Automotive Fleet, February 2016

PROVIDES FLEETS WITH REIMBURSEMENT OPTION AUTOMOTIVE FLEET I FEBRUARY 2016 28 Many fleets may need both a leasing and reimbursement solution But deciding what program fits what segment of your fleet may seem challenging Wheels has a solution BY LAUREN FLETCHER F or years the industry has thought that the decision has always been lease versus reimbursement Many fleets have found they have a need for both leasing and reimbursement program options in their fleet operations Now Wheels Inc offers a program for fleets that have decided that a one size fitsall approach doesnt work and are looking for a solution that offers the care control and confidence their leasing program provides With the Wheels Reimbursement Program you can bring parity to your lease and reimbursement fleets Our clients can now apply the same level of control and care theyve come to expect from Wheels to their entire mobile workforce not just to their lease program said Kip Fournier director of Reimbursement Solutions for Wheels Inc According to Wheels fleets that are using a combination of lease and reimbursement do so for a variety of reasons There are many qualitative factors can determine whether lease or reimbursement is right for each driver But when both programs are run with the same goals in mind for example cost controls safety and brand image the decision as to what program works best often comes down to number of miles the employee drives in a year K Fournier said Generally a lease will serve the employee that drives higher miles per year On the other hand a reimbursement program would be better suited for those drivers who dont drive high miles per year Making the Decision When making the decision to add a reimbursement program to fleet operations several factors should be considered such as What kind of controls safety maintenance etc will you have over the reimbursed fleet How many miles per year will the average reimbursed driver be driving How will this affect your company image How will it impact driver satisfaction Are your drivers used to driving a certain make or model of a car and changing this would hurt your ability to find and retain your sales or service personnel The best piece of advice we could give is to understand what your corporate goals are from a fleet perspective so you can decide if change is necessary In many cases lease and reimbursement programs work best when they are run side by side Once you understand how your fleet goals need to align with your corporate goals looking at a reimbursement program is much easier K Fournier said Once you have aligned your goals be sure the reimbursement plan you choose will satisfy them If cost is your only goal then simply pay the driver zero and tell them to claim the miles on their personal income taxes But will this help you hire and retain the best sales and service personnel Remember cost may be a big factor but it shouldnt just be a financial decision he said Handling Concerns One valid concern fleet managers have in regards to reimbursement revolves around proper reporting of vehicle mileage Most of the traditional reimbursement plans do not have any level of controls K Fournier said Some concerns include WHEELS Many fleets may find a mix of leased vehicles and reimbursement a good option Working with Wheels on your reimbursement program can help Ensure proper vehicle maintenance Maintain accurate mileage reporting Allow you to be as hands on or hands off as you would like AT A GLANCE Wheels reimbursement driver dashboard provides such program information as trip logs rate statements annual summaries and more