If your operations involve transportation, running a business fleet can be an effective way to optimise your performance. While outsourcing can certainly have its benefits in areas such as IT, managing an in-house fleet can have many advantages, including:
1. Flexibility
When you’re running a business fleet, you have the opportunity to be in total control of your operations. Furthermore, you benefit from extra flexibility and can adjust your schedules and routes to suit your needs.
2. Quality Control
If you’re investing in a fleet of vehicles, there’s a good chance you’ll be hiring in-house workers to drive them too. This can be an important way of enhancing your services and ensuring that vehicles arrive at their intended destination on time.
As a result, your in-house processes can be streamlined and the overall service you provide can be enhanced.
3. Branded Vehicles
Using vehicles to advertise your company can be a great way to increase brand awareness and attract new customers. While you won’t have the option to do this if you rely on third-party services, running your own fleet gives you the chance to use custom wraps and branded vehicles to advertise your business.
Are There Any Disadvantages to Running a Fleet?
Although there are many benefits associated with managing an in-house fleet, there can be some drawbacks too, such as:
1. Vehicle Maintenance
You’ll need to arrange regular vehicle maintenance to ensure that your fleet is safe and roadworthy, which means in-house fleet management will be required. However, even third-party vehicles need to be maintained on a regular basis and being in charge of your own fleet gives you the chance to schedule routine maintenance at a time that suits your business needs.
2. Fleet Insurance
Many people assume that taking out fleet insurance is a complicated process or that it’s costly.
However, you might be surprised at just how cost-effective business fleet insurance can be. When you use Quotezone, for example, you can search multiple insurance providers at once and create custom policies that match your specific requirements.
Many companies even enable you to cover different types of vehicles under one policy, so taking out fleet insurance can be far easier than you think.
3. Cost
If you’re going to purchase vehicles for your fleet, you will face increased costs when you make the investment. Over time, however, running your own fleet can actually be more cost-effective than outsourcing to a third party. What’s more – leasing and financing options give you the chance to acquire vehicles in a cost-effective way and enable you to benefit from running a fleet without actually purchasing multiple vehicles outright.
Should You Manage Your Own Fleet of Vehicles?
While there can be some drawbacks associated with in-house fleet management, they’re often outweighed by the benefits on offer. By assessing your operations and factoring in your future objectives, you can determine whether running your own fleet of vehicles is a viable way of achieving your commercial goals, reducing costs and growing your business.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aleksandra Djurdjevic
Senior Content Creator
Aleksandra Djurdjevic is a senior writer and editor, covering motorcycle adventures, biker tips and tricks and general exploring on two wheels. She has previously worked as ESL teacher for English Tochka. Aleksandra graduated from the Comparative Literature department at the Faculty of Philosophy in Serbia. Aleksandra’s love for the biking and adventure, getting out on the open road, year after year across the planet helps her continue to be a top expert at RMJ.
