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7 Tips for Creating a Cost-Effective Company Vehicle Fleet

August 8, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Putting together a fleet of vehicles that your company will use to service customers/clients and carry out essential tasks can be quite the challenge, particularly if you have no experience in this area of business operation. Between the cost of vehicle purchases, repairs, maintenance, fuel, and driver payroll, there are plenty of ways to spend an absurd amount of money just to keep your fleet afloat. If you only have one or two company cars, this might not be a major concern for you yet. However, if you’re in the process of scaling up and are looking to use your investment capital wisely, consider the following seven tips you can use to create a more cost-effective corporate vehicle fleet:

1. Find the Right Auto Financing Deals

According to one of the leading providers of San Diego auto loans, the difference between a good financing deal and a bad one can add up to thousands of dollars lost annually when you’re talking about a fleet-wide impact. Thus, it’s best to take your time comparing multiple loan providers to find one that will give you the best deal. Of course, leveraging credit to obtain vehicles is going to create less of a fiscal burden than buying vehicles out-of-pocket.

2. Opt for Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

If you’re going to be operating a fleet of more than 3-4 vehicles, the money lost on fuel mileage can wind up being significant if you’re using inefficient vehicles. Of course, your options are limited if your fleet consists of big trucks, but for car fleets it would be best to opt for electric or hybrid vehicles where possible. Likewise, you may want to invest in an EV charger installation at your place of business to keep your fleet drivers from having to charge up at public stations.

3. Use Tracking Systems to Discover and Prevent Unauthorized Employee Driving

If you’re not already keeping track of the location of company vehicles, this is definitely something you should start doing for security and efficiency purposes. Chances are you’ll already have some sort of Lo-Jack or other GPS-based theft prevention app installed. However, you may want to take it a step further and use real-time monitoring to keep track of each of your vehicles within a convenient app interface, which brings us to our next tip.

4. Use a Fleet Management App or Platform

Fleet management apps are ideal for companies that have more than three vehicles on the road at all times. These tools make it easy to see where your drivers are, where they’ve been, and where they’re headed, while also providing integrated communication and route management features. Most major trucking companies use apps like this, so take a page out of their book to maximize the efficiency of your own fleet.

5. Consider Partnering with a Local Auto Shop

The cost of vehicle maintenance is another expense that can eat into your overall fleet budget. Relying on third-party auto shops to diagnose and repair your vehicles as needed might not be the best approach, as you never know what kind of service you’re going to get if you haven’t yet vetted your mechanics. If you’re going to be operating a fleet of more than 7-10 vehicles, consider the benefits of establishing an ongoing special arrangement with a local shop in order to obtain discounted rates as a repeat customer.

6. Fuel Up Strategically

Choosing when and where your vehicles are filled up can also make a difference in your annual expenditure. Have your drivers use gas price apps to find nearby gas stations that have the lowest price for fuel. Tools like Gasbuddy can help you plan out your route in a way that has you fueling up in the most cost-efficient manner throughout your route. Often times you can save as much as $50-$100 on a cross country trip simply by choosing the gas stations that have the lowest prices.

7. Practice Detailed Accounting and Budgeting

Keeping a thorough record of all expenses related to your company vehicles is an essential step to take for any large company that has set aside an exuberant fleet budget. You need to be reviewing the numbers to be sure that your money is being put to good use and also look for weaknesses that need to be addressed going forward.

Hire a Fleet Manager

If you’re really serious about keeping tabs on a large fleet of more than 10-20 vehicles, it might be best to allocate fleet management duties to a specific employee on a full-time basis. That way, you won’t be overburdened with the responsibility of keeping track of all of those vehicles yourself.

4 Ways of Encouraging a Healthier and Happier Workplace

August 8, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

The employees of a business are among its most valuable and important assets, and they need to be treated as such. There are plenty of advantages to ensuring the health of your employees, including a happier and more productive workforce. That means that there is a very strong business case to be made in favor of helping to improve your employees’ health – it makes sound financial sense to do so.

