by Dawn Hawkins

Created on: May 17, 2009

Driving a company car means that you should follow some simple guidelines. Your are driving that vehicles on the companies dime. That means that you should treat it as though you are borrowing the car from a friend. That is , in fact, what you are doing. There is an etiquette that you should follow when taking the keys from your boss.

Here are some tips to ensure that you are taking proper care when driving a company vehicle:

Speed

Be very careful about following the correct speed limit. If you are pulled over, your boss will find out about it. He will also not be happy about it. You should be aware that most companies that allow employees to drive its vehicles will usually expect you to pay for any fines that you receive due to carelessness. These funds can be taken out of your pay. The company expects you to obey speed limits and all other laws while driving.

No Smoking Zone

Unless your employer has said it is okay to smoke in the company vehicle, you should not do it. Although many people have quit smoking, there is still a large amount of people that still do it. If you truly feel the need to light up, pull over somewhere to do it. It is very difficult to get the smoke smell out of a vehicle. It is unlikely that you will cover up the smell before your boss notices it. Not smoking in the vehicle also avoid other problems such as accidently burning the seats or other similar issues.

Reputation of the Company

When you are driving out there, you should remember that the company's reputation is on the line. Everything that you do will come back on the company. If you drive badly, someone will know that you represent the company's interests and they will be looked upon poorly. This includes road rage, tailgating or speeding past someone that is doing the speed limit. Use care when driving. How you handle situations out on the road can lose your job if you make the wrong choices.

Company Business Only

When you have been given a company vehicle to take home, that doesn't mean that you can use it for anything that you want to. Most companies only want you to use it for their business. Personal business is off limits. Avoid making this mistake. It looks bad on you and the company to use the car for whatever you feel like. It is a waste of money and it is also using the company's money. That is not the intent that an employer has in mind when they give you a car. You can and will get caught doing it. That can create a great deal of trouble for you in the long run. This includes dismal from your job. Ask yourself if it's really worth it before you do it.

In effect, you are borrowing a car from your boss for a while. Whether you are using it for a few hours while you are at work or you are taking it home, you should treat it as you would want someone to treat your vehicle if they borrowed it. It only takes a little common sense to successfully use the company vehicle for the reasons that you are supposed to and without getting your boss upset with you.

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