I need an assistant, I’m sure I do. Not to help run the fleet, but to help sort out the increasing number of tickets that keep dropping through our letterbox. Or emails from our leasing companies, who own the vehicles! It seems to be getting worse, with a ticket for this, a ticket for that – it’s endless! And they’re not all for speeding offences, they’re for stupid things like parking with one wheel an inch over a white line. Or sticking out too much from a parking space, with a large vehicle. Or even small vehicles, as this it seems is easy to do too!
Another increasingly popular offence is to accidentally go into a bus lane. Then, when I send out a ticket, or phone our drivers, I must endure an hour’s worth of explaining and denial that they’ve done anything wrong! One driver told me he’d been behind a bus and didn’t see the bus lane signs on a lamppost – as the bus was hiding it. He went on to say he didn’t see the bus lane signs on the road either! As yes, you’ve guessed it, the bus was over that too! All this is plausible and believable, but as all fleet managers know, it is very time consuming! Firstly, speaking to the driver, then sending on the ticket, and then adding in the fact that they generally want to appeal – this process takes time. All the while, the clock is ticking to resolve the issue. The other option is just to pay the ever-increasing fine. Speeding or going through a red light is a fair cop, and nobody should do this, but some of the others are just laughable. Well, they would be, if they weren’t so time consuming, and very frustrating!
Our salespeople turned up, one-by-one, at a recent sales meeting at the office. All of them seemingly wanting to have a chat with me, about one thing or another! Although, mostly about the changes to our company’s car choice policy. The meeting started, and the last member of the sales team arrived about twenty-minutes late. I know, because I saw him park in the empty space by the EV charger – in his petrol-powered car! I reminded him he was here for the sales meeting which started over half-an-hour ago. He replied: “Oh yes, I’d forgotten about that. But before I go in, are there any updates on changes to the company car choice policy?” I said: “No, except one. You can’t park in the EV bay, even if you’re late for meetings!”
Tyres again – yes, tyres! However, another problem that seems to keep popping up, that results in annoyed and frustrated drivers calling me, is when they can’t find the locking wheel nut. You know the one, it’s the one nut fitted to ensure none of the wheels can be stolen. Our drivers, probably like yours, seem to think I know where it is hidden on every car when they can’t find it. Then, it is almost like they seem to blame me if I don’t have a clue where the locking wheel nut is in THEIR car. This is a car I have probably never seen, let alone played hide-and-seek in for this little round key. I find it is usually the tyre fitter who finds it, as they have superior knowledge, and tend to know the hiding places, but our drivers sometimes can’t see the wood for the trees!
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