Being in charge of a fleet of any size can be a fulfilling and exciting role, but it also comes with many challenges.
If you’re keen to find innovative ways to tackle potential obstacles, while streamlining the management of your fleet and boosting its productivity at the same time, read on for some valuable insights.
With the help of these expert tips, you should find yourself well-equipped to meet any challenge that may arise on a day-to-day basis. Most importantly, the efficiency of your drivers is sure to improve, which will mean happy customers and – hopefully – more repeat business.
Invest In Fleet Tracking Technology
One of the most effective ways to gain an accurate insight into your fleet’s current rates of productivity – and determine the best ways to improve them – is to consider specialist software.
GPS fleet tracking software, like the tracking solution provided by FleetGO, provides easily accessible real-time data on every vehicle in your fleet. This data includes their current locations, their routes, the time spent in different locations, and how far they have travelled.
Using this software, you will not only be able to maximise the efficiency of your drivers, but you will also be able to check for any suspicious behaviour.
Embrace The Convenience Of Automation
Years ago, the task of managing a fleet required a lot of paperwork and time-consuming administrative tasks.
These days, the advent of a wealth of cutting-edge technology, including a wide range of specialized fleet management software solutions like CameraMatics, means that you can automate many of your day-to-day processes. Not only does this make your role more effective and convenient, it also reduces the risk of human error and can save you time and money.
So many elements of fleet management can be automated, from generating reports about the health of your fleet, to analysing data and monitoring patterns of fuel usage.
Maintain Your Vehicles
One of the cornerstones of an efficient fleet is responsible vehicle maintenance. Whether your fleet consists of cars, vans, or lorries, it’s vital that every vehicle is part of a thorough and frequent maintenance program to maximise the productivity of your drivers.
As well as conducting any necessary repairs or tune-ups, maintenance reports should be kept assiduously. These reports will help you determine which vehicles may be nearing the end of their life cycle and require replacement.
Keeping an older vehicle that is beginning to show serious signs of wear can cost you money and time if they break down. They can also pose a threat to the safety of your drivers. Subsequently, it’s important that you replace any deteriorating vehicles for newer and more reliable models; while it may cost money in the short-term, it could save you thousands in the long run, and quickly improve your fleet’s efficiency.
Keep Tabs On Your Drivers
The success or failure of a fleet depends to a large extent on the performance of its drivers as well as its vehicles.
It goes without saying that inefficient or reckless driving can cause serious problems for your business, particularly if they cause an accident or damage someone’s property.
While you can minimise the risk of poor driving decisions by making sure you only hire drivers with a clean license, there are other measures you can take to protect your business against the ramifications of bad driving.
These include analysing the data from your GPS fleet tracking software, to check for any suspicious behaviour, and assess any bad habits, such as hard braking and speeding.
You can also invest in a road safety program that will teach your drivers a variety of essential defensive driving techniques, such as being hesitant to trust indicators, and pulling over if another driver is steering erratically or coming too close.
Introducing regular refresher courses will ensure that all of your drivers are up to speed on safe and effective driving protocol, which should minimise the risk of accidents and improve productivity at the same time.
Introduce A Fuel Spending Program
As you surely already know, fuel is one of the most significant costs for fleets, no matter what their size.
To prevent problems such as overspending on fuel, or fuel wastage, you may want to consider implementing a fuel spend program for your drivers. By giving each driver their own company card, which they can use to pay for fuel while driving one of your fleet vehicles, you will be able to monitor each individual driver’s fuelling habits and expenditure.
As well as collecting individual fuel data, you should also analyse your fleet’s fuel usage as a whole. Using this information, you can then plan your budget around the expected fuel consumption for the coming weeks, factoring in the current fuel prices, which have been somewhat up and down in recent months as a result of global issues.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are a number of methods you can use to not only cut down on wasted time and fuel, but also enhance the safety and productivity of your fleet. Using technology to your advantage will revolutionise your daily tasks and will help you consistently maximise the performance of every driver and vehicle in your charge.
Discover effective strategies to enhance your fleet’s productivity in this insightful article on fleet productivity tips. If you need legal assistance regarding truck accidents, consider reaching out to https://munley.com/truck-accident-lawyer/ for guidance and support.
