Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/214806
The company does occasionally help with the purchase of truck caps or lumber racks, but we keep track of these items going forward. For example, when our son recently sold his Super Duty, off came the company-owned truck cap, lumber rack and bed slide, which are now being installed on one of the other trucks. This maximizes our ROI on the aftermarket upgrades. We factor vehicle reimbursement into our bids, but it's up to each individual truck owner to keep track of their mileage for each job and get those numbers to our office staff. ON THE JOB DRAWBACKS There are some drawbacks to using personal pickups on the job. For one, lack of control. You may understand the importance of a sharp looking, well-maintained pickup on the About the author: Robin Walton has been a licensed contractor for more than 20 years and has 16 years of financial accounting and systems experience. With a degree in accounting/economics and hands-on construction experience, she understands the day-to-day business of contractors and landscapers. jobsite as a matter of function and company image, but others may not have your vision. Dirty trucks or unattended minor repairs can add up to an impression that your company is not on top of things. Territorial attitude is another drawback to compensating individuals for their vehicle use. Friction can arise when other crew members don't care for a vehicle as the owner would like. Muddy boots on the carpet, belt buckles against the cargo bed exterior and throwing rather than placing materials into the bed can cause jobsite sparks to fly. We've also been surprised a few times when someone decides their vehicle is too good for a dump run, or too dainty to get a little mud on it. For companies who wish to have more control and want to attract and keep employees by providing a company vehicle, well-defined personal use may be a better way to go. VEHICLE COMPENSATION In this case, employees must declare the personal use and set aside some tax money to cover the vehicle use, which is considered to be part of their compensation. Company policy on personal use of company owned pickups should be well defined as part of the employee's package. As much as possible, policies should be applied evenly to those at the same grade level within the company. Employees with less freedom for personal use should know exactly what the boundaries are. GPS tracking of vehicle use can be a good way to keep some employees honest. Although we see a lot of pickups with company signage when we are out playing, I'm still surprised to see a cab full of hunters or a load of sand quads in a truck owned by a large corporation. The controller in me wonders if this use is approved. As part of a family owned business, we hope to continue to enjoy the benefits of working in an industry that uses vehicles that just happen to be particularly well suited for our pursuit of the great outdoors. Helping you save money, no matter what you drive. No matter what business you're in, you could save with Progressive Insurance. To learn more about Progressive, and see why we are the #1 Truck Insurer in America, please visit ProgressiveCommercial.com. Call for a Free Quote Find an Agent 1-888-375-7908 ProgressiveCommercial.com Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. & affiliates. Available in most states. No. 1 truck from SNL Financial's 2011 national written premium data. 09P00560.BA (11/13) Text INFO to 205-289-3781 or visit www.ppmrequest.com propickupmag.com PROPICKUP 15