Protect fleet resale prices

In the current economic climate, fleet managers are under increasing pressure to reduce costs. One of the ways to do this is to know the best time to sell vehicles on to avoid the worst of depreciation. Telematics expert, TRACKER, is urging fleet managers to understand vehicle usage, servicing and maintenance through telematics to make informed fleet disposal decisions.

Telematics offer a wide range of driver information to help fleet managers monitor vehicle usage, such as the distance a vehicle has covered, the hours it has been in use and the type of journeys it has been on. They even include the speed a vehicle has been driven at and the time spent idling, offering vital management information. Yet Bill Raynal, Managing Director for TRACKER, believes that many fleet managers overlook the fact a vehicle tracking system can also help to anticipate vehicle faults and implement better preventative measures. These are fundamental in protecting a vehicle’s final sale price.

“Devaluation is the enemy for fleet managers, which is why it is important to sell unwanted vehicles quickly. A comprehensive picture of how a vehicle has been used can make a significant difference when it comes to its disposal. Buyers like to know that a vehicle has been maintained properly as anything less will command a lower price. Keeping on top of service and maintenance can be a challenge for today’s fleet manager, but telematics can actually provide email and text reminders for servicing and MOT, helping them ensure vehicle certification is up-to-date at all times.”

Effective telematics harness the power of technology to enable fleet managers to monitor driving behaviour, including everything from excessive speeding, to unplanned deviation from a route. By combining all the available data, fleet managers are put firmly in control of the status of their vehicles, driver safety and potential maintenance issues.

Concludes Raynal: “The key to keeping an eye on a vehicle’s condition is being able to assess all aspects of fleet information; vehicle tracking systems such as TRACKER Report does just that. With the right information at their fingertips, fleet managers can effectively maintain vehicles, ensuring a good resale price, while reducing maintenance and insurance costs.”