If a fleet is interested in contracting with a mobile maintenance service provider, consider these criteria when vetting a company:
Capacity. Will the service provider be able to address the number of breakdowns for a fleet? “When selecting and vetting a provider, fleets should be prepared to provide an approximate number of monthly or annual breakdown events in order to help the service provider respond with accurate estimates,” suggests Sandra Sanford, vice president, TA Truck Service RoadSquad.
Location and size. What type of network coverage does the service provider offer? Find out the location of the provider’s repair shops. Does the service area of the contracted provider align with the fleet’s routes?
Availability. Eric Daniels, director of shop operations, Love’s, suggests determining the hours of operation for the provider, and asking how many service trucks are in the mobile service provider’s fleet.
Cost. “It is also crucial to understand the provider’s rates and fees, as well as any applicable invoice markups for their services,” says Sanford. Also confirm the payment methods accepted by the provider.
Communication. Is the provider responsive? Do they answer follow-up questions? While phone calls are the primary communication method, does the provider also send email or text updates?
