Tips for Managing Repairs for Your Fleet
As a fleet manager, your primary goal is to keep as many vehicles on the road as possible. When there is a problem with a vehicle, you’re going to want to do all you can to ensure that said vehicle is able to return to the road as soon as possible. To be conducted correctly, it needs to involve a set number of tasks, each of which is an integral part of the puzzle that will allow for effective repair. Below we outline the essential tips you need to follow to ensure you can manage the repairs of your fleet in the most efficient way possible, so your company is able to return to maximum operational capacity as quickly as possible.
Explore a fixed site repair network
In days gone by, insurers tended to require that fleets use a set chain of repair bodyshops to conduct all work on their vehicles. While this was the industry standard for a long time, it is no longer as common as it once was. There’s a reason repair networks have proven to be so popular over the years; they work. The network is reliable, the standards consistent, and there’s no need to gamble on the abilities of an independent repair bodyshop that you have never worked with before. Consider a dedicated repair network for your fleet if you are looking for consistent, reliable, and high-quality service on every repair that has to be completed.
Develop a relationship with the repair bodyshops you intend to work with
A relationship between a repair bodyshop and a fleet manager should be comfortable, courteous, and well-meaning. It is worth taking the time to speak to the management at your chosen repair bodyshop prior to taking a vehicle to be repaired there. The first area to ask for information on is the process for gathering management reports and costings during the repair process. This can be notoriously problematic, so you want to be sure that any repair bodyshop you use has the matter in hand. You also need to know how streamlined the process is, what the average repair turnaround time is, and whether you can see examples of reporting and pricing structure. Any good repair bodyshop should be more than happy to answer these questions and provide you with the information you need.
Check for British standard approval
To ensure that all work completed on your fleet is performed to the highest possible standards, take the time to verify that the repair bodyshop is BS10125 approved. This is the British standard that all repair shops should adhere to, and ensuring that this approval is in place helps you to be assured a high quality of repair is going to be conducted on your fleet vehicles.
Ensure adequate access to courtesy vehicles
An integral part of managing the repair process of a vehicle will involve ensuring the vehicle’s driver has access to a replacement vehicle while the repair is undertaken. Planning for this has to be a key component of arranging any repair, so keep it at the forefront of your mind when researching and ultimately booking the damaged vehicle in for the repair it needs.
By following the tips above, you should be able to manage the repairs of fleet vehicles with the utmost confidence; safe in the knowledge that no stone has been left unturned during the planning and implementation of each repair. National Accident Repair Group provide effective solutions for fleets, allowing companies to react quickly to incidents in a professional manner whilst minimising downtime and reducing costs to businesses following accidents. For further fleet information on express repairs, fleet management software or to get a fleet repair audit, please contact us.