Improving the health of your workers doesn’t have to be a difficult or expensive exercise either, it can be achieved with relatively few resources as long as you use them wisely. The following are things that any business can implement as a solid start towards a healthier working environment.

Prevention Strategies

Being proactive about our health is always going to be more effective than simply waiting for things to go wrong and reacting to them. Most of the tips that follow on this list are aimed at preventing illness or injury from arising in the first place, rather than providing band-aid solutions when they do occur.

You can arrange for a doctor or workplace health professional to come in and work directly with your employees to assess their health and make appropriate recommendations. You could even offer your employees free flu shots, which will minimize the number of workers needing to take time off.

You should also make your workers aware of the available healthcare services, such as how to make an online doctor appointment, which enables employees to consult with a doctor without having to even leave their home.

Encourage Healthier Eating

Our diets have an enormous role to play in our overall level of health and wellbeing. An unbalanced diet can ultimately lead to a number of physical and emotional health issues, so our bodies require a steady stream of essential minerals and other nutrients from the food we eat. There are lots of people walking around with an undiagnosed dietary deficiency that could be having a major impact on their health.

But the effects of an unhealthy diet can go beyond a worker’s individual health – it can ultimately hinder their overall levels of productivity and have a seriously detrimental impact on the quality of their work. You can do a lot to address this issue by simply offering healthier alternatives to junk food in your business’s canteen. If you don’t make any healthy options available for your workers, they will be forced to choose unhealthy alternatives.

Consider Their Emotional Health

Just as important as your workers’ physical health is their mental health and emotional wellbeing. Depending on the type of workplace that you oversee, a certain degree of stress might be an inherent part of the job or industry that you are in. In workplaces like these, it is imperative that the business takes an active role in ensuring that their workers are able to cope with the pressure. There are a number of different ways that you can achieve this. Many businesses make an occupational therapist available to their employees so that any workers who find themselves struggling know that they have a point of contact that they can utilize.

However, you can also make a big difference to the amount of stress in your employees’ lives by trying to foster a calmer, more relaxed and less hostile working environment. Encouraging more positive communication amongst your workers, for example, is a great way of both making your workplace more welcoming and of encouraging your workers to communicate with one another more.

Ensure They are Comfortable

While we generally think of offices and similar environments as being much less dangerous than other types of workplace, such as building sites, there are in fact a number of potential injuries that can befall office workers. In addition to the usual risks of trips and falls, there are also repetitive strain injuries, which are caused by using a mouse all day in an awkward position.

Similarly, being confined to an office chair all day is associated with an increased risk of a number of health issues, as well as a lower overall mood. In order to combat this, it is important that all your workers have furniture and equipment that is in good working order and comfortable for them to use. You should also allow them to take short breaks every hour or so, so that they aren’t sitting down for too long.

Encouraging a healthier workplace will also encourage a more productive workplace. When your workers are fit and healthy, they will be much more capable and much more productive.

4 Essential Safety Tips for Paddle Boarding with Children

July 27, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

If you love paddle boarding, then chances are you’d like to introduce your children to it. Or if your children are into watersports in general, they may have seen someone paddle boarding and asked if they could give it a try. Paddle boarding can indeed be a great activity for the whole family, but also a challenging one. There are some risks that should be accounted for as well. Here are a few essential tips for people who want to paddle board with their children safely.

Go Slow and Start Early

You should get your children started as soon as possible if you want them to become good paddle boarders as they grow up. You can start by letting them ride on the nose and board somewhere safe.

You should pick protected water areas with no current so that you’ll be able to quickly locate your child if they fall off. A calm beach, protected bay, or lakes are usually perfect for this. As they grow, you can switch them to their own paddle board, but take baby steps. Some will be ready to ride on their own by the age of 6, but others are slow learners, so take your time.

Get the Right Board

If you’re going to board with a child, you first have to make sure that the paddle board is big and buoyant enough. I would suggest you find a good paddle board retailer online and get a quick look at their selection. The paddle board should be big enough and capable of carrying the weight of both you and your child. The board should be just heavy enough to handle both of you, however, so make sure that you check if the paddle board is rated precisely for your combined weight. A board that is too heavy will be harder to maneuver.

