Driving Efficiency: Helping Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Go Further
The challenges facing small and medium businesses that rely on commercial vehicle fleets have never seemed more pressing. From answering consumer demand for convenient and effortless services to competing with bigger, more established players, the pressure to perform on multiple shifting fronts is constant. At the same time, advancing vehicle technology and cost pressures are factors causing business owners to take a more tentative, wait-and-see approach to fleet investments.
"What we're seeing across the board is an abundance of caution and a desire to be more cost-effective. Business owners are keeping their fleets lean when they can, which can put them in a tough spot,” says Brett Vandermeulen, Strategic Business Development Director with Enterprise Truck Rental. “Businesses with fluctuating demand or seasonal ups and downs deal with this constantly, where they might need more trucks in the spring and fewer in the winter. They're looking for options that don’t rely solely on purchasing or leasing vehicles while flexing with their needs."
Flexible solutions, multiple benefits
By working closely with businesses grappling with these challenges on a daily basis, Enterprise Truck Rental experts are uniquely positioned to provide advice on which options best suit a company’s specific needs. Businesses that collaborate with Enterprise Truck Rental can rely on its large branch network, and a local point of contact, to help ensure continuity of service when issues arise. Additionally, Enterprise can help customers understand the total cost of their operations, beyond the immediate expense of a vehicle. This includes factors like vehicle maintenance and repairs – areas in which Enterprise Truck Rental can provide support, as well.
For example, businesses looking to take on long-term projects as cost-efficiently as possible might consider Enterprise Flex-E-Rent, which offers long-term, full-service rental solutions without the commitments of leasing or buying. “You can get a highly competitive rate with the knowledge that it's backstopped by a very low out,” says Corporate Business Development Manager Gordon Welsh at Enterprise Truck Rental. “The other flexible piece is the maintenance program. Other rental companies require their clients to have maintenance done at their facilities. We leverage a network of 60,000-plus national, regional, and local service vendors you can go to. It’s really a unique offering in the truck space.”
Taking a holistic view
Providing businesses with rental vehicles at competitive rates is really just the start, says Vandermeulen. Customers are also seeking help with the trickier aspects of truck rental, such as insurance and minimizing safety risks. In addition to providing access to a diverse fleet of vehicles that cater to a wide range of business needs, Enterprise Truck Rental’s partnership with Geotab® provides customers with telematics data that can enhance safety by enabling managers to monitor driver behavior to promote safer driving practices.
Another pain point is the sourcing and recruiting of qualified drivers. “It’s really tough to find good drivers,” says Welsh. “We prioritize helping our customers with driver recruitment and retention by connecting them with our trusted vendors. We are also dedicated to sharing valuable ideas and contacts, as a single catastrophic loss or lost customer due to driver error can have a lasting impact on a business.”
