Blog
April 27, 2021
Fleet Management is a tough job. It can be hard to stay on top of all the latest changes in technology and regulations, in addition to ensuring smooth operations within your fleet. The key to success for any fleet manager is knowing how to balance cost-cutting with growth.
With a strong management system in place, you can control costs and maximize efficiency of your vehicle tracking systems better than ever before. The process may sound simple on paper but without proper training, it can easily be overwhelming – which could lead to fleet managers making costly mistakes such as lost time or money well into the future. To help you avoid some common pitfalls, here are 6 tips for fleet managers who are looking for growth.
1. Think Big Picture
To help you meet the needs of your future fleet, it is important to plan for both success and failure. You must be prepared when things go well so that you don’t have a major hiccup in growth. Businesses that plan for an increase in customer demand and think from a scalability standpoint will have higher profitability and better long-term prospects than those who don’t take precautions now.
2. Be a True Manager by Leading Your Team Members
Many people try to go at it alone and that’s a mistake. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Talk with technicians, drivers, or anyone else who has the information and insight onto your daily operations. You will find that your team on the ground can provide feedback on anything from vehicle specs to procedures that are inefficiently run.
3. Take Necessary Risks
Develop an open mindset and be willing to explore other departments within your company. They might have something that can help you meet the needs of your fleet in ways you never considered before!
4. Streamline Vehicle Maintenance As Much As Possible
If you want your drivers to maintain their vehicles, so that the organization gets the most value out of each and every car or truck, make it easy for them to do so.
With the help of fleet management software, you can create efficient maintenance workflows that streamline processes and maximize uptime.
While you want to make taking vehicles in for maintenance as easy and effortless as possible, it’s also important that there are helpful reminders in place for your drivers. A simple email reminder or notes on your calendar, or even an automated text messaging system might be the best way to plan ahead for the maintenance that requires attention from time-to-time.
5. Track Everything
Collecting the necessary metrics for your vehicles, drivers, and mechanics is essential to understanding whether or not you need to optimize fleet utilization and/or make the necessary decisions in the future. As a fleet manager, there are some metrics that you should be aware of:
- Vehicle Operational Conditions (includes fuel consumption efficiency)
- Driver Performance & Training Compliance Recordings by Video Camera Technology
- Contractual & Warranty Details for Every Vehicle that is Purchased and/or Leased
- Accident Rate For Your Drivers
6. Implement New Technologies Like Geofencing
Technology is ever-changing. Some technological advancements might seem daunting at first, but others can help your fleet become more efficient or provide better safety and opportunities for you to grow in the future. For example, geofencing is a great tool to help you improve your overall fleet operation.
Geofencing creates a virtual perimeter around an area and does so remotely. With the geofence in place, you’ll receive alerts any time an asset enters or leaves that location. You will know immediately if something is out of order after hours which could be theft via remote access to your surveillance system.
The Bottom Line
As you continue to expand your business, new challenges will certainly arise. As a fleet manager it’s crucial to stay focused on your main objective, and seek help from partners when they can add value to your operations.
TransForce Group’s help fleet managers expand their businesses every day with our CDL driver and diesel mechanic staffing solutions.
