Your End-of-the-Year Fleet Checklist

December is easily the busiest month of the year. With Christmas and the end of the year within a week of each other, this month is often filled with last-minute scrambles, preparations for the coming year, and in-depth reviews of everything that needs to be completed by January 1st.

As a fleet owner or manager, you’re responsible for your fleet’s readiness in the coming year. From privacy concerns to staffing needs, you have to make sure everything’s in order before your holiday vacation. We know you have a lot on your plate, so we’ve put together this list to help you end 2018 with total peace of mind.

Vehicle Maintenance

You’ve hopefully kept up with your vehicles’ maintenance needs, but, if not, now’s the time to do it. Send each one of your vehicles in for a tune-up and make any necessary repairs. With the coldest season on your doorstep, there’s no better time to get your fleet in top condition. As you evaluate your vehicles, this is also a good time to consider replacing old vehicles and buying new ones. With the 2018 tax year ending soon, you can use these purchases as tax write-offs, offering a bit of relief to your total tax amount.

Data Clean-Up

Data privacy is important, both for your employees and your company. With January approaching, use the next few weeks to go through your files and make any changes needed. If you use fuel cards, for example, make sure every card is accounted for and cancel any cards that may be in the possession of former employees. If your vehicles offer smart connectivity, make sure you’ve wiped any information that has transferred from employee phones, such as contacts. Put in the work now to start the year fresh and avoid any costly surprises in the coming months.

Policy Updates

With new technology and legislation changing the fleet industry, it’s important to stay on top of the updates you need to make within your own policies. In these final weeks of 2018, review your current policies and procedures. Look for outdated rules and guidelines that don’t make sense. Decide how you want to approach fleet management in the coming year and ensure you have policies that support these goals.

How are you preparing your fleet for the coming year?