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5 Common Issues Fleet Managers Encounter

24 July 2017

It’s not easy being a fleet manager. The role requires a unique combination of skills, including great communication, unbeatable negotiation skills, and top-notch technical knowledge.

Add this to a knack for figures and administrative tasks, and you have yourself an excellent fleet manager. However, just like in other career paths, there are a number of challenges, roadblocks, and difficult decisions that must be dealt with along the way.

These can range from general management mistakes to more specific issues with certain vehicles in your company fleet. Each one can hinder the job from being done effectively, and therefore can have the knock on effects of distributing the uptime of your fleet and severely impacting your company’s bottom line.

Fleet managers take note as we have a look at 5 common mistakes and show how you can make sure you avoid them.

Poor Communication With The Team

Novice and seasoned fleet managers alike often fall into the trap of doing a great job, but not letting anyone else know about it.

Although it’s not rocket science, managing a company car fleet is an integral part of running a successful and profitable business. All fleet managers should communicate their progress with their team and make sure to track cost reduction, regularly compare costs of leasing over purchasing, and be explicit of how much money is being saved.

Ignoring The Learning Curve

Fuel costs, complicated taxes, fleet management services, changing government regulations; there are many things for the fleet manager to consider right from the word go.

What’s more, a fleet manager quickly goes from being a complete beginner to controlling the whole operation. Avoid letting things get out of control by recognising there’s a steep learning curve, and that responsibilities should be increased gradually over a period of time.

Turning On Cruise Control

Contrary to the last point, fleet managers can also quickly become complacent. This is the phase where everything seems to be running smoothly with the company fleet, and costs are remaining at a steady level.

Problems can and do rise due to putting everything on autopilot and sitting back to relax. A good fleet manager should constantly keep a close eye on the market, so as to not get caught out by new regulations or price hikes, and to also ensure you take advantage of the latest in-car technology.

Fleet management can be tricky — but only if you let it become that way. It all starts with putting your company fleet in the hands of the right person for the job, whether that be a new and experienced recruit, someone who you trust within the company, or an external fleet management provider.

Considering outsourcing your fleet management?

Find out more about our company vehicle leasing options and our fleet management service, or send us an email at info@marshall-leasing.co.uk and we will happily discuss your requirements.

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