How do you reduce damage to you fleet?

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS OWNER AND FLEET OPERATORS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

How do you guys, who run fleets, reduce the amount of damage done and kit lost (straps etc) by your drivers or at least reduce the cost of it?

2

I,D try a compliance bonus £50.00 per week about average with some firms I know.They might think twice about things then.

3

Let the first couple slide, then charge them for the damage, accidents happen but if it is consistent then they obviously don’t give a ■■■■ or they aint up to the job.

4

Although both good ideas, we have already discussed them, the problem is also the amount of damage that doesn’t get reported this is to his and other people trailers and although they have an good idea of who has done the damage, there is not the proof.

I think he needs to get tougher with the persistant offenders, even the fitter is saying some driver constantly damage trucks or trailers and then come into the workshop and think it’s a joke.

5

Surely they must know who had the trailer last ? Obviously if it’s not being defected then the next driver aint doing his checks, im a driver, not an owner, and the amount of carnage at our place is unreal. Nobody seems to give a ■■■■ :exclamation:

6

With gloves and straps, you have to return the old ones and sign in a book for them, it makes the bloke selling straps stand out :wink:

7

sack the drivers :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

8

Wheel Nut:
With gloves and straps, you have to return the old ones and sign in a book for them, it makes the bloke selling straps stand out :wink:

Thanks Wheel Nut, the work means that the drivers have to carry a fair bit of kit, loads of straps. including enough long ones for pallets, chains, Bricknets and most carry ropes and this can’t be stored that well, Premiums never had a lot of locker space. so the problem is certain drivers will remove straps from other driver cabs to cover themselves.

Maybe issuing a certain amount straps per truck (with registrations numbers on them) The other problem in the concrete the loader straps the loads and the system is supposed to be that all straps, protectors, bearers and pallets are left on the trailers. so the loader has enough to do the next load, I think these are the one’s going missing. I think they are just being left on the building sites, as it seems that some drivers can’t even be bothered to bring the bearers and pallets back. :imp:

The reason I’m so interested is that this is killing profits and therefore our pay rise.

9

shuttlespanker:
sack the drivers :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

You jest, but although there are good drivers in the company there seems to be a certain bunch that I’d get rid of if it was my company. :imp: But nobody would want to work for me anyway. :laughing:

10

muckles:

Wheel Nut:
With gloves and straps, you have to return the old ones and sign in a book for them, it makes the bloke selling straps stand out :wink:

Thanks Wheel Nut, the work means that the drivers have to carry a fair bit of kit, loads of straps. including enough long ones for pallets, chains, Bricknets and most carry ropes and this can’t be stored that well, Premiums never had a lot of locker space. so the problem is certain drivers will remove straps from other driver cabs to cover themselves.

Maybe issuing a certain amount straps per truck (with registrations numbers on them) The other problem in the concrete the loader straps the loads and the system is supposed to be that all straps, protectors, bearers and pallets are left on the trailers. so the loader has enough to do the next load, I think these are the one’s going missing. I think they are just being left on the building sites, as it seems that some drivers can’t even be bothered to bring the bearers and pallets back. :imp:

The reason I’m so interested is that this is killing profits and therefore our pay rise.

To be quite honest if every truck has a locker fitted with plenty of straps, no one will nick them. When I did my first stint at Transalliance I could get 13 straps in the side locker, two trapped on the exhaust bracket and three or four under the bunk. When I went back and got an MAN we had 20 or 25 in the side lockers of every truck, 3000 plus

11

Put £25k in the XMAS pot, and, the tell the drivers, that this is yours for a damage free 12 months :open_mouth:

But, and its a BIG but, EVERYTIME a truck or trailer is damaged, the cost comes out of the £25k, including straps ect.