Don’t Forget the Floatation Device

Since paddle boarding is derived from surfing, it’s customary for paddle boarders to not wear vests while boarding. However, this isn’t a choice when it comes to kids, so make sure that they have a personal floatation device on at all times.

And don’t expect that just because they’re already great swimmers that they don’t need one. One of them could end up hitting their head on the board after a fall and lose consciousness. Or they may get trapped under their board. In those instances, a PDF could literally be a lifesaver.

Make Sure they Can Actually Swim

Unlike other water activities like kayaking, the chances of falling off when paddle boarding are very high. So, your child will need to be a competent swimmer before you even think about it. Even with a flotation device, your child may not float in a safe position, so they’ll have to be comfortable enough in the water in order to not panic and reposition themselves.

Teaching your kids how to paddle board is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors and will give you one more thing to do next time you’re at a beach or on vacation. Just make sure that you follow these few simple tips if you want to stay safe and have fun.

Things to Consider When Moving with Kids

June 22, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Moving house can bring about a wealth of different emotions. There’s excitement, worry, fear, joy, and sometimes even laughter. There’s also a certain amount of stress involved, especially if there are kids in the equation. Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to ease the strain on the family and make the process of moving as smooth as possible. Here are some tips to make your next family move an adventure.

Before You Move

There are plenty of things you can do before you move that will make things much easier. Start by holding a family meeting and discussing the moving plans with your kids. If they’re old enough, it’ll be possible to include them in some of the decision making. Take the opportunity to visit your new home as a family or take a virtual tour if it’s too far away. Young children will benefit from learning about the experience of moving, and there is a range of different story books you can read together. If you’ve got friends and family that are offering to help, take them up on their offers. It never helps if you try to take too much on yourself.

Don’t forget to organize your utilities in your new home, including insurance. If you need the best renters insurance NYC, Jetty.com can help.

Packing and Decluttering

Moving house is the perfect opportunity to declutter. Consider adopting this rule of thumb: if you haven’t used something in the last year, then toss it. Try to put any items you don’t want to good use. It might be possible to sell them or donate them. Throwing things in the trash should be a last resort. When it comes to packing enlist the help of your kids, especially their own bedrooms. Give them some boxes and let them write on them to show what’s inside. Leave their favorite toys out until the last minute and pack everything else. Have one box packed with all the essentials you’ll need at the new house, for example, a kettle, bowls, and cups.

Moving Day

When moving day comes, make it a joyful occasion. Pack a picnic basket to be enjoyed along the way. Make sure all the tools you need for assembling the kids’ beds are easily accessible and have fresh sheets ready to hand so that they have somewhere comfortable to sleep on their first night. Your priority should be to get the kids’ rooms set up first and to make them as homely as possible. If you’ve got young children, it might be better if the move takes place when they’re at school or daycare. That way, you don’t have to worry about them getting under your feet.

In Your New Home

Prioritize your unpacking. The bedrooms and kitchen should be a priority and then concentrate on getting the bathroom ready to use. Keep things as similar as possible to your old house and let them set up, decorate, and move items around as they see fit. You may notice a change in their behavior over the next few weeks. This is not uncommon. Just be understanding and give them time to settle in.

Helping Your Child Cope After an Accident

May 17, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Car accidents are traumatic for anyone involved, but particularly for children. Not only will they have their own injuries to cope with, but they’ve also got to experience their caregivers being injured. Children need their parents for safety and security and seeing them injured can make them feel insecure. If your child is involved in a car accident, they’re going to need your help to recover. Here are a few ways you can help them get back on track.

Look Out for Signs of Trauma

Not all children react to such an experience in the same way. Some will be able to shrug it off quite quickly, while others may take a long time to recover. As a parent, you need to be vigilant for signs that your child is not recovering from the trauma. For younger children, it can be a return to more infantile behavior such as bed-wetting and sucking their thumb. If your children are older symptoms can include nightmares, headaches, behavior problems and symptoms of depression.

