Fleet management is a must for any vehicle owner. Fleet management can help you save time, money, and resources while also being a great way to boost the efficiency of your business. We’ll explore what you need to consider when it comes to fleet management, including mileage tracking, GPS capabilities, and even fuel efficiency. Let’s start!
What Is Fleet Management?
Fleet management is a broad term that applies to the management of any number of vehicles. It can include anything from a single vehicle to thousands across hundreds of locations, and everything in between. Fleet managers need to keep an eye on several items, including mileage tracking, fuel efficiency, trailer utilization, GPS tracking of employees and employees’ vehicles, fueling records, maintenance schedules, driver behavior logs, security cameras for employee safety, and more. This is especially important for large businesses with a significant number of vehicles.
The Basics of Fleet Management
To have a smart fleet system set up, you’ll need certain basics in place moving forward. This includes: A reliable software platform Auto-enrollment for all employees An easy way to check the status of each business vehicle A good warranty program in place
Vehicle Usage Tracking
Keeping track of how each vehicle is being used will allow you to make better decisions when it comes to maintenance, repairs, replacement costs, and more. The best way to do this is through a mileage tracking system. Add up the total miles driven by all employees for a given time period using GPS tracking software. This can be done with something as simple as an Excel spreadsheet or an automatically generated report. Mileage data should be compared against the manufacturer’s recommended intervals for every service performed to determine if additional work needs to be done preemptively to avoid costly repairs down the road.
Fuel Efficiency
Fleet managers should also keep track of fuel efficiency to maximize savings. How much does it cost to fill up your car or truck? This is something that can be determined by tracking every fill-up with a quick swipe over a gas card. Figure out what types of mileage are being achieved on average, and what type of performance your fleet is seeing overall. Maintenance costs and vehicle replacements should factor this information into their calculations when budgeting for the future.
GPS Monitoring for Employees and Vehicles
Keeping track of where every single vehicle is at any given time might seem like an excessive amount of data to handle, save for in some cases. Knowing whether or not each employee arrived at work safely is a great way to ensure safety for both employees and the public. GPS tracking can also be used in unfortunate events when an accident does occur, or in the case of employee misconduct on company time. These are all legitimate reasons for using GPS monitoring software in business fleets.
Keeping Tabs On Your Fleet At All Times
Fleet managers must keep an eye on their fleet at all times. You’ll need quick access to data on location, what routes are being taken by each vehicle, who is driving which car, maintenance reports, fuel logs, accidents, driver behavior logs, speed maps generated by GPS tracking software, weather reports sent straight to each vehicle equipped with connected technology…the list goes on and on. Without such an information hub, fleet managers will find it difficult to garner the insights they need to make educated decisions moving forward.
Maintenance Planning
Keeping track of when certain maintenance tasks should be performed in the future is also important to ensure they get done by employees who might not prioritize it on their own. Look at every service your vehicle needs, and create a calendar for when each one should be completed.
Security Systems
Security systems for several different applications are a must in the modern business world. Cameras can be used to monitor employee safety and vehicle usage, especially in large lots with dozens of cars coming and going throughout the day. Security cameras can also be used to keep track of exactly who is driving each company car at any given time, helping fleet managers figure out when employees may need additional training or discipline as necessary.
Telematics
Telematics is a method of tracking data related to vehicle maintenance, fuel efficiency, and more. This includes speed alerts, hard braking events, harsh acceleration events, idling time for each driver, and even if the windows are open or closed. Fleet managers need all this information at their fingertips to make informed decisions about speeding tickets or preventative maintenance on any given vehicle.
What You Should Do First
When it comes to fleet management, the first thing you should do is make a plan and stick to it. Decide what your long-term goals are before you move forward with any tangible actions or investments that will need to be made. Setting up an information hub utilizing various software solutions that encompass everything listed above can also help with achieving success in any area of business you’re looking to grow.
The best way to save money when it comes to fleet management is through preventative maintenance and accurate tracking of all mileage and fuel efficiency data. This can help avoid costly car repairs in the future, while also ensuring every vehicle has the most optimal level of performance moving forward.
Make sure your employees understand their responsibilities when it comes to managing company vehicles, and that means more than just driving safely. It’s also important for them to know how to perform routine maintenance tasks themselves or seek assistance when necessary. Lastly, make sure you’re aware of any additional legal requirements your company may need to follow related to fleet management, especially if you plan on using GPS monitoring software with enough detail available for public consumption.
Vehicle fleet management is an important term that refers to the process of keeping track of any number of vehicles used across your business or company. It can include anything from tracking mileage and fuel efficiency to GPS monitoring employee behavior and whereabouts, accident reports, driver logs…you name it! The more information you have access to about your fleet’s status overall, the better decisions you’ll make moving forward with expenses like repairs, replacements, and employee training.