Grey fleet vehicles can cause serious problems for any business. But there are steps you can take to keep things running smoothly…

Know your Grey Fleet

Your grey fleet is made up of vehicles that aren’t owned by the company, but are nevertheless used for business purposes. In other words, it includes the vehicles your employees commute in (to and from work) or travel in during their working hours. They become the business’ responsibility during your hours of operation, including the likes of insurance, servicing, maintenance and the licence status of the driver. 

Proper management of any grey fleet begins with understanding what yours consists of. You’ll need to determine how many grey fleet vehicles are being used, what they consist of and who’s using them and when.

Enforce Standards for Vehicles

Company vehicles are a great, and fairly straightforward, way of ensuring your drivers have safe, well-maintained and (typically) new vehicles. Grey fleet vehicles may have none of these advantages. So, you’ll want to consider enforcing minimum standards in order to ensure safety. These might include a cap on the total age of a vehicle, minimum emissions standards, breakdown cover and the presence of safety features. 

Naturally, you’ll need to properly communicate these standards to your employees; ideally at the start of their employment and as a part of their contracts. 

Manage Business Travel

A grey fleet vehicle may be suitable for short journeys, but not longer ones. You should know what grey vehicles are being used for within the business. Who’s using them, what are they using them for, where are they going and when? These are the questions you should be asking. You may discover that some of the journeys being made can be eliminated altogether. Some may be more or less inconsequential, others may pose significant risks.

Telematics technology can be useful here, as it’ll make it easy to record vital data you’ll need in making strategic decisions. 

Record Documentation

You’ll need to properly document your employee’s driving licences, insurance and endorsements. In addition, you’ll need to devise a system that ensures they’re routinely checked and updated as and when required. This can produce a lot of admin work, but it’s crucial. Should a driver have an accident, and be found to lack a vital document, the business and the employer can be held liable. 

Offer Alternatives 

Grey fleet vehicles are far from ideal for a business, but they’re also regularly problematic for drivers themselves. Company vehicles tend to be newer, safer and more economical. So, offering them to employees can make it much easier in managing your fleet. Car sharing can also reduce risk by reducing the amount of vehicles on the road, as well as cutting the amount of management required. You could also offer to pay for public transport or support walking or cycling initiatives.

The coronavirus pandemic has also revealed that many people can work productively, and safely, from home. In which case, offering flexibility in terms of how your team works can make a big difference. 

Opposition To Manchester Clean Air Zone Continues To Grow – https://autoservefleet.co.uk/latest-news/opposition-to-manchester-clean-air-zone-continues-to-grow/

Car Insurance Costs Rose By 12% In Early February – https://autoserve.co.uk/motoring-news/car-insurance-costs-rose-by-12-in-early-february/

With over 16,000 approved garages, a 24/7 support service and a host of cost-saving offers, we can keep your fleet moving and operational. Call one of our professional Service Advisers on 0121 521 3500 for more details.