When you have a large number of company representatives visiting potential clients, it’s always important to keep in mind their safety and well-being - especially when they’re on the road.
It’s no secret that running company vehicles can be a challenge, with a number of legislative and compliance boxes to tick – sometimes it can be easy to miss the details that really matter.
So what exactly are the key points to be factoring in when reviewing your company vehicles?
Understanding: Fit for purpose
For your company representatives; it’s important to make a good impression on clients. Naturally you’d want your staff to be in executive vehicles – it just looks better on the company.
Aesthetics aside, a majority of modern vehicles come kitted out with essential equipment such as built-in satellite navigation and Bluetooth to keep your staff navigated and connected.
Understanding: Emissions and Economy
The benefits of vehicles that return a good fuel economy twinned with low C02 emissions are obvious. Not only will you be spending less on fuel for those essential meetings, but you’ll be doing you’re bit for the environment too. If you pay expenses to your mobile workforce for fuel consumed, this could also be reduced with new vehicles, due to the advancements in engine technology.
Understanding: Safety, Maintenance and Compliance
Keeping your staff safe on the road is incredibly important. Ensuring that their vehicles meet all standard safety checks is vital. This includes reviewing tyre tread and pressure, airbags and crashworthiness of the vehicle. These checks should also include reviewing the vehicles insurance (is it covered for business use?), MOT and agree on minimum use conditions.
You should have in place a series of checks for your mobile workforce to perform each and every time they go out, along with a document for them to sign saying that they have done so. Otherwise, if a fatal accident does occur – you may be liable under the corporate manslaughter act.
Don’t Cut Corners
The changes in legislation and laws on company vehicles are difficult to understand. However; by ignoring them you make yourself and the company liable to legal action. The above steps are a great starting point to creating a company fleet policy; but you will need to be continuingly monitoring changes and developments to keep on top of it.
Company who allow their employers to use their own vehicles for business (known as ‘grey fleets’) will find it more difficult – the range and age of vehicle can unearth some pitfalls – but it is critical that you do review them.
About Alternative Route Finance
Since 1999, Alternative Route Finance has continued to be a leading provider of vehicle leasing and fleet management solutions, offering a truly dedicated and bespoke service. Alternative Route Finance is based in Hove, Brighton and for more information please call 0844 880 2290, email sales@alternativeroutefinance.com or visit www.alternativeroutefinance.co.uk
