3 REASONS WHY A FREE COMPANY CAR IS THE EPITOME OF AWESOMENESS!
3 REASONS WHY DRIVING A FREE COMPANY CAR IS THE EPITOME OF AWESOMENESS!
1-IT’S FREE! – Driving a free company car...This is the perk I miss the most about being a pharmaceutical sales rep. For 6 years I was blessed to drive a free company vehicle. This perk was worth upwards of $8,000 a year.
All big pharma companies provide their outside sales representatives with company vehicles. This is considered one of the best perks of being a pharmaceutical sales rep. Nowhere else is someone going to give you a free car, except maybe on The Price is Right. I was blessed to drive three free company cars during my 6 years as a pharmaceutical sales rep.
A) 2004 Chevy Impala: Roomy, reliable, “The Pimpala” as she 
was affectionally called by my friends. She got the job done, with power to spare.
B) 2006 Dodge Charger: “The Charger” was my favorite company vehicle. Ever since I was a little kid, I dreamed of driving a 
muscle car like the ones I saw on The Dukes of Hazard with the Charger my dream came true. I did have to pay $700 to upgrade from a Chevy Impala to the Charger, the upgrade was worth every penny.
C) 2009 Chevy Malibu: “The Boo” is what I called her. Surprisingly stylish, reliable, not very powerful, but she got the job done, and rather efficiently, I might add.
The latter 2 vehicles were brand new fresh from the factory when I received them, after ordering through my company. I drove both The Charger and the Malibu fresh off the lot from mile #1, how awesome is that?
KEY QUESTION: Ask your interviewer what type of fleet vehicle the company provides? I have seen drug reps and managers driving company pretty sweet company vehicles other the years anything from a Chrysler 300, to Saab, to Volvo’s and so on.
2-FREE GAS! – Yes, you read that correctly. As a Big Pharma drug rep your gas is free! Holy cow is right! With gas prices consistently hovering around $3.00 a gallon for the past 6 years, this was a huge perk. As a drug rep I received a gas card that stayed in the visor of my vehicle. Each time I filled up I simply swiped my card, entered the code and mileage and went on my merry way, never having to think twice about gas prices. No money out of pocket. Even sweeter I never personally saw a bill or a statement! The company took care of everything.
My estimated savings in fuel costs is over $15,000! 150,000 miles driven, over 6 years, divided by 300 miles per full tank of gas = 500 fill ups x $3.00 per gallon = $15,000 in fuel costs.
3-FREE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS – Need an oil change? Tire pressure low? Brakes squeaking? Tires balding? Engine light on? No worries, simply take your car to the nearest service station and Fleet Vehicle Services will take care of it.
Now that I had to go out and purchase my own vehicle I realize how blessed I was to have a free company car. No doubt I miss it. Fortunately my new career comes with some pretty cool perks as well.
What is your favorite perk of your current or a past job?
