replacing the fleet every 100 000 kilometres. However, making the right choice to begin with can yield excellent results, and the fleet may last much longer than you originally thought.