Allowing techs take trucks home

[rob allen]

Do you, or would you allow techs to take trucks home? Why or why not?

 

[ACP]

hell no. equipment is way too expensive to have sitting somewhere not protected.

companys that do that the vehicle is either just for transportation and theres nothing really in it, or for example electricians who many times have to buy all their own tools as part of the job

 

[Chris Henry]

Just ask your insurance provider what your policy would cover in the event it's parked at an employees house.

 

[agrantnz]

We do, but has to be parked in the drive of my house. Also can only drive to and from work.

 

[SRD]

I have before with my on call guy but almost every time ive done it ive found out after the fact they were doing side jobs with it after hours

 

[MikeHawley14]

I’m the only trustworthy tech that you would feel certain to allow your van at my home. Because I am starting to stock the van with TMF products and I work my ass off 6 days a week. Plus I adopted and fostered 3 kids so I need to get home.

 

[Scott W]

I allowed for my techs if they qualified.

1. Only after a period where they proved their reliability and trustworthiness. They did not take home a truck on day 1.
2. Must have and maintain clean driving record.
3. For those who were part of the on-call rotation for water damage restoration response. Our company was in a rural area and spread out over many miles. No point in asking someone to drive 20 miles (30+ minutes) to the office and pick-up a van and then head to a call that might be in the same neighborhood they left.
4. Had to keep van clean, stocked for each's days work and possible on-call needs.
5. We did check mileage periodically to be sure they were driving home and back to office, not using it for going to side jobs or taking a weekend trip.
6. Employees saw it as a benefit. If they had a van for the commute, it might save the expense of a second car for the wife. A good inventive to maintain the privilege.

 

[the rugman]

When I did years ago I found it was pretty much parked in front of the local bar!!

 

[Todd the Cleaner]

I’ve let my tech drive the van home occasionally when he’s had car problems or if we worked a late night but generally I keep my vans at my house.

 

[arrohmei]

We do upon occasion. It is great advertising just letting the van drive around. It is usually because the tech is on call for water jobs, has an early cleaning job near them, or has a car in the shop.

 

[Bob Savage]

No, and No.

The reason - A tech needs their own transportation to get to work and back to their home.

 

[rob allen]

When I did years ago I found it was pretty much parked in front of the local bar!!

Oh crap

 

[longkenn]

You would need a written policy stating that it is for business purposes only. IRS requires it if u supply company vehicle and deduct operating costs.

 

[keep it clean]

I know of a painting company and plumbing/heating co. That allows employee's to take trucks home. But they have gps on all the vans. Painters the owner told me they go home and truck should not move till next day. He knows if they make a run out at nite with it. How fast its going. Where it stopped at. He knows if they are wasting time getting to job but then doing 90 going home. The plumbers obviously are on call and switch shifts. So they take trucks home. But again tools and supplies are inventoried and van is tracked by gps.

 

[Dafloorman]

To much Trouble Rob, I would not do it!

 

[SMCommerical]

I have before with my on call guy but almost every time ive done it ive found out after the fact they were doing side jobs with it after hours

Did you ever consider using tracking devices where it can provide driving map history? Or were they using it in close by neighborhoods?

 

[SRD]

Did you ever consider using tracking devices where it can provide driving map history? Or were they using it in close by neighborhoods?

Ill spend less time tracking and checking up on employees, cheaper, less wear and tear, just leaving them all warm and snugly in my shop at night.

 

[SRD]

I hate to say it but I can count on less than one hand how many employees Ive had over the years that didnt lie, cheat or outright steal from me. It truly leaves you a little gun shy. I built a new shop once and thought it would be a great idea to build a nice apt above it and let one of my guys rent it really cheap, found out about 2 years after i fired one of them he had been backing my competition into my shop late at night and selling restoration equipment to them for cash