While it may still feel like winter in many places, spring and the warmer temperatures that come with it are just around the corner. And for many route owners, the lull between January and the spring rush of deliveries is a great time for getting your FedEx Ground route ready for summer. And of course, this includes a variety of spring cleaning tasks.
Even if you are just considering purchasing a FedEx Ground route, these are great tasks to keep in mind as you get started and in your journey along the way.
Clean up Your Vehicles
First of all, most of us know even with our personal vehicles that there is a checklist of things to do each spring to ensure your vehicle is in good working order after the long winter months. This is true of commercial vehicles too. Tasks include:
- Wash and wax the exterior of your vehicles, or have it done professionally. Be sure to inspect your paint job as well, to see if it needs touched up or repaired.
- Make any needed body repairs. Small dents, nicks, or even rock chips in your windshield can be repaired at this time.
- Clean, disinfect, and organize the interior of your vehicles. Be sure to dust the dash, clean the instrument cluster, and inspect everything for damage along the way.
- Clean floors and seats, and inspect the operation of seat belts, safety equipment, and AC if you have it in your vehicle.
- Replace the cabin air filter if you have one. This should be a part of your regular maintenance routine anyway.
- Inspect and replace wiper blades as needed.
- Have the fluids, including oil, coolant, and transmission fluid inspected and replaced as needed.
- Check your tires, bearings, running lights, and all exterior items like mirrors and backup cameras.
If you are just looking to buy a route, this is something you should look at for every vehicle that comes with the route, or every used vehicle you plan to purchase. And when you are maintaining a route, this should be an annual process.
Clean up Your Finances
The end of peak season and the transition to a new year can be a hectic time, but at the same time you are getting your FedEx Ground route ready for summer, it is also nearing tax time. This is also a good time to look at the efficiency of your route and how you can make your processes better while at the same time saving yourself money.
- Look at your costs and where you can potentially cut expenses.
- Clarify your cashflow and profit and loss sheets and make sure they are in order. Use these to project your income for the following year and anticipate growth.
- Look at your ROI for the last year and determine ways you may be able to increase your profit margins.
- If you employ drivers, look at cost of living increases and be sure to offer raises and incentives that keep them interested in working for you and your business. Remember, if inflation is higher than the wage increase you offer, your workers are actually getting a cut in pay, and it is way more expensive to hire someone new than keeping a current employee.
This is where the advice to run your business like you might sell it or leave it any day comes in. Make sure that as much as possible, your financial records are up to date. This is especially true if you plan to sell your route anytime soon. If you are looking to purchase a route, ensure that ones you look at meet this criteria.
A route broker can help you ensure a route is a good investment.
Getting Your FedEx Ground Route Ready for Warmer Weather
Finally, simply get your route ready. You may want to change your schedule slightly when more kids are home from school and spending time in parks or on the streets in residential areas. You’ll have to watch for pets, parents, and areas around daycares and other summer programs.
It also may be time to change to summer attire. Make sure you and your drivers have rain jackets, shorts for warm weather, and appropriate summer footwear.
In general, you may do some things differently with your route in the summer months. Some shippers will send more packages, others will send less. Note these trends and be prepared.
Prepare for Your Future
The most common and sometimes the best time to buy or sell a route is in the spring or summer. So when you are ready to do either, you need to be ready. Prepare for your future, whatever that means for you.
This could include getting your route ready to sell, getting your finances ready to buy a new route or even expand your business through buying another route or two. Either way, when you’re ready, contact us at Route Advisors. We’d love to discuss the options with you, and we’ll be your partner every step of the way.