The habits of business travellers flashed by Enterprise

Last March, Enterprise surveyed a thousand French professionals who drive for business reasons. They are ready to get back on the road after months of paralysis. The number of business trips they make has dropped from five to two per month during the pandemic. And four out of ten business travellers are now planning to make a business trip in the next 6 months. This trip will probably be devoted to customer visitwhich is the main reason for travel according to the Enterprise study, with an average distance of 370 kilometres. " The virus has changed mobility needs, which have not completely stopped with the pandemic but have focused on essential travel. "says Guirec Grand Clément, Director of Operations at Enterprise France.

Ready to hit the road again, but under what conditions? According to the data collected by Enterprise, road warriors don't always have the right reflexes, particularly when it comes tovehicle maintenance. The first finding is that the majority of French business travellers (54%) use their private vehicle for business trips. This compares with 44% in the UK and 50% in Germany. The problem is that maintenance is not always up to scratch, as Guirec Grand Clément points out: " The use of private cars for business travel is becoming more of a challenge than ever for employers. With more and more people teleworking and the used car market doing well, many employees are now considering buying a used car and using it for business travel. Unfortunately, there is a real lack of rigour when it comes to long-term maintenance, which has consequences for both the driver and his or her employer. ".

An "incoherent" interview

The study carried out by Enterprise confirms this finding. In particular, it points to "inconsistent" maintenance. Three quarters of professionals (75%) clean the outside and inside of their vehicle before going out on business. But 37 % did not check their oil level, 49 % did not check the brake lights, and 36 % did not open the bonnet. In addition, tyre pressure was not checked by 311 % of travellers, and the same was true of headlights for 451 %... Worse still: the headlights on their vehicle do not necessarily alert their driver. In fact, a third of those surveyed (33 %) said that they were " currently have a warning light on their dashboard and, of these, 43 % do not plan to have it checked before their next business trip ".

not carrying out basic safety checks on these vehicles can mean missed meetings

" Failure to carry out basic safety checks on these vehicles can mean missed meetings - or it can lead to a road accident where the employer may be liable. "Guirec Grand-Clément points out, backed up by the figures from the study: 28% of French drivers admit that they have already been late for a business meeting because of a problem with their vehicle. " This is why more companies should consider offering alternative transport options - such as car rental and car club, to ensure that their vehicles are always properly maintained - and thus better manage to reduce their costs. "continues Guirec Grand-Clément.

Diesel dominates, electrics lag behind

Finally, it should be noted that there is still a long way to go when it comes to the environment. The Enterprise study estimates that diesel vehicles dominate business travel, accounting for 47%, compared with 41% for petrol cars, 7% for hybrids and only 5% for electric vehicles. " Despite various policies aimed at reducing the use of diesel, it still has many fans "The authors of the study note. " The reason is undoubtedly the balance between cost and distance, which are the most important factors in the choice of means of transport, with diesel being favoured by drivers looking for a fuel-efficient vehicle. While diesel may be a logical choice for some, it is clear that the measures put in place to promote clean energy are calling its future into question, and raising the question of alternative solutions. "they add.