Fleet managers are under constant pressure from budget restrictions, and wear and tear charges often feel like a sting in the tail at the end of a leasing contract. The latest survey from Venson Automotive Solutions reveals that 58% of company car drivers think it is their employer’s responsibility to get the car serviced at the appropriate times, even though the employee is accountable. Venson urges fleet managers to ensure their drivers know exactly what needs reporting and where responsibilities lie, in order to stay in control of their costs.
Gil Kelly, Operations Director at Venson, said:
‘Only 42% of the company car drivers we surveyed see maintenance as their responsibility, which could see fleet managers facing hefty charges at the end of the vehicle’s lease. This could be avoided if fleet managers, with the support of their fleet provider, communicate about service and maintenance responsibilities, not only at the time of handing over the keys of the car to an employee, but throughout the term of the lease to reduce wear and tear costs. In addition, by encouraging regular maintenance checks, businesses can identify issues early. This should include pre-collection inspections, prior to the end of a contract, to allow any damage to be identified and rectified. Fleet managers could also consider implementing a policy whereby company car drivers are fined as a result of issues not being reported, and result in unnecessary costs being incurred by the business for persistent offenders.’