So, £25k, LESS one bent bumper costing £500 to repair, is now £24500, and so it goes on, and on, and on…

The good drivers then get miffed with the idiots, the idiots either get the message, or the tin tack [makesure its in the employment contract], then the jobs a good`un :bulb:

Idiots who don`t care are a blight on our industry, every company has its fair share :open_mouth:

12

Wheel Nut:
To be quite honest if every truck has a locker fitted with plenty of straps, no one will nick them. When I did my first stint at Transalliance I could get 13 straps in the side locker, two trapped on the exhaust bracket and three or four under the bunk. When I went back and got an MAN we had 20 or 25 in the side lockers of every truck, 3000 plus

I know what you are saying, and I think kit should be issued to drivers and not just given, and with foresight he should of had lockers on the trucks, no doubt he was told by various people, but he always buys basic motors or second hand and then you get what he first customer put on. I reckon each truck needs about 20 rachets, 20 normal size straps and 13 or 14 long strpas for full loads of pallets, they also need to carry sets of chains, a bricknet and a broom (although the drivers seem to buy them)

I need to find a solution that doesn’t cost money, so retro fitting lockers isn’t really an option at least at this point.

13

Stanley Mitchell:
Put £25k in the XMAS pot, and, the tell the drivers, that this is yours for a damage free 12 months :open_mouth:

But, and its a BIG but, EVERYTIME a truck or trailer is damaged, the cost comes out of the £25k, including straps ect.

So, £25k, LESS one bent bumper costing £500 to repair, is now £24500, and so it goes on, and on, and on…

The good drivers then get miffed with the idiots, the idiots either get the message, or the tin tack [makesure its in the employment contract], then the jobs a good`un :bulb:

I suggested a bonus to him, but he reckoned with the damage he’s getting it would never be paid.
But I agree with you, the drivers know who’s damaging the kit, even if the boss doesn’t always know, and I reckon there’d be a bit of pressure on the certain drivers if others saw themselves losing money because of other carelessness.

Stanley Mitchell:
Idiots who don`t care are a blight on our industry, every company has its fair share :open_mouth:

I’m not perfect and have had the odd knock and scrape, but it does annoy me when it happens, sense of personal pride I suppose. However
talking to our fitter, he told me of the damage done by certain drivers and they turn up into the workshop laughing about it. :open_mouth:

14

This is a easy one SELL THE KIN LOT! SIMPLE"S

15

I worked for a gaffer a few years ago who had it nailed down. One day at a delivery I kissed a bollard and left a narrow smear of paint about an inch long on the bumper. It was so small I honestly didn’t think it was worth mentioning. The following day I got collared by the gaffer who’d only spotted it! The killer for me was he wanted me to fill out reams of paperwork for this little scratch and I ■■■■■■ hate paperwork!!! Made me a wee bit more careful in future though…and no, he wasn’t a bad gaffer! :wink:

16

One way of doing it is to set up a ‘no-damage bonus’ scheme for all drivers; you offer them an additional amount of say £10-£20 per week, payable in their wages each wage so long as they have had no damage or equipment loss. If any loss or damage occurs - no matter the value - which is attributable to a particular driver, they then lose the ‘bonus’ for 7 weeks or whatever fixed period you determine. It’s easier to make it a reasonable number of weeks to feel sore to the driver and also to be the same for every ‘crime’ no matter value. This type of system does cost the firm money, obviously, but it’s a fixed amount which can be calculated at the beginning of the year. In addition, you have some clawback on damage or gear loss.

I’ve seen this operated successfully; what tends to happen is that it makes the good guys happy as they pick up £520-£1040 per year as a pay rise for doing nothing and the bad guys v unhappy as they not only miss out on the cash but look daft as they never get the money. And of course, being human, the good guys do some of the gaffers work for him by slagging off the duffers who keep losing the gear or damaging the motors. It’s embarassing for drivers to lose money weekly in front of their peers. Gives a tangible incentive to looking after the motor and kit for the driver.

It’s worth a try.

17

We operate a one driver one vehicle policy, holiday relief being provided by a member of my own family. This encourages all drivers to look after their own vehicle. All straps, gloves etc carry the individual vehicle registration number, and are replaced, old for new when necessary. Our trailers are inspected either, by me, or the TM at the end of every trip, and the beginning of the next one, unreported damage is not tolerated. Drivers are actively encouraged to take photographs of any damage they do find on a trailer at the start of their trips using digital cameras we provide them with, for accidents etc, we find this particularly useful when providing traction only services to some customers. If the driver photographs any trailer he pulls, including tyres, it cuts down on silly claims against my insurance. Unfortunately, there is no sure fire way to avoid vehicle damage completely, but with the right people doing the job, and rewarding them with a fair wage, i find that the pilfering, and reckless damage no longer presents any problems.