CV Advice – Treat van drivers like car drivers

Date: Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Mary Dopson-Taylor, customer services director at Grosvenor Leasing, says companies can benefit too from giving employees well-specified commercial vehicles to drive.

Company vans are becoming better specified and equipped.

For example, when it comes to all-round comfort with the likes of lumbar support and air-conditioning, and in-vehicle technology, such as satellite navigation and sound systems, manufacturers are treating today’s light commercial vehicles the same as the cars they produce. Which is great news if you’re a van driver.

Having worked in the commercial vehicle leasing sector for 30 years, I remember the days when a van was a workhorse and no consideration was given to the needs of drivers. Nowadays, that’s very different. But before companies question why, there are wide-ranging benefits of giving drivers well-specified commercial vehicles to drive.

Firstly, they sell for higher prices on the used vehicle market. If you own better-specified vans you’ll attract higher second-hand prices when you replace them, and if you lease you’ll enjoy improved monthly rentals thanks to higher forecasted residual values and reduced depreciation.

Then there is the health and safety angle. These drivers often do high mileages, and it’s important they are safe and comfortable. Anyone that has driven an old-style commercial vehicle will tell you that it was hard work at times. Modern vans come with all the gadgets and safety features of cars and this is important in keeping employees safe while on the road.

Finally, businesses are increasingly recognising the link between company performance and staff that are healthy, motivated, focused and feel valued.

According to the mental health charity, Mind, when employees feel valued and supported they tend to have higher wellbeing levels, be more committed to the organisation’s goals and, importantly, they perform better too.

Research shows that FTSE 100 companies that prioritise employee wellbeing outperform the rest of the FTSE 100 by 10%. And according to research firm Gartner, highly engaged employees work 50% harder and are nine times less likely to leave a company.

For most van drivers, their vehicle is their workplace and is where they spend most of their time. Providing them with a comfortable, well spec’d vehicle can go a long way to increasing their discretionary effort, engagement and overall work ethic.

For more information visit grosvenor-leasing.co.uk

CV Advice is produced in association with Grosvenor Leasing

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