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As a piece of this activity, they must understand how to handle customer requests, customer complaints and refund handling. They should be empowered to address these issues immediately, along with their ability to give customers product samples.
In most cases, the company is represented by impersonal vending equipment more than 90 percent of the time. Of that remaining 10 percent, more than 90 percent of that interval the company is represented by the route driver. Their attitude and service skills will play a major role in the company’s success with customers.
The route driver must be trained in being the person that pays attention to changes at customer locations. A change in client contacts or a visit by competition to the account must be learned quickly in order to protect the business, and a well liked driver will be the company’s first line of defense.
Finally, a new driver must understand that they are route sales people. They are charged with giving the customers what they want and not just filling slots in machines. How they market new products and communicate other changes to customers will play a major role in their success.
Cash Handling/Sales Reporting
Another important aspect of route driver training is proper cash handling and sales reporting.
There are obviously different reporting systems and mechanisms from hand held computers which link with DEX boxes in the machines to issued route tickets. Regardless of which process is used, it is critical to teach the new employee the proper methods to complete the necessary accounting.
In the simple process of collecting each machine, they must be trained in how to collect the coins from the cash box and the dollar bills from the validator. Also, they must be taught to bring the coin mechanism to par so as to not commingle sales with change funds.
The new driver needs to understand their responsibility for managing shortages on their route. They must know company standards and their responsibility for reimbursement of shortages either in changer funds or route sales.
Another important accounting function is taking correct inventories. Whichever system your company utilizes, the new driver must be taught on how to correctly inventory their machines, vehicles and storerooms (if applicable).
