By Fleet Management Weekly Staff
January 24, 2024
While auto maintenance might not always be predictable, the one surety is that something will eventually go wrong. Tires blow out, antifreeze runs low, and brake pads wear down. When managing a fleet of vehicles, fleet managers need to know they can count on a reliable partner who understands the actual cost of vehicle downtime and has a proven record of quality and timely service to support the fleet vehicle imperative.
Monro, Incorporated is a strategic partner — one of the top automotive service and tire dealers in the United States. Its national accounts expertise – through its family of brands — features 1,300 locations in 32 states. Monro works on more than six million vehicles a year!
For fleets, Monro means the same extraordinary level of excellence no matter the name of the local retailer. It helps its fleet customers by keeping them on the road, maintaining their preventive maintenance schedules, and more.
A Leading Auto Repair Partner for Fleets
“Simply put, we fix cars for a living,” says Tom Shoolbraid, Vice President of National Accounts with Monro, Incorporated. “When it comes to fleets, we maintain fleets of all sizes for all kinds of partners from coast to coast.”
Tom Shoolbraid
Monro helps fleets maintain preventive maintenance schedules while providing many automotive repair services. Whether the issue is with the tires, brakes, alternators, batteries, wipers, bulbs, or exhaust systems, the Monro family of brands can find and repair the problem.
“We’re experts at check engine lights and other dashboard warning lights,” says Tom. “Whatever the problem might be, if it’s an oxygen sensor or something as simple as being low on antifreeze, we can fix it.”
Monro, Inc. is one of the best in the business for fleet managers looking for a preferred automotive maintenance supplier. It deals with most of the significant rental fleets in the US, corporate or government fleets, fleet management companies (FMCs), and their clients’ fleets.
Fleet Benefits Derived from a Relationship with Monro
Partnering with a national account provider like Monro offers several benefits to a fleet:
- Increased Uptime: The fleet’s vehicles spend less time off the road due to breakdowns or routine maintenance, which minimizes operational or sales disruption.
- Cost Control: The fleet can better control maintenance and repair costs. The network’s buying power can lead to cost savings.
- Convenience: Drivers can visit any authorized provider in the network for repair or maintenance for maximum convenience.
- Expert Assistance: The network’s experts can analyze work estimates, recommend the best repair facilities, and negotiate prices on repairs, warranties, and post-warranties.
- Consolidated Invoicing and Reporting: The fleet receives consolidated invoices and reporting for all repairs, reducing soft costs that come with administrative support.
- Safety: Proper fleet maintenance ensures the highest level of safety.
- Reduced Operational Costs: Regular maintenance can help lower repair costs.
- Maximized Resale Value: Well-maintained vehicles tend to have a higher resale value.
- Compliance: Maintenance programs can help fleets comply with environmental regulations, including the Department of Transportation and State Emissions Inspections.
“Generally, these benefits help a fleet minimize costs, maximize productivity, and ensure the safety and reliability of its vehicles,” notes Tom. “Our value proposition makes sense to all kinds of businesses and organizations whose core businesses do not revolve around the ever-changing automotive industry. Our clients include local fleets, mom-and-pop businesses, HVAC companies, landscapers, florists, and many more.
“Any small business you might think of that has a fleet of vehicles from five to a thousand or more cars, vans, pickups, and trucks can benefit from a customized Monro fleet program. We also deal with many government entities, from the federal fleet through the GSA program to local ones like municipalities, police departments, sheriff offices, and others.”
The Monro Family of Auto Repair Retailers
Monro has 15 different regional leaders in their brand family. Still, fleet managers can always expect to deal with a single account manager and a relationship that is custom fit to the organization. And Monro works with a variety of partners to provide unparalleled service.
Monro subsidiaries include:
- Monro Mufflers and Brakes
- Tire Choice Auto Service Centers
- Mr. Tire Auto Service Centers
- Mountain View Tire and Auto Service Centers
- Allen Tire Company
- CarX Tire and Auto
- Tire Warehouse
- Tire Barn
- Ken Towery’s Tire Service Centers
Win-Win Partnerships Pay Off
While Monro has acquired no shortage of companies through the years, part of what separates Monro from its competitors is its focus on finding mutually beneficial strategic partnerships with businesses.
“I say to all of our partners that it has to be a win-win for all parties involved, or it won’t last,” says Tom. “If it’s not a good deal for the fleet and Monro, it won’t work. And I tell them all the same thing: contact me and my team if you ever run into an issue. Our goal is to resolve any issue and respond within 24 hours.”
In a market where things going wrong is the name of the game, the ability to problem-solve at a moment’s notice is more important than ever. For Shoolbraid and his team at Monro, the real focus isn’t on what you do when everything goes according to plan but what you do when things go awry.
“How we react to that and resolve goes a long way in building and strengthening our relationships with our existing partners,” says Shoolbraid.
This is part of what’s allowed Monro to increase its foothold in the fleet world and attract new customers. When clients know they can count on Monro and its family of brands to provide the service they need, they can trust that they’ll have their vehicles back on the road and make money as quickly as possible.
Hundreds of Locations, One Standard of Service
“No matter what location a driver goes to, fleet drivers enjoy the same pricing, standardized warranty, and standardized service,” says Tom. “A client contacts my team whenever there’s an issue in any of our branded stores because it’s the same group that manages those issues to resolve them and get the vehicle back on the road.
“We are the second largest preferred auto repair network nationally, but our brand and capabilities remain a secret in the aftermarket retail world that we live in because of our many brands,” says Tom. “So, if you’re a fleet administrator, manager, or dispatcher outside the northeast US, our Mountain View or Allen Tire retail locations may not be recognized as part of the Monro family of brands.
“Despite the many names, Monro is achieving exponential growth in servicing fleets throughout the United States,” says Tom. “For fleet managers looking to minimize downtime and manage vehicle costs, Monro is one of the country’s most trusted automotive service companies. That reliability is one-in-a-million in such an unpredictable industry.”
