7 Easy Ways to Grow Your Commercial Fleet

Get Your Commercial Fleet Rolling

Does managing your own commercial fleet ever leave you feeling like a van stuck in the mud? The tires are spinning, yet you never seem to go anywhere? Well, here are seven tips that may just help you out of that rut and really get your van business rolling towards success.

 

1. Put the customer first

A simple customer-first attitude is easy for a commercial fleet to adopt and can generate amazing outcomes. Cater to the customer and you will have their loyalty for life. Amazon is a prime example (no pun intended) of a successful business – in this case, one of the most profitable in the world – that has risen to the top by striving for high customer satisfaction. All it takes is a little customer service.

A friendly greeting or a follow up phone call can make all the difference. Always cater to customers’ needs, even if it means working later or driving the van a little further. Your effort is guaranteed to be noticed, and your customers will refer you to others every chance they get.

 

2. Offer innovation

Make sure your company offers innovative solutions. Promote something that customers won’t find among your competitors. It doesn’t have to be a product; it can be as simple as a guarantee to deliver within 24 hours. Always try to have an edge on the competition. Your commercial fleet may not be as large as others on the market, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be just as aggressive in other ways.

 

3. Measure targets and actions

A common mistake among small commercial fleets, is to only measure results. The key to success is analyzing the actions that lead to those results. Don’t simply look at annual net sales versus your yearly target; break things down and look at the actions that brought you to where you are in relation to your goal. By determining the specific factors that caused you to hit or miss your target, you’ll be able to make any necessary improvements for the next year. Always make sure you know why you’ve failed or succeeded; that way, you will know exactly what to avoid or keep doing.

 

4. Plan for growth

Never let your business get stuck in a comfortable rut. Don’t think you can rest easy simply because you are making enough money to put bread on the table. You need to have a grower’s attitude, a vision for the future of your fleet. That doesn’t mean trampling unscrupulously over everyone to get to your goal, but rather staying hyper aware of your target. Strive for more every day.

Let your customers know that you aren’t afraid to take on a challenge and that you’re willing to grow for them – just as Ranger Design did when first starting out. This type of forward-thinking approach will inspire confidence, as some customers can be wary of giving large jobs to a smaller commercial fleet.

 

5. Seek the spotlight

Don’t hide your trade in the shadows. Make an effort to build an online presence by promoting yourself on social media and creating brand awareness in your area. Get your products or services out there in everyone’s face. Be sure to attend trade shows and find ways to work with larger companies so that you can link your name with well-known brands.

If you’re not sure how to coordinate all of this, hire yourself a marketing manager. That may be an added expense, but it’s one that will definitely pay off in the end. The more people see of you – even if it’s only a glimpse of your logo on your van – the more your customer database will multiply.

 

6. Always be ready for change

If you want to grow and flourish, then always be open to change. The world is surging forward at a startling pace and you have to be ready to evolve right along with it. Keep on top of your customers’ needs: for example, don’t offer a 50% discount on the installation of rotary telephones, when there probably isn’t a single person under the age of 90 that actually owns one.

Make sure that you’re offering products and/or services that meet modern day demands. It’s also important to keep an eye on your competitors. If they seem to be moving forward more quickly, then you know it’s time to step up your game.

 

7. Grow your employees

Lastly, and most importantly, in order to grow your business, you need to grow your employees as well. You will achieve the best results with happy workers, and money isn’t necessarily part of the equation. The secret is ensuring your employees have all the tools they need to do their job.

If something is preventing them from performing at their best, be sure to address the problem as quickly as possible. Satisfy their needs. For example, if one of your drivers can’t stand the constant rattle of tools in the back of their van, try outfitting the vehicle with a Ranger Design storage system and watch that frustration melt away. The more you offer your employees, the better your commercial fleet will run.

These seven strategies to grow your commercial fleet will help get you on the path to becoming a full-sized fleet. Of course, growth doesn’t happen overnight. But with perseverance, supportive employees, and a specific goal in mind, it’s possible for a company to achieve just about anything.

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