Be a Good Listener

It’s important for you to offer support by being a good listener. You might think your child doesn’t understand what’s happening to them, but if you take the time to listen to their concerns, they might surprise you. By talking about what happened and how they’re feeling, you will be helping their recovery.

Watch for Signs of PTSD

PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is something your child can develop following an accident, so it’s important you look out for the signs. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares or anxiety. Let them know it’s nothing to worry about and is a normal reaction to trauma while at the same time encouraging them to get back to their normal routine. It’s also important for you to understand that they might not recover without additional therapy and you can make sure they receive it.

Get Legal Help

Your child may need professional counseling or therapy, and they may also need medical care to help them recover from their injuries, all of which are very expensive. You might be entitled to claim for compensation, in which case you’re going to need legal help. If you want to know more about making a compensation claim for whiplash or any other injury visit www.the-compensation-experts.co.uk.

Look After Yourself

Your child may be feeling distressed after the accident, but you’re going to be feeling it too. You’re going to be better prepared to help your child’s recovery if you pay attention to your own feelings and reactions. Take positive steps to take care of yourself such as seeking support from friends, family, and professionals. Find time to relax, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet and make sure you’re getting enough sleep.

It is possible for children to recover from the trauma of an accident as long as they’ve got the love and support of those around them. Sometimes all that’s required is for someone to listen. There are, however, instances when a little more support is required in the form of mental health therapy. Don’t be afraid to reach out for external help when your child has been involved in an accident. Getting help from outside the family can speed up recovery times.

What you need to know to hire a good tradesman

June 26, 2017 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

What you need to know to hire a good tradesman!

When it comes to home renovation or improvement, there are some jobs that are better left to the professionals. But when your home is your castle, it can be difficult to let others work in your beloved home, particularly if it’s someone you’ve had no experience with before. You need to be 100 percent satisfied before offering someone work, no matter how big the job. If you’re want to find a tradesman for plumbing, wiring or other skilled services, then here’s a few tips to keep in mind.

Get to know them first

As a tradesman will be spending a lot of time in your company, it’s important the two of you will be at ease, and you trust them. Before agreeing to a job, phone or meet a potential tradesman. Spending even a few minutes in their company will tell you far more about their character than a letter or advertisement. Home renovations can get emotional, due to the massive cost behind them, so it’s important to find a tradesman who will be personable, friendly and understandable.

Check their qualifications

You need to be sure that the person you hire is capable of doing the work safely and to a high standard. Do you need repairs or improvements on your gas or wiring? If so, then they are required by law to be listed on the Gas Safe Register or a registered electrician. Ask to see their ID cards so you can check, and these do expire, so make sure their qualification is still valid. You should also ask to see a copy of the certificate which lists the company the tradesman studied with as an apprentice and includes a registration number. Any electrical or work that is carried out by someone who isn’t qualified is not only extremely dangerous, but it can affect the value your home if the authorities are alerted to it.

Agree on payments up front

Many falling-outs between tradesmen and customers are due to a misunderstanding about payments. Protect yourself from excess charges by working out a payment schedule with the tradesman up front. Ask for a quote before they start work, and check whether this will include VAT. Once a quote has been agreed upon, the tradesman by law cannot increase the price of work. This is different to an estimate, which is a rough guess of what the service may cost, so be very clear with your terminology. As well as payments, you should make sure that the tradesman completely understands the scope of your work and how much will be required to avoid disagreements down the line.

When you’re looking to hire a tradesman, it pays to do your due diligence, as there are plenty of people out there getting away with substandard work. You can save yourself a headache if you find a tradesmen online on a website like Plentific, which promises an insurance-backed guarantee for all its tradesmen, saving you the hassle of chasing up missing money or shelling out for further repairs.

Fatherhood Friday Tips and Advice – James Rohl AKA Portland Dad

June 5, 2015 by dadofdivas 2 Comments

Our next contribution to Fatherhood Fridays Tips and Advice (T and A – where was your mind?) is from James Rohl also known as Portland Dad who writes at http://www.sahdpdx.com/. My goal with these posts is to share with you great dads that are providing sage advice for you to ponder. I hope that you enjoy and look forward to your comments!

