By Richard Mallek, Director of Business Development/FLD Remarketing
February 4, 2022
- A global pandemic.
- FMCs consolidating.
- Fleet service providers going out of business.
- And OEM’s scaling back production because of supply chain issues and microchip shortages.
To say fleet has experienced a marked period of disruption over the past two years would be an understatement. In addition to the pandemic, several other factors have left fleet in a state of flux including a spate of mergers and acquisitions.
Throw in uncertainty brought on by corporate downsizing, the proliferation of procurement-based buying models, and the virtual musical chairs-like machinations of current and retiring fleet professionals, and it’s easy to see why people are confused. And why fleets may be finding it hard to identify suppliers who can deliver on their promises.
Given this craziness, where can fleets turn when the entire space seems to be in a state of flux? And who can they trust to do the job right when – depending on who they’re working with — they might not even know who’s executing services on their behalf?
To start, it might be a good idea to take a deep breath, sit back and take stock of the current fleet landscape.
As with most industries, fleet is experiencing unprecedented disruption as it looks to find its next normal, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t steady, experienced service providers that have been meeting the industry’s needs for decades.
At FLD, we’d like to think we’re one of the elite service providers fleets can count on in uncertain times. As the leader that helped pioneer the vehicle remarketing space, we’ve been providing the same world-class services for over four decades. Services that not only save fleets time and money but deliver the peace of mind they need to focus on more important aspects of running the best operations they can.
How?
At FLD, we totally eliminate remarketing risk by actually purchasing our customer’s used assets up front before they even enter the traditional remarketing process. Instead of consigning a vehicle, waiting for it to be recovered, and then waiting weeks or even months for it to finally sell, fleets make one simple call to FLD and presto, that’s it! Within a few days, we recover the vehicle, make them an offer, and – if they accept – pay them in less than a day so they’re free to move on to more important things faster.
If your fleet is suffering from negative issues with other service providers during these tumultuous times, here are four important things to look for in new partners who can help your fleet thrive:
- PEDIGREE
One of the first things to consider with any potential new service provider is whether they have a proven track record of helping customers avoid risk, save money, and take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. If not, you could be opening your fleet to even more disruption, and that’s why it’s more important than ever to ensure your service providers have a stellar history and meaningful pedigree before getting too far into the relationship.
- SPEED OF SERVICE
Lots of fleet service providers talk a great game – even experienced ones – but do they really have the expertise to facilitate transactions quickly and efficiently? As the saying goes, time is money, so if your providers – especially remarketers – are taking too much time to get the job done, you’re not only losing money, but potentially falling behind your competition.
- RISK AVERSION
If your remarketer or other service providers aren’t helping you avoid risk in every transaction, then your fleet could be on the hook for higher costs and huge surprises no matter what kind of services you’re buying. Make certain that doesn’t happen by ensuring your fleet partners – new or existing – have the experience to minimize your risk while maximizing your returns.
- EASE OF TRANSACTIONS
In a world where no one has time to waste, perhaps the most important aspect of choosing a service provider is whether they’re easy to work with. If not, then these vendors are just wasting your time and driving unnecessary anxiety. Before you work with any new partners, or continue with existing ones, ensure their processes are easy, and outcomes productive.
So, remember.
Don’t let the current industry disruption have negative consequences for your fleet. Instead, help your operation thrive by choosing partners who demonstrate these four key traits and you’ll be well on your way to sidestepping disruption and meeting your most important goals.
Richard Mallek is Director of Business Development for FLD Remarketing, a committee member with AFLA, and a 15-year veteran of the fleet space. You can reach him at [email protected], or by calling 1 (800) 754-1522 any time.
And, to download our free white paper on “The Four Reasons Not All Services Providers are Created Equal,” click here, or on one of the FLD digital ads that are running in this edition of Fleet Management Weekly.
