Parry's golden rules of cost management...
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• Get accurate information that allows you to make proper cost-saving decisions. if you can't rely on it, where do you start?
10 Educate staff on the true cost of damage, how it affects company profits and, ultimately, their own pay packets.
• Fuel consumption is likely to be biggest variable hi any fleet— and the area with the biggest potential savings.
• Don't aver-complicate vehicle specifications. Off-the-peg trucks provide more flexibility and better residual values.
• Before buying a "customised" wagon, look at your in-house operations and see if the spec/equipment is transferable.
• Specify your vehicles and trailers with a view to minimising damage, especially when loading and unloading.
• Encourage damage reporting, especially on double/tripleshifted trucks. End the "park it out of sight at the back of the yard" mentality.
• Allocate disposal bins for broken pallets and shrinkwrap—this not only keeps things tidy; it shows you how much waste is being created.
• Don't go into an area where you suspect damage and waste is high if you're not prepared to deal with what you see!
I Create 'quarantine' areas for vehicles awaiting repair and make sore all disabled trucks are clearly marked up.
• Introduce regular defensive/economic driver training programmes; consider automated transmissions to even out driver performance throughout the fleet especially if you use a lot of agency drivers.
• WALK THE JOB! See for yourself where money is being wasted in depots and the fleet-then act.