So what are your thoughts on this video and the tips and advice that James Rohl has shared? I look forward to hearing from each of you!

Fatherhood Friday Tips and Advice – Dan Nessel from DadDoes.com

May 29, 2015 by dadofdivas 2 Comments

Our next contribution to Fatherhood Fridays Tips and Advice (T and A – where was your mind?) is from Dan Nessel from DadDoes.com. My goal with these posts is to share with you great dads that are providing sage advice for you to ponder. I hope that you enjoy and look forward to your comments!

So what are your thoughts on this video and the tips and advice that Dan Nessel has shared? I look forward to hearing from each of you!

Fatherhood Friday Tips and Advice – Darius (Clueless Father)

May 22, 2015 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

This is our third contribution to Fatherhood Fridays Tips and Advice is from Darius (Clueless Father) . My goal with these posts is to share with you great dads that are providing sage advice for you to ponder. I hope that you enjoy and look forward to your comments!

So what are your thoughts on this video and the Tips and Advice sharedwithin. I look forward to hearing from each of you!

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Surviving Back To School Shopping #dadchat

August 8, 2014 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Surviving Back To School Shopping

If you go shopping this time of year you’ll most likely see a swarm of moms and dads with kids in tow as they prepare for the soon-approaching school year. Every big box store has television ads and a 10-page spread showing how their sale is better than the next store’s sale. School supply shopping is an arduous task and not for the faint of heart. Lines are long and people can be ruthless. So, instead of making my wife endure the struggle another year, I stepped up to the plate and took our girls along for the mission.

My wife was nice enough to send me out with what could only be perceived as battle tips and I was sure to listen. Stick to the lists, keep an eye on the girls, and don’t forget to use coupons. Easy, right? I thought she was kidding but comparing it to battle was fair. Either way, here’s what I got out of the experience.

Nailing Down The Supplies

Supply shopping can be confusing, particularly since school supply lists can change. Stick with the grade appropriate staple items until the final list comes out. Specialty items are expensive and your child’s particular class may not require the items. Rather than purchasing a new character backpack every year, invest in a more expensive but durable option in their favorite colors. The concept of paying $50 and it lasting several years is much better than paying $15-20 but replacing it every year and sometimes mid-year.

Some stores, particularly office supply stores and department stores, will offer what are referred to as loss leaders – bottom dollar pricing to get you to do all of your supply shopping in their store. If it doesn’t require a drive all over town, it’s worth it to buy these items and move on to the next store. Check the ads to find what stores are offering the best deals. If items are ridiculously cheap but you don’t need them, considering purchasing them to donate to a school supply drive or your child’s own school.

Don’t Go Crazy On Clothes

Kids grow at an alarming rate and clothing be expensive. Everyone wants to look their best on the first day of school but that doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune. When it comes to clothing stick to the basics for now. Limit the kids to one pair of jeans, two tops, and a pair of shoes. Look for items with a bonus, like pants with a free belt or a shirt that can be dressed up. The kids need some new clothes since they’ve likely grown since last year but there’s no need to buy a whole new wardrobe right now. Believe it or not, it’s actually best to shop just after school starts. More than likely, the stores ordered excess and in order to clear the post back-to-school shelves, they’ll mark these items on clearance.

Unwinding At The Hair Salon

Everyone needs a fresh new haircut to start off the school year and this will be the most relaxing part of your day, especially if it’s anything like our experience at Hairzoo. Appointments aren’t necessary at many places but are recommended, especially at busy times like these. If your child is trying a new style, have them bring a picture of their idea with them so there is no confusion. Just be clear in what you’re wanting. Look for coupons or discounts you can use to save any additional money.

All in all, it wasn’t too bad. The crowds rivaled those of holiday shopping and were equally daunting, but I came out ahead with an experience. Best of all, my wife made one of my favorite meals to thank me for freeing up her day.

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