The TRUTH About Letting Trucks Go Home

When deciding whether to let trucks go home, consider the business model: it works best with solo routes and less equipment-heavy services. This minimizes asset investment per employee.

Allowing trucks to go home forces better hiring and training practices, as you're entrusting employees with significant company assets. Vet thoroughly and train comprehensively.

Leverage the efficiency of trucks going home to reduce 'windshield time'—the time employees spend commuting to a central depot before starting work and after finishing. This frees up significant time for productive work.

Implement robust systems for equipment checks and maintenance. Weekly check-ins and a mobile backup system (e.g., a GM with spare parts/equipment) can mitigate maintenance challenges.

Understand the trade-off: while trucks going home can expand your service area by allowing employees to live closer to customers, it may necessitate a decentralized management structure, potentially requiring regional managers to maintain service quality and client relationships.

Be mindful of potential negative impacts on company culture if employees are too isolated; plan for regular team meetings, even if they are brief and mobile (e.g., at a common public location).

Don't overlook the role of technology: utilize mobile apps for checklists, photo documentation of equipment, and daily reports to monitor truck and equipment condition, especially when they are not returning to a central depot daily.