If you run a viable commercial operation, you need to take care of every aspect of your business. You need to manage time, money, shipments, deliveries and a host of other small and large aspects. If you are worried about fuel costs and the ongoing reliability of your source, maybe it is time to reconsider what you and your company should expect from a fuel distributor.
Clarifying your Needs
Before you set out on a search for a distributor, take the time to clarify your needs. Be specific. Make certain you know the answer to the following questions:
- How much fuel does your current and future fleet require?
- How frequently must you restock?
- Does the fleet have any specialized requirements?
- Do you need any other types of services from the distributor?
- What is your estimated budget for handling both basics, value added and/or specialized services?
- Pay attention to the smallest details of fuel usage. Make sure you comprehend even the most basic anomalies and regularities as you prepare these questions. Only after you have nailed down the answers to these questions should you proceed with compiling your next list: What to expect from a fuel distributor.
Expectations
When looking for a distributor, it is important to look for an individual or company capable of delivering more than the basics. You need a distributor that will meet specific requirements including:
- Being able to provide your business with any extras you might want e.g. fuel filtration services
- Transparency about what it will cost your company e.g. distance, delivery cost
- Rapid delivery
- 24-hour service
- Emergency service
- Long term commitment
- Evaluation of the needs of your commercial operation
- Comprehensive usage reporting
- Having a good reputation among other clients for reliability, accurate pricing and other characteristics of an honest and dependable distributor
- It is important to understand what a distributor will bring to the table. You should know what is best for it better than anyone else does. Yet, a fresh pair of eyes, such as those of your distributor, may be able to clarify certain fuel issues unrecognized until now. A distributor may help you improve your ability to fulfill your obligations to your clients. This may boost delivery capacity sales as well as sales capabilities.
Fuel Distributor
This is your business. Learn from what has happened before and apply it to your future choices. In other words, having the right fuel distributor may be a component in the ongoing success of your company.
