Vehicle storage lots, whether impound lots, true storage lots, or even large auto mechanic garages, all face the same problem — storing many cars in a limited amount of space.
This brings up a variety of issues that affect your vehicle storage lot’s efficiency: shuffling around a bunch of cars to get one out takes time, finding the correct set of keys for the right car can be a nightmare, and sometimes the vehicles on your lot won’t start in the first place.
If you want to discover how to boost your car lot management efficiency, you’re in the right place!
Our 5 Best Car Lot Management Tips
1. Parking Lot Design
One of the best ways to boost the overall efficiency of your vehicle storage lot is to take a close look at the design of your parking lot. The more vehicles you can fit on your lot in a safe, organized fashion, the better chances you have at increasing both efficiency and productivity.
In the past, it was common just to paint parking lot lines wherever they’d fit, with general guidelines for the space of each parking spot. Today, there are plenty of ways to maximize your parking lot to fit the most cars in safely. Here are a few options:
- You can designate some spots for smaller, compact cars while leaving a specific section for larger vehicles. Since compact cars don’t need as much space in a parking spot as trucks, you can add in quite a few additional spots this way.
- Most passenger vehicles fall into a few standard sizes, widths, and lengths. Optimizing your parking spaces to fit those specific sizes can save you a lot of space and make your vehicle storage lot much more efficient.
- Another consideration to make is angled parking spots. Often, you can fit more and longer cars into smaller spaces by implementing angled parking.
The simpler and more accessible the parking lot design, the easier it will be for employees to locate and maneuver vehicles around the lot. Plus, redesigning your lot is as simple as repainting parking space lines the next time you have your lot resurfaced.
2. On-Site Towing Equipment
If your vehicle storage lot or impound facility faces expensive towing fees to move vehicles across the lot, investing in on-site towing equipment is worth it. You can purchase high-quality tools at a fraction of your yearly towing expense.
The Forklift Wrecker, for example, comes at a low investment cost and is easily installed on any forklift. Since the Forklift Wrecker is compact and easily maneuverable, you don’t have to worry about pulling vehicles from tight parking spaces or backing a huge wrecker into a dead-end parking lot.
Not only does on-site towing equipment like the Forklift Wrecker save you money in towing fees, but it also improves the overall efficiency of your vehicle storage lot. You don’t have to worry about finding keys to vehicles or trying to jump their batteries — you can simply tow them safely wherever they need to go without any additional time spent or hassle.
3. Regular Maintenance Checks
Regular maintenance checks on vehicles stored in your lot can prevent unexpected issues that may cause delays and inefficiencies. We recommend implementing a schedule for checking battery levels, tire pressure, and overall vehicle condition.
This proactive approach helps identify and address potential problems before they escalate, reducing downtime and ensuring vehicles are ready for quick retrieval when needed.
4. Streamlined Documentation and Communication
Establishing streamlined processes for documenting and communicating information about vehicles in your lot is crucial. Use digital systems or software to track vehicle statuses, maintenance history, and any special instructions. Clear and efficient employee communication regarding vehicle locations, maintenance needs, and retrieval requests minimizes confusion and improves overall operational efficiency.
By incorporating these additional tips into your car lot management strategies, you can further enhance efficiency and productivity in your vehicle storage lot.
5. Vehicle Management Software
Investing in software doesn’t always make sense for smaller auto mechanic garages. But if you have an impound lot or a vehicle storage center, vehicle management software can reduce the time spent searching for and shuffling around vehicles to extricate the right one.
Vehicle management software works to categorize every vehicle on your lot. It saves information about where each vehicle is parked, why it’s on your lot, and when it’s coming off the lot. With this information at your fingertips, you can easily optimize how you park each vehicle to minimize shuffling when you need to remove it and save your employees time finding cars that need to be moved.
Discover Affordable Solutions for Your Vehicle Storage Lot
If you’re looking for ways to make your vehicle storage lot operate more efficiently, the team at Forklift Wrecker would love to help. Our equipment is affordable, easy to use, and well-loved by vehicle storage lots nationwide. Give us a call at 877-593-6959 or view our features guide to learn more!
Legal Disclaimer: The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely upon the material or information on the website as a basis for making business, legal or other decisions.
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