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'Whether it’s one key or 30 keys, they get it'
Fleet Centres deliver on quality & urgency
What makes a great experience at a Kal Tire Fleet Centre? For Driving Force Fleet Solutions, one of Canada’s leading fleet vehicle providers, it’s everything—from vehicle pick up and top-quality work to reliable reports and fast turnarounds. With thousands of Driving Force vehicles serviced at our Edmonton Fleet Centre, find out what they appreciate most about counting on one vendor who does it all and does it right the first time.
‘They get it’: Fleet Centres Raise the Bar for One of Canada’s Leading Fleet Vehicle Providers
Three years ago, Driving Force Sales and Leasing Manager David Barker visited Kal Tire’s new Fleet Centre at 102 Avenue in Edmonton—one of several across Canada—and just a stone’s throw from their own yard. Driving Force is one of Canada’s leading providers of commercial rental, sales, leased and fleet vehicles, and at their Edmonton headquarters, many work ready trucks and vans await their next journey. Only vehicles that meet their strict standards can leave the lot, and the faster vehicles can return to like-new condition, the faster they can be sold. Naturally, David was intrigued by the Fleet Centre concept: a true one-stop shop for vehicle maintenance and repairs dedicated to fleets.
“I was impressed,” recalls David, who saw the facility was set up for efficiency, the equipment was top-notch and a team of skilled technicians was at the ready.
With strict reconditioning standards, Driving Force vehicles must pass a 120-point inspection, far above the basic 80-point Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC) inspections used by many dealerships.
“When we sell a vehicle, we have to have 100 per cent faith in the inspection and the way it was checked,” says David, adding fast turnarounds are also essential.
For Driving Force, that used to mean sending several vehicles to various vendors every week—and many layers of calls, paperwork and trips to the shop. And then Driving Force discovered Kal Tire’s Fleet Centres.
Fleet Centre services include everything from air conditioning and brakes to engines and detailing. Plus, they offer vehicle pickup and delivery.
David could easily see how much time could be saved working with one vendor who could do it all and do it right the first time.
To deliver on that promise and save time, Kal Tire develops detailed service guides for commercial customers outlining everything from pre-approved tire choices to parameters for recommended service actions. Plus, the Kal Tire team was going above and beyond to learn Driving Force standards’ unique needs.
Soon, the first Driving Force vehicles were pulling into Fleet Centre bays. Since then, thousands of the company’s vans and trucks have been serviced by Kal Tire—often dozens of vehicles every week. For Driving Force, Kal Tire’s Fleet Centre is a more than vendor; it’s a partner.
Three years into this partnership, here are the benefits Driving Force appreciates most…
#1 Fleet Centres deliver consistently on quality and urgency
“We have a high bar for attention to detail, and urgency is also a big part of our success, but we can’t sacrifice quality.”
Speed is paramount in fleet vehicle sales.
“The market can shift even within a week, so to capitalize on that investment, we need to get that vehicle back to like-new and past inspection as fast as possible.”
David says Driving Force can count on Kal Tire’s Fleet Centre to deliver the highest standards of service and the fast turnarounds a fleet business needs.
“At Kal Tire, the process doesn’t change if they have one key or 30 sets of keys. It’s been so refreshing. Their team gets it.”
#2 Fleet Centres are one vendor that can do it all—and that saves time
The world moves quickly in fleet rentals and sales. For example, one week Driving Force might recondition and resell many that need to be inspection-ready within 15 days.
Before using Kal Tire’s Fleet Centre, that meant David was spending hours on the phone every day coordinating work with multiple vendors and reviewing inspections. Never mind following up on issues that were missed.
“I found myself working way harder than I needed to with multiple vendors. It took a lot of time out of the day going back and forth.”
How much time is he saving now, working with Fleet Centre a trusted, single vendor offering various vehicle maintenance and repair services under one roof?
“It’s hours, every day. At the end of the day, it makes it easier to do my job if I don’t have to worry about what’s happening behind the scenes so much.”
Kal Tire’s Fleet Centre also takes care of every step when a manufacturer issues a recall, and that coordination alone, David says, has been invaluable.
#3 Fleet Centres provide detailed digital inspections
This is another part of the Fleet Centre experience saving time: Clear, detailed Digital Vehicle Inspections that clearly show all work completed and those notes are complemented by photos.
“Before, I was lucky if I got a picture, and if I did, I couldn’t count on it, so I would have to get in my car and drive down to take a look at a scratch on a bumper, but now I get really clear notes and the photos, it’s like I’m looking at the vehicle myself.”
#4 Fleet Centres do pick up and drop off
With a large yard of trucks and vans, the vehicles that need to get out for maintenance and repairs need to go soon, before they get buried behind rows of other vehicles.
Before using Fleet Centres, David and his team would have to come up with elaborate plans to get all the vehicles to various vendors, and a day could easily be lost with all the driving. Now, the Fleet Centre team pulls up to the yard with a cohort of team members ready to drive vehicles back to the Fleet Centre.
For Driving Force, this is even more invaluable time saved.
“It makes a big difference,” says David, who is grateful to have found a partner that continues to deliver value on every front, even at the busiest times. “They’ve got a good rhythm over there and we keep them busy!”
Find out more
Kal Tire Fleet Centres offer an unmatched commercial service experience exclusive for fleets. Enjoy one-stop shop service, easy-to-book appointments and more at Fleet Centres across Canada—including Coquitlam, Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Winnipeg, London and Scarborough.
