For the most part, most fleet operations, 73% to be exact, were deemed an essential service by the government. Despite the severity of COVID-19 transmissions in the United States, 40% of the survey respondents believe that vehicle acquisition trends would remain unchanged in the next few months. Moreover, while 58% of fleets have adapted Work-from-Home schemes for some of their employees, 55% have yet to explore developments in fleet technology productivity solutions.
Fleet companies, however, expect changes in the service life of their vehicles. According to the survey, 35% of fleet operations are extending the service life of their passenger cars. Likewise, 41% of companies would extend the service life of light-duty trucks.
The survey also revealed a worrying statistic. With the increasing number of cases across the country, only 26% of companies have changed their operational policies in the light of the crisis. They have, however, imposed stricter health and safety guidelines for their employees. Most employers have provided cleaning materials for their workers, ramped up their facility cleaning schedules, and distributed personal protective materials such as masks and gloves to their drivers and office employees.
Protecting Your Business and Employees
The number of COVID-19 cases across the globe continues to rise each day. According to a couple of epidemiologists, restrictions are most likely to ease next year. However, there is no certainty that industry operations would return back to normal.
With lingering health concerns over the pandemic, it is important to develop guidelines to protect and safeguard the health of your employees. They are, after all, your company’s best assets.
Sanitize Vehicles Every After Use
COVID-19 is usually transmitted from person to person. However, the virus can also linger on surfaces for more than 24 hours. With the nature of the fleet business, which heavily depends on deliveries and road service, sanitizing the vehicle is of utmost importance. In order to prevent the spread of the disease, instruct your drivers to wipe down the vehicle every after use and when the vehicle comes in contact with other people.
One Passenger Per Vehicle
Social distancing has proven to be effective in curbing the spread of COVID-19. It is best to limit your operations to one passenger, the driver, per vehicle. If this isn’t possible with the service that you provide, make sure that the passengers in your fleet are at least 2 arms’ lengths apart.
Impose Stricter Personal Hygiene Guidelines
Similar to guidelines on vehicle sanitation, it is also important for the drivers to sanitize their hands after every delivery. Encourage them to take a day off should they feel any symptoms of the virus until they can be tested and get their test results back.
COVID-19 has changed the way the world operates. It will take years before the effect of the pandemic ceases to be as intense. Your responsibility as a fleet manager has to be to remain informed and impose rules that are based on the information that you have gathered. Stay safe and be smart!
