5 Fleet Management Myths

Some fleet management myths are serious, some are hilarious, but there are a several of myths about fleet management (as well as fleet managers) that can alter your views of the fleet management industry.
Myth #1. You can’t get full time hours with fleetmanagement.
I actually have to laugh at this one. Fleet management is a full time, challenging, difficult position. That is why many companies hire experienced fleet managers to keep track of their expensive fleet. Fleet managers deal with employees, customer delivery times, the fleet maintenance, scheduling and insurance. All in a days works.
Myth #2. Vehicles should be maintained on a 50-month schedule (2% a month)It sounds pretty. Many fleet based companies may actually like this – because it’s not too often, which means less money per month. Unfortunately, the gap is too long. If a vehicle needs maintenance, it needs it ASAP in order to prolong its life. Fleet vehicles which operate in the inner city don't accumulate nearly as many miles as those in rural areas and remain in service longer. This has to be taken into consideration. Using a 50-month schedule for all company vehicles can result in outrageous cash flows.

Myth # 3. Chargeability – Drivers are always at fault.
Almost any fleet has a standard way to determine the fault for a car accident. Whether it’s the fleet manager, or a review in front of a committee, if a driver is found at fault, there are usually consequences. Unfortunately, too many fleets, use the driver's fault as the determining factor. These days fleet drivers cannot solely avoid causing an accident; they should take action in avoiding a crash all together, even when they are not at fault. Myth # 4. Don’t ever recondition a vehicle before selling it.

This is not technically a myth, however the word “never” is a bit extreme. Sometimes a car needs to be repaired in order to raise the value so that the company can profit more. For example, if the car needs a simple fix, it might be worth it to do the fix and gain more money in the end.

Myth # 5. Because it’s not their money, drivers simply don’t care about costs.

This statement generally offends any good company driver. It’s simply not true. A good employee realizes the value of themselves in a company and takes care of their car (and cell phone, laptop, etc). The knowledge that neglecting or abusing privileges can have severe consequences. .

A vehicle's condition and the way a driver pays attention to the maintenance schedule typically display how well that employee does at his/her job. A great example is gas. You know you can trust the employee that will survey the area for the lowest gas cost, compared to the employee who will just stop at the first gas station and fill up on the most expensive gas.

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