Company vehicle

bovide_3

1) I own a small company and want to buy a vehicle for my main mechanic. He will take it home and use it for his own tasks as he pleases. The vehicle will be under my comany's insurance policy. I want to set up a written agreement between us. What is the standard for deciding who pays for:
-Repairs
-Damage to the vehicle

2)Also, how do you control abuse/loss of tools when the people in a crew point fingers at one another as to who used the tool last?

lchmb

hate to say this but you own the vehicle you own the repair's..as to using it for his own personal need's..I would get fired for that...the vehicle come's home but that end's that. As to tool's..I am required to supply my own tool's..only understanding is I break them they replace them, I lose them suck's to be me..guess I should take better care of them. The company actually does that because of abuse by previous employee's.."I lost that 300 dollar tool", (that was never purchased in the first place)

Earthfire

vehicles

Company vehicle, company pays the cost. If you deduct those expenses the employee that has personal use is liable to the IRS for taxable income. Maintain a log of mileage and expenses for start and end of each shift, or the federalles may nail the employee for all expenses deducted. Employees vehicle, pay the IRS aproved mileage rate, employee must maintain business and personal use log to justify expense deductions.
Unless you use a toolcrib type checkout and assigned tool system company eats the misplaced,stolen equipment expense.assign a toolbox of basic everyday tools to each employee, special tools checked out for the day, returned to tool storage at end of shift. Jobsite losses while in company custody ( not checked out to specific employee) are Co. expense

jackchips_2

I work for

a large Plumbing company and we have over 30 vehicles. The formen and service men take them home but they are not for personal use unless cleared in advance or an emergency.

The company absorbes all costs, even the FastLane pass for the Ma pike.

We have a great crew and there have been minimum problems over the years. You really must be able to trust your employees and they you.

Good luck.

bovide_3

tools

Excellent feedback. My employees are like family, with all the pros and cons. I can deal with broken cords on sawwzalls and droplights; however, it gets costly with a broken fiber optic cable on the Gen Eye video camera and broken drop head retainers on a Ridgid 700, in my opinion, carelessness. Happy Valentine's Day.

Boiler Guy

Forgive my

ignorance here please. I thought all techs were required their own tools except in union shops. I carry in excess of 4K of my own tools and test equipment in the CO vehicle at most times. They have a comprehensive list and pay for the insurance rider. I lose it .. my problem. I break it on their job or wear it out ... they replace it (except small hand tools). Am I nuts!!???

Steve Eayrs

Boilerguy, I would think it would all depend.....

If you are getting paid something extra to supply all the tools fine, but if not then I would agree....you are nuts (-;

We supply all tools except hand tools. Meaning...the basic hand tools. I only have one van that is set aside specifically for service work, and its the only one that the guys drive home. Depends on who is the on-call guy. More like a game of hot potato, than a direct benifit. Most the guys like to drive their own, and if called in on a service call, will pick up the van at the shop.

The rest of the vehicles (4 others) are usually at the shop after hours, unless prearranged for some personal use.
They are mainly used for new construction.

Steve

Boiler Guy

I appreciate

the candid response. NO we don't get anything specifically extra for supplying our own tools. I am "on available call" 24/7 and do have the benefit of "reasonable personal use" at no additional cost to me, BUT this scenario is pretty much the norm in this area. All specialty and large tools are normally Co supplied or rented.

Boiler Guy

I agree

with EF about expenses. Tool control is a very thorny and expensive issue. It sounds like you really need a Tool Crib person to make the irresponsible atone for their lack of respect. More cost and aggravation. A lot of that was happening to local shops so now just about everyone has to provide their own. The old story ... A few bad apples spoil the rest. Here is something to consider .... if we own it personally are we not more likely to look after it better???