Purchasing tires and getting service as a large national fleet is one matter, but how do small-to-medium-sized fleets “compete” on price and “special” services versus the big, national fleets with reported “extras?” Here are some helpful programs, all with info-packed websites:

“We offer the small to medium size fleets uptime-critical services that keep them running to maximize tire performance and track valuable data,” said Matthew Loos, channel manager, fleet and OE, Bridgestone Commercial Solutions Group. Bridgestone’s no-cost National Preferred program provides the smaller operation with the advantages traditionally only enjoyed by large fleets. With guaranteed pricing, customers can avoid “surprises” on the road and know the real cost of a breakdown. National Preferred customers also have access to a 24/7 emergency road service call center, with connection to over 2,300 network providers.

“We have several programs for the smaller fleet to make our product available whether it’s with our servicing dealer network or if they require over the road service. We can accommodate them through a National Account,” said Rick Phillips, director, commercial sales, Yokohama Tire Corp.

Yokohama’s fuel-savings calculator is a helpful, interactive tool that allows carriers to perform a customized analysis, showing not only the rolling resistance variation between different tires, but also the effect different tires will have on their bottom line in fuel expense. The company also recently unveiled SmartSolution, a new campaign aimed at tire dealers, fleet owners and truck operators, highlighting technologies that align with the fleets’ critical tire requirements. 

One valuable suggestion from GITI Western sales director John Thomas is, “GITI has a strong national network of servicing dealers and U.S. distribution centers. So getting tires and service is not an issue with us.”
Three years ago, Goodyear Tire & Rubber created FleetHQ, a service program tailored to smaller fleet operations. It includes negotiated tire pricing and nationwide service coverage with centralized billing coming only from the fleet’s local dealer.

Michael Stevens, director, FleetHQ, said, “Those fleets’ tire concerns are our key objective every day. Our 80 service agents are available to the roughly 20,000 power units owned by some 1,800 unique fleets.”

“You don’t have to be a big fleet to have the advantage,” emphasized Fritz Mueller, business segment manager-small fleet, Michelin North America. “We see those customers with one and 99 trucks and offer our Advantage program.” It provides consistent program pricing on new tires and retreads, nationwide emergency road service (24/7/365) without dispatch fees and access to a personalized program website. In addition, small fleets with as few as six trucks who are also Michelin Advantage Program members can enroll in the either the Premier or Premier Elite Service Offer, providing access to nationwide consistent service providers.   

According to Toyo, the smaller fleets over-rely on themselves and/or tire dealers and don’t stop to think that the tire company has a great array of tools and assistance they could use. Toyo engages fleet managers and fleet owners in comprehensive training that assists them in all areas, with such topics as tire inflation, vehicle geometry, application specifics, vehicle aerodynamics and fleet cost evaluations.

Continental Tire takes a two-fold customer service approach: a comprehensive tire maintenance policy
(ContiTireManagement), and an emergency road service program (ContiFleet). “The obvious goal is to help the fleet achieve better tire maintenance practices and longer tire life for their important equipment investment.” 

Its emergency road service program was created for smaller fleets who don’t qualify for national account pricing programs. Membership is free, with 24-hour access to over 1,000 commercial tire dealers. 

Bottom line: it’s a matter of taking service up a notch or two to ensure uptime and safe operation. Large, medium, small or extra-small motor carriers are really all the same—they simply want and deserve safe, dependable rubber to roll on.