Maintaining a fleet of vehicles is a big responsibility. Not only do you have to keep them running smoothly, but you also need to make sure they are clean and presentable at all times.

Successful businesses realize the importance of this step. They know that proper upkeep says a lot about who they are and what they stand for. Here are five important statements you’re making about your business when you commit to regular cleaning and detailing.

Projecting Professionalism

A clean vehicle is a sign of a professional business. First impressions count, and a clean fleet will make a good first impression on potential customers. Whether you are a large corporation or a small business owner, making sure that your vehicles look clean and well-maintained sends a powerful message to everyone you interact with.

Not only does it project an air of trustworthiness and competence, but it also ensures that customers and clients always feel safe when they travel in your vehicles or use them for the transport of their goods and materials.

Failing to do so consistently can give the impression that you don’t care about the work that you do. It tells onlookers that you are either too busy or simply don’t have time to make sure that everything looks its best. Ultimately, this can hurt sales and decrease customer satisfaction.

From regular cleanings to performing maintenance checks on the engine and other critical systems, appearance is a key to success and a great reflection on your brand.

Instilling Pride

Your employees are another reason to keep your vehicles clean and detailed, inside and out. A clean vehicle will be more enjoyable for employees to drive, and they will take more pride in the work that they do. How does that translate to your customers?

Simply put, when your employees feel good about the work that they do and the company that they work for, it will show in their interactions with customers. The level of service that they provide will be higher, and they will go above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction.

In contrast, not doing so can have the opposite effect. Your employees may feel that their work is not valued, and this could lead to a decline in morale and an overall drop in performance. It also sets the standard for what you expect from them. You have low standards on equipment, you encourage them to have low standards in their professionalism.

In short, keeping your vehicles clean is one way to show your employees that you value their hard work and dedication. It’s a simple way to boost morale and keep your team happy.

Protecting Resale Value

A clean vehicle will be more likely to pass inspections and avoid costly repairs. This is important when you think about vehicle replacement plans and defraying some of those future costs in what you’re able to pull in from the resale of older equipment.

Having enough attention to detail to keep vehicles clean and well-maintained means higher revenue at auction or to other aftermarket buyers. 

It’s also easier on your budget when you’re not making last-minute repairs to bring a vehicle up to snuff for its next owner. The extra investment will pay off in the long run by helping you get top dollar for your vehicles.

Emphasizing Safety

A clean vehicle is safer to drive. That’s because dirt and grime can build up on windshields and impede visibility. As one Princeton University study demonstrated, visual clutter can affect your brain’s ability to react and make good decisions. When you translate that to a megaton vehicle, the results can be catastrophic.

Furthermore, a clean vehicle will run more efficiently, as a dirty engine can cause decreased performance. Some common repercussions of a dirty engine include:

• Decreased fuel economy
• Increased emissions
• Reduced engine power
• Engine overheating

Each one of these issues create financial impacts as well, raising the line items for diesel, brand favorability, and getting your drivers to their destinations safely and on time.

Exercising Good Corporate Citizenship

A clean vehicle is better for the environment, as less pollution will be emitted from a clean engine. Pollution is already a big deal in the world of corporate citizenship. Younger generations are taking notice of the stewardship that companies show over the environment as scientists globally ring alarm bells on the harmful effects of climate change and industry’s impact upon it.

Committing to better upkeep now will place you in a better present and future position as more movement is taken to clean up the environment. It’s the smart thing to do for business and the world around us.

Make Upkeep A Priority

As you can see, there are many reasons to keep your fleet vehicles clean, both inside and out. By doing so, you’ll enjoy increased performance, employee morale, and corporate citizenship. All of these benefits are positives that you can take with you wherever your business is heading.

Is fleet upkeep a priority for your business? If not, it should be. And you can have that without sacrificing convenience. Reach out to the professionals at Steamworks Mobile Detailing Co. today for an environmentally friendly solution that works around your terms. Contact us to learn more or to book an appointment.