Fleet Maintenance - 28

When determining which tools a fleet should
pay for and take ownership of, Matt Capot, director of maintenance for Transervice, says it largely
depends on the types of repairs being performed.
Transervice is a provider of freight management,
fleet leasing, and contract maintenance services.
According to Capot, larger air tools, computers, diagnostic software and tools, tire changing
equipment, transmission jacks, wheel dollies, air
compressors, grinders, drill presses, saws, jacks
and jack stands, A/C machines, welders, vises,
battery jump starters, and hose reels would all
be included in the typical fleet's owned inventory.
Individual technicians would be responsible for
their own wrenches, screwdrivers, sockets, extensions, smaller air tools, creepers, and toolboxes for
day-to-day repairs.
Some fleets are also seeing the benefit in providing financial assistance to technicians required to
buy their own tools, for many of the same reasons
listed above. This could become a costly expense for
fleets if they are not careful. However, a pragmatic,
budget-based approach can make it entirely feasible,
whether you're talking about some kind of month-

ly allowance added to a paycheck, an end-of-year
reimbursement, etc. Regardless, incentives that help
technicians purchase new tools can be viewed as
investments by the fleet - investments that may
generate a healthy return by way of increased shop
productivity and decreased vehicle downtime.
Additionally, sharing the cost burden with technicians creates a unique selling proposition when
recruiting technicians to work for your fleet. With
today's technician shortage, qualified technicians
can essentially pick and choose where they want
to work. A fleet that helps defray the cost of obtaining the latest tools and innovations could prove
to be the benefit that helps draw new recruits to
the organization.
"We offer a stipend for tools, along with tuition
reimbursement," says Capot, adding that "technician support" is a concept that should extend
beyond just tools and equipment. "The technician's
most important tool is their mind, and staying
current with training is vital to their success. In
doing so, we provide our technicians with a bonus
for each ASE certification they receive to encourage them to continually improve themselves."
Another benefit of fleetowned tools is availability.
When technicians own the
majority of their tools, they
completely control the availability of those tools.
Another concept to think
about is standardization.
When a fleet owns the tools,
it can identify those that are
most essential to productivity and ensure those tools are
in every technician's toolbox.
Likewise, when tool suppliers
bring new innovations to the
market, the fleet can identify
those that would provide the
most value to their shop and
make sure that everyone who
needs one has one.

The role of
tool suppliers
Checking out tool trucks is a
common activity for technicians, including those working
within commercial fleets. One
train of thought is that every
minute a technician spends on
a tool truck looking at inventory is time spent away from the
bay. A fleet may find that it is
advantageous for one person
to handle interactions with
tool trucks.
But that doesn't mean input
from the technicians isn't
important. In fact, it is crucial.
"Managers should engage
in conversations with technicians to understand what types
of issues they might be having
when fixing equipment,"
VehicleServicePros.com/10123676

28 Fleet Maintenance | February 2020

»»Technicians often view tools like a child
views toys. Anything new is always exciting.
Sometimes it's simply about taking an old idea
and making it better through innovation.
Photo courtesy of Wurth USA

»»Some fleets see the benefit in
helping technicians defray their cost of
obtaining new, innovative tools that
help them increase productivity.
Photo courtesy of Transervice

Incentives that
help technicians
purchase new tools
can be viewed as
investments.
Transervice's Capot says. "Ask the technicians
what they are having trouble with and if they
determined that special tooling was necessary
for repairs."
Fleets should also periodically look through
their tool room to see if tools are worn out and
need to be replaced, Capot adds. Furthermore,


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Fleet Maintenance

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Fleet Maintenance

Vehicles: What's Next in Federal Vehicle Emissions Standards?
In the Bay: Technician Tool Support
Shop Operations: State of the Industry
Taking the Extra Step to Prevent Wheel-offs
Planning Ahead for Vehicle Cybersecurity Threats
Management: How Do You Know When to Replace a Vehicle?
Economic Outlook: Won't Get Fooled Again
Letter from the Editor: Real-world Views on Parts, Service, and Operations
Tools & Equipment
Classifieds
Guest Editorial: Moisture in Trailer Brakes is Not Just a Nuisance
Hand & Specialty Tools Supplement
Specialty Hand Tools: The Problem Solvers
Time to Multitask
Get a Hold on Hand Tool Safety
Electric Vehicle Tool Set
Tool Review
Products
Fleet Maintenance - 1
Fleet Maintenance - 2
Fleet Maintenance - 3
Fleet Maintenance - 4
Fleet Maintenance - 5
Fleet Maintenance - 6
Fleet Maintenance - 7
Fleet Maintenance - 8
Fleet Maintenance - 9
Fleet Maintenance - Vehicles: What's Next in Federal Vehicle Emissions Standards?
Fleet Maintenance - 11
Fleet Maintenance - 12
Fleet Maintenance - 13
Fleet Maintenance - 14
Fleet Maintenance - 15
Fleet Maintenance - 16
Fleet Maintenance - 17
Fleet Maintenance - 18
Fleet Maintenance - 19
Fleet Maintenance - 20
Fleet Maintenance - 21
Fleet Maintenance - 22
Fleet Maintenance - 23
Fleet Maintenance - 24
Fleet Maintenance - 25
Fleet Maintenance - In the Bay: Technician Tool Support
Fleet Maintenance - 27
Fleet Maintenance - 28
Fleet Maintenance - 29
Fleet Maintenance - Shop Operations: State of the Industry
Fleet Maintenance - 31
Fleet Maintenance - 32
Fleet Maintenance - 33
Fleet Maintenance - 34
Fleet Maintenance - 35
Fleet Maintenance - 36
Fleet Maintenance - 37
Fleet Maintenance - Taking the Extra Step to Prevent Wheel-offs
Fleet Maintenance - 39
Fleet Maintenance - Planning Ahead for Vehicle Cybersecurity Threats
Fleet Maintenance - 41
Fleet Maintenance - 42
Fleet Maintenance - 43
Fleet Maintenance - Management: How Do You Know When to Replace a Vehicle?
Fleet Maintenance - 45
Fleet Maintenance - Economic Outlook: Won't Get Fooled Again
Fleet Maintenance - 47
Fleet Maintenance - Letter from the Editor: Real-world Views on Parts, Service, and Operations
Fleet Maintenance - 49
Fleet Maintenance - 50
Fleet Maintenance - Tools & Equipment
Fleet Maintenance - 52
Fleet Maintenance - Classifieds
Fleet Maintenance - Guest Editorial: Moisture in Trailer Brakes is Not Just a Nuisance
Fleet Maintenance - 55
Fleet Maintenance - 56
Fleet Maintenance - Hand & Specialty Tools Supplement
Fleet Maintenance - A2
Fleet Maintenance - Specialty Hand Tools: The Problem Solvers
Fleet Maintenance - A4
Fleet Maintenance - Time to Multitask
Fleet Maintenance - A6
Fleet Maintenance - Get a Hold on Hand Tool Safety
Fleet Maintenance - A8
Fleet Maintenance - Electric Vehicle Tool Set
Fleet Maintenance - Tool Review
Fleet Maintenance - A11
Fleet Maintenance - A12
Fleet Maintenance - Products
Fleet Maintenance - A14
Fleet Maintenance - A15
Fleet Maintenance - A16
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