For fleet-owning businesses, company vehicles are among their most prized assets. When you have a fleet of well-maintained, reliable vehicles at your disposal, the only thing you have to worry about is making sure that you manage your growing fleet properly. The following are a few pointers to help you out.

Choose Reliability

It’s always a good idea to look for vehicles that are known for being reliable. This does require some research, and you may need to talk to a mechanic to get a few suggestions. While some reliable cars may not be the best looking, they can make all the difference when it comes to the safety of your drivers and the health of your bottom line.

Encourage Thoughtful Driving

Training your employees to understand and care for company vehicles is key to ensuring that those vehicles are used properly. The employees that are going to be getting the most use out of the fleet vehicles need to be conscientious about how they treat the car and how they respond to certain issues while on the road. For one, they should definitely be encouraged to report things like misfires or rough idling. Drivers should also know how to care for the car’s engine and mechanical parts by doing things like never driving while riding the brakes or similar damaging practices.

Get a Good Mechanic

The responsibility of making sure company cars are taken care of falls on different shoulders–your own, your employees’, and the mechanic you choose to hire. The mechanic you choose needs to be experienced and able to dedicate ample time to the care and monitoring of your fleet vehicles. Regular checks and yearly maintenance are just some of the services that your mechanic should be able to help with. Of course, it is a good idea to find a mechanic like that specializes in the vehicle type your business deals with most often. If you have a fleet of trucks, for example, a service like Godfrey Brake Service & Supply could be a good option. Be sure to focus on the specializations required to provide your fleet with the best service possible. If you, for instance, have a fleet of Mercedes Vans, a Mercedes-licensed mechanic would be the best fit.

Go High-Tech

Technology is meant to make things easier, so it might be a good idea to consider some fleet tracking software to help you monitor the location of your fleet vehicles. You can purchase software to manage a small fleet, which is going to help you keep track of things likes gasoline usage or vehicular mechanical history.

All of this information can help predict issues and help manage each vehicle a little better. These are just some of the ideas that may help you manage your fleet. Be sure to start small so that you can learn as you go because issues will arise and its best to learn how to handle problems when your fleet is small rather than big.

About the Author: Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max.