It’s best practice to review your choice of fit-for-purpose vehicles every three years which can be time consuming an challenging.
When faced with an overwhelming number of options, making the right choice can seem next to impossible.
How do you know if you’re selecting the right one?
Fleets exist to support and facilitate several operational goals and requirements outlined by an organisation, therefore when selecting the correct vehicle, it should reflect the transport needs of the organisation.
To begin, define the use of the vehicle. This can generally be done using four broad categories:
- Tool of Trade, those directly related to the organisation’s business function
- Employee entitlements vehicles; those part of the employment package
- Salary sacrificing where the organisation permits a trade up in vehicle category or additional models
- Novated leasing where the employee is free to choose vehicle make and model
What characteristics are needed in the vehicle?
Depending on the use of the vehicle and the needs of the driver, when selecting a fleet vehicle, the individual characteristics and features must be considered. Such as:
- What loads does it carry for the majority of its journeys?
- What will be the maximum load it will carry, for how long and how often?
- Are the journey characteristics short, long, open road or in the town or city?
- Is there any height, width, length, or turning circle requirements?
- Are there any specific safety issues that need special design, equipment, or signage?
How to get that information?
Often finding the answers can prove challenging. However, using an assortment of driver questionnaires can allow for a deeper understanding of individual driver needs. Assessing operational requirements in the business can also hint at the best fit-for-purpose vehicle.
Legal and legislative safety parameters can also guide and determine vehicles used in the fleet industry. A variety of government levels may require special provision for the transport of oversized loads and hazardous materials. It is always recommended to check with road traffic authorities.
How do I know the vehicle is worth it?
When choosing a vehicle as a fleet manager having a ‘one size fits all’ mentality does not apply. Instead, conducting an analysis of requirements and assessment of driver needs can determine the true success of fleet vehicle.
To active members, AfMA offers a Whole Cost of Life Calculator which can help determine the best purchasing decision during the selection process. To check it out- Click Here
