As the owner of a business with a commercial vehicle fleet, you know the importance of keeping your drivers moving and your vehicles on the road. Unfortunately, breakdowns are not completely avoidable even with the best maintenance programs. Here's a look at a few things you should know about commercial fleets and the importance of having a 24-hour roadside assistance contract.
Why Should You Consider A 24-Hour Roadside Assistance Contract?
You might wonder why you should even bother with a contract for roadside assistance. The truth is that, since you can't predict when a breakdown or malfunction will occur, it's in your best interest to have a company you can turn to at all times.
After all, breakdowns can be costly to your company in many ways. First, you lose productivity time and potentially face delivery delays that can cost your company in compensation to the client. Additionally, you face security risks when you're dealing with a driver broken down on the side of the road. Everything from the potential for accidents to the risk of looters can be serious threats, and the longer your driver is out there, the greater those risks become.
What Should You Look For In A Roadside Assistance Contract?
If you work solely with local drivers, a local company with a guaranteed 24-hour dispatch ensures that your driver will be taken care of no matter what time they break down. With over-the-road travel, though, you'll need to work with a larger, national company. Look for one that ensures coverage along all of the routes your drivers typically travel.
Also, when you are dealing with commercial fleets, you need to be sure that the roadside assistance service has enough people in the area to respond to multiple callouts in the event of several drivers finding themselves in need of assistance. This is an unlikely occurrence, but you want to be sure that your roadside assistance service can handle it should it happen.
Additionally, consider the types of services that you want the company to provide. Generally, the more repair work they include in the contract, the greater the rate that you will pay. However, this can be a worthwhile investment when you know that your trucks and drivers are protected and can get back on the road quickly when something goes wrong.
Another important factor that you need to consider is response times. Ask about the average response times for callouts so that you can gauge how long your drivers are likely to be waiting for assistance when something does happen. The less downtime, the better in many aspects.
For more information, reach out to a 24/7 fleet roadside assistance service today.
