5 tips for sustainable damage management
Damages are amongst the biggest cost drivers in vehicle fleets. We have compiled some of the most important tips and tricks for sustainable damage management.
Damages are amongst the biggest cost drivers in vehicle fleets. According to recent statistics published by the trade journal FLOTTE & Wirtschaft, they account for around 15 percent of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) on average. So what can you do to cut these costs? We have compiled some of the most important tips and tricks for sustainable damage management.
Reports
It can happen so quickly: a dent in the bonnet, a scratch on the bumper or a cracked windscreen. Which is why it is even more important to know your company’s exact loss ratio. Regular damage statistics and evaluations are therefore a must. Because counteractive measures can only be taken if you know which kinds of damage are the most common. ALD Automotive offers its customers comprehensive reports with a detailed breakdown of the cases of loss. Apart from a damage history for the past 12 months, the damage categories and the 10 most common types of damage are also listed, for example.
Preventive measures
If damage statistics indicate a particularly high share of parking damages or rear-end collisions, for example, it is worthwhile investing in preventive measures such as assistance systems. These include optional extras such as cruise control, parking aids or brake assist systems. These serve primarily to prevent accident damages and reduce risks. Our tip: specify these equipment features in your car policy too!
Employee information
“Nevertheless, the drivers themselves have the biggest influence over accidents and damages in a company, Fleet managers can combat this with regular courses as well as driver training sessions.” says ALD Automotive CEO Martin Kössler, and goes on to explain that these measures raise the drivers’ awareness and sensitize them to the various risks. After all, this means that employees are reminded of their duty and informed about the consequences, such as the actual costs incurred but also the influence on their own safety.
Claims settlement
Efficient claims settlement is crucial to keep the overall costs of running a fleet of vehicles as low as possible. If the worst comes to the worst, we take care of the overall coordination for you and your drivers: from communication with the insurance company, the coordination of the repair work, right through to the mobilisation of the driver. After all, it is essential for companies that their drivers do not lose time dealing with administrative work associated with accident management or waiting for their replacement vehicle.
Smart repair procedure
And last but not least, we prefer modern, smart repairs. What this means in concrete terms is that before replacing any parts, we check whether a repair would be cheaper. For example, windscreens: an expensive replacement of the windscreen is not necessary in many cases. Instead, small chips caused by flying stones can be repaired almost “invisibly” using special resin. A saving that we naturally pass on to you.