Sales of used fleet vehicles to drivers and other employees have been a staple of the fleet management industry for many years. The difference today is that technology solutions are substantially improving remarketing results on a quantitative, measurable basis, and a qualitative, employee morale level. Results from a recent Automotive Fleet industry survey and from fleet management company LeasePlan USA’s employee sales partnership with Driveitaway offer insight into the real benefits of employee sales compared to other remarketing channels. AF conducted a survey among the 500 largest light-duty fleets. Key findings for the top fleets by driver sales include:

• 35 percent of fleet vehicles are sold directly to employees.

• The average gain over wholesale prices is $502 per vehicle.

• Remarketing proceeds are received in 29 days on average for employee sales compared to an average of 45 days for traditional channels. This 16-day difference translates into an average of $212 in additional depreciation, which doesn’t include additional funds lost to interest and other holding costs. Partnership Produces Results
  A partnership between Driveitaway and LeasePlan USA, utilizing Driveitaway’s Internet-based employee sales remarketing tools, has produced similarly impressive results. According to Bryan Calloway, senior vice president of marketing and business development for LeasePlan USA, clients utilizing the driver and employee sale remarketing platform can sell on average 40-45 percent of fleet vehicles through this channel, with gains of $500 to $900 per unit over wholesale, depending on the model. Clients utilizing the platform include AC Nielsen, Chubb Insurance, Phillips, and Ryerson Tull. The Driveitaway/LeasePlan partnership, labeled “reDrive,” allows clients using the program to shave several weeks off the back end, translating into greater efficiency and tangible financial results. For example, it typically takes six to eight weeks from the time a driver orders a replacement car until the current fleet car is remarketed using traditional remarketing methods. Fleet units sold through employee sales can take about two weeks from order to resale -a substantial difference. Developing a Partnership
  Driveitaway approached LeasePlan two years ago on behalf of major clients looking for improvements in remarketing results following the dismal used-car market of the late 1990s and the post-9/11 period. The two partners were able to integrate the Driveitaway technology platform with LeasePlan’s database of complete vehicle histories and inspection reports, including vehicle photographs. For LeasePlan clients using the system, when the driver orders a new vehicle, an e-mail is generated informing the driver that he or she has 14 days to purchase the fleet vehicle. Pricing is set at a rate 10-15 percent over wholesale values based on National Automobile Dealers Association AuctionNet prices. Following the two-week period, clients usually expand the sale to all company employees, creating a larger sales market. LeasePlan USA recently developed its reDrive program to enhance employee sales, helping clients achieve an additional 12-15 percent employee sales beyond the percentage sold directly to drivers. Improving Employee Loyalty
  One client has asked LeasePlan USA and Driveitaway to create a bidding environment for employee sales, similar to an eBay format. All other clients prefer the set pricing method. Fleet clients tell LeasePlan that their drivers and other employees love the system and plan on purchasing future vehicles this way. Calloway says “it has not only been beneficial as an efficient, upstream remarketing channel, but also helps the company generate more employee enthusiasm and loyalty. These employees define the program as a tangible benefit they receive and enjoy the 24/7 online vehicle shopping experience.” For reDrive’s next generation, LeasePlan is developing an expanded sales system to include additional LeasePlan clients. For example, a company can offer used fleet units first to the vehicle driver, then to its own employees, and, finally, if it chooses, to other LeasePlan clients, broadening the retail buying audience to include thousands of employees at other companies. Beyond that goal, LeasePlan is exploring ways to expand sales to key dealers and wholesale dealer networks, further growing the marketplace for client employee sales. Standard Records Will be Reality
  Calloway looks forward to the day when the industry adopts a uniform vehicle condition report, which would make the business of employee sales more efficient and manageable. Although standardized reports have long been pursued in the remarketing community, Calloway is confident that technology will eventually force the issue. The growth of employee sales and online remarketing will produce a demand for uniform condition reporting that will finally produce the change. Another enhancement to the employee sales remarketing services offered by LeasePlan will be the rollout this year of an extended warranty program. Clients using the employee sales program can offer a three-month, 3,000-mile extended warranty with every vehicle. The new warranty offers fleet managers a better “comfort level” with employee sales, eliminating some of the hassle of functioning as a used-vehicle sales force. Jon LeSage is a freelance writer who regularly covers fleet management and other automotive topics.