Equipment fleets are the backbone of green industry companies. From handheld string-line trimmers to zero-turn mowers to trucks and trailers, quality commercial equipment gives your crews the tools they need for a job well done.
Both new and established lawn and landscaping companies benefit from careful fleet selection, maintenance, and planning. A haphazard collection of equipment that you can’t rely on is a recipe for disaster. On the other hand, a well-managed fleet composed of equipment from reliable brands can make your green industry job much simpler.
Brand selection, purchase programs, lifecycle planning, fleet technologies, dealer support, and parts availability are all important things to take into account when managing your fleet.
Brand Reputation and Reliability
There’s often a temptation to buy lower-priced equipment from big-box stores or less recognizable brands, but seasoned pros know there’s an advantage to choosing known brands. Buying brands with a history of reliable commercial use helps you ensure that your equipment will stand the test of day-to-day use.
Choosing trusted brands reduces downtime, improves performance, and supports long-term ROI. Commercial equipment from top brands like STIHL, Echo, and Scag is designed to hold up to the rigors of daily use. These brands also have commercial warranties that you won’t usually find on the equipment sold in big-box stores.
Fleet Purchase Programs and Incentives
Buying from a top commercial brand can have advantages that go beyond getting higher-quality equipment. Many offer bulk purchase discounts, extended commercial warranties, financing packages, and brand-specific loyalty programs to their commercial clients.
For example, Scag’s Fleet Purchaser Program lets qualifying commercial buyers save up to 20% off MSRP. This program applies to a single buyer purchasing several qualifying items all at one time, and additional purchases within the next 12 months may also qualify. If you need new commercial mowers, fleet programs like Scag’s help make it more economical to expand your fleet with top-tier equipment.
Resale Value and Lifecycle Planning
Many commercial lawn care companies replace their equipment at the end of each season. With supply chain disruptions becoming more common since the 2020 pandemic, it’s becoming more common to use equipment for multiple seasons. Investing in quality equipment makes it possible to use tools for multiple years. High-quality brands also tend to keep a higher resale or trade-in value, even after several years of use.
As you think about the lifecycle of equipment in your fleet, it’s worth considering the pros and cons of buying, leasing, and renting. For equipment that you’ll use all the time, the best option is usually purchasing. But there are times when leasing or renting makes sense, such as when you use a specific type of equipment only once a year or equipment breaks down and you don’t have a backup.
Consider Using Fleet Technologies
More and more green industry pros are turning to fleet management software to help with their business. If you’re considering adding fleet technology, talk with your team and come up with a list of goals. Then, you can make sure the software that you choose is designed to meet those goals and solve the problems that your company is facing.
Fleet management software can help your company stay on top of routine maintenance, standardize daily and weekly equipment inspections, track downtime and repairs for each piece of equipment, and track the locations of teams while optimizing routes between jobsites. When shopping for fleet management software, ask if you can try it out before committing to purchase it. You’ll often be able to demo a software product to see how it works before deciding to go forward with purchasing and implementing the software.
Dealer Support and Training
When you’re in the lawn and landscaping business, it pays to develop a relationship with a local dealer. Local dealers provide competitive pricing, high-quality products, personalized service, expert knowledge, and long-term support. Developing a relationship with a local dealer provides your company with value beyond the initial purchase, including technical support and operator training.
Here at Richardson Saw, we do several operator training sessions every year with large companies. These training sessions include topics such as how to properly use the equipment and what to look for each day to get ahead of any problems that might occur. We understand how important power equipment is to your business, and we’re here to help you keep it running smoothly.
Ease of Service and Parts Availability
Even if you’re staying on top of all the routine preventative maintenance, sometimes your equipment will still need repairs. Readily available parts and reliable service centers are essential to keeping fleets operational. You’ll want to keep common parts like replacement air filters and string-line for trimmers on hand, and you’ll need a good place to get other parts on an as-needed basis.
If you won’t handle all your repairs in-house, developing a relationship with a local service center ensures you can count on good repairs with timely turnaround. Here at Richardson Saw, we offer quick, accurate repairs right here in our service center. We have one of the largest parts inventories in North Texas, which helps us provide a quick turnaround on repairs for all our clients. You can also access our extensive inventory for your own repairs, so stop in and ask if there’s a specific part that you need.
Local dealer support is invaluable for managing your commercial equipment fleet. Whether you’re in the market for reliable new equipment, need to purchase parts, or want expert mechanics to handle repairs, Richardson Saw & Lawnmower has you covered. Come see for yourself why Richardson Saw has been an industry leader for over 50 years in providing landscape professionals and contractors with the best service possible and a full line of quality outdoor power equipment at the most competitive prices.
