Techs and use of truck for personal use

lchmb

I'm just a tech, but the company I work for has it in writing that the company vehicle is not for personal use. I would have to go look at the policy but I believe you get a written warning for the first offens. Second is a free ride home. I have requested and used it on a personal note but that is only after recieving permission. As to how would I handle someone who abuses this, simple, if I cannot trust them with a truck I cannot trust them with my customers. Have a nice day!!
Another thought to the gps thing is just tracking miles. If a tech sign's off and give's milage, then sign's on and give's milage it would be easy to see if it moved. And how would someone know for a fact, well I live 6 miles from the office. If I sign on and give miles and then get to the office 10 minutes later and I traveled 25 miles..ummm

Tom_35

Techs and use of truck for personal use

This post is following up with the GPS thread.

Our company does not have GPS on any of it's vehicles, but it is something we have looked at...for insurance reasons, gas consumption, and hopefully better use of time.

But---we have had instances when a vehicle was used for personal reasons and problems arose. One former tech'w wife had a baby and wasn't able to perform her "duties", so he was out in the river bottoms in our van. Got it stuck, burned up 2 tires and the transmission. This guy had not been with us long, he had been given the rules, and chose to do as he pleased. After I fired him, I found that the use was much worse than I had suspected.

Another company in our town had 1 of their techs pick up his son from kindergarden and was taking him home. The kid was standing in the seat, and the tech had a wreck, which was his fault. Huge lawsuit with the company losing to the tune of over a million dollars.

Another company had a tech hauling some materials on his day off and a bumper that he had picked up at a salvage yard come off his truck and caused a 3-car wreck. Injuries, lawsuits, and again---the company lost in court.
1.7 million judgement.

What are your policies and how do you enforce them?

For the guys that are vehemently against GPS, how would you handle the tech that abuses their truck use? When companies continued to get sued, businesses tend to fold.

Tom A

Leo

Techs and vans

I am one against GPS but on the other hand my van goes home and gets parked. Once I am cleaned up I can't stand being in it (and its new). I have my own pick up and my wife has a car so no problem. If there are rules violated and some one walks so be it. In my case I know what having the van at home saves me in money and I am not going to blow it.

Leo

Ragu

Van Use

I worked for 3 plumbers and 1 oil company before going independent. The plumbing vans stayed at the shop when the work day was done. The oil company issued a van to each tech as both a service vehicle and as a commute to and from work vehicle (I appreciated that). The van was parked in my driveway until the next morning. Period. There also was a verbal agreement with the company not to do side jobs.

The large oil company (30 miles away) also allows its' guys to take their vans home. Three of their guys live in my town. All of them do side jobs in the company vehicles at night and on weekends. One of them told me that he makes more money on his side jobs than on his regular job. He keeps his company job for the benefits.

In all the years I worked for somebody else, the last thing I would want to do is work after hours. Those of us who really work tend to get tired. Hmm....

Personally, I would feel resentful if a GPS or tachometer printer got put in my company van; I probably would not stay. However, I would gladly sign a "Non-Personal Use" agreement. As far as my moonlighting competitors, I've taken hold of the Native American saying: "I will wait patiently by the banks of the river, and eventually the body of my enemy will float by". Give them rope and they will hang themselves.

Jaitch

Free Advertising?

One company I worked for allowed their tech's to use the van as a personal vehicle - no side jobs allowed. The company I am with now has all the vans parked at the shop all of the time. The old company's trucks are seen all over the County all of the time. One of the tech's lives by a major thoroughfare into one of the larger communities and his truck stands as a "rolling billboard". At my present employer all the trucks are parked at the shop, and although the company has been in business for 80 years - no one in my neighborhood has ever HEARD of them. One night I did bring a van home, and everyone thought I started a new oil company!
One thing I always remind my tech's is that whatever they do in that truck will come home to roost. Always give the right-of-way, don't speed, etc,etc, because the owner's name is plastered on the side - along with the phone number......

bigugh_4

with things going the way they are~~~~~~~

i.e. fuel prices and labor. GPS has something to be desired.
Automatic tracking of a transport is on the rise. Take insurance for example. Could and would your rate go down if you had your transport proven to be not moving most of the time. Not to mention stolen transport, & traffic violations.
How many times has the labor been off, compromised by a bad counting, or misreading the day lite savings time change. GPS automatically takes care of that.
Service to transport, GPS automatically can remind the shop that it is due.
OK so you feel like your 'not trusted', but look at the positive side, it'd just make your job easier. and a computer program at the office could relieve you of a great amount of accounting (HVAC techs & plumbers do not have expertise in).
It should not matter to an honest tech if the GPS or tach recorder is on, since honesty is true no matter what.
I sure wish I had one in my days. it'd made me money! as a owner and as a tech. The boss would've found out that I busted my backside trying to take care of business, and he'd have to pay for my expertise in running around for his benefit. That pay may have been a stop for a coffee, but so what. (Remember bill clinton, could have solved his problem by saying "So What?" when asked about his extra time affairs)

Boiler Guy

This issue is always

a "two edged sword". Each and every company has their own policies and reasons for dealing with this situation.

My Company provides service vehicles to all the senior techs. They are not to be used indescriminately for personal use. However, one of the conditions of being provided this vehicle is that in the case of emergency you are expected to respond in a timely fashion to ANY regular customer or employee requiring assistance, when requested. (Has happened to me 4 times in 6 years.) When on call you are permitted to take the vehicle to attend family functions etc. to avoid needless delay in responding to emergencies.

Yes, the Company I am with has had abusers, but they are either now located elsewhere (doing the same), or have lost the use of the vehicle except for daily Company business or when on call. Peer perceptions keep most guys honest. Afterall, everyone KNOWS the RULES up front. Pretty embarrassing when your vehicle is recalled and parked at the shop, in plain view!

Side jobs: My opinion is; if you have the time to do side work with the Company vehicle, you are not devoting enough energy to ensuring your long term employment with that Company and no matter how you cut it .. it is theft. THIS WILL bite you in the a$$ quite quickly!! FACT!!!
Once you develop that reputation, it follows you almost permanently. It will limit your opportunities within the local trade circles.

In my case, having the use of a Company vehicle to travel 40 miles per day, to and from work, is a tax free benefit. A little bit of unscheduled time to respond to emergencies is not too much to ask for, in my opinion. I carry in excess of $4500 worth of personal tools and test equipment with me daily, for use on Company business. I have total control of their security. I pay for and carry the insurance rider on them. If the policy was to leave the vehicle at the shop, the Company would either be expected to provide me with everything other than my hand tools, OR my specialty tools would remain at home.

My situation works for me and my relationship with my Company. It may not work for others. JMO

Boiler Guy

My sentiments exactly