It’s no secret that fleet maintenance is essential to the operation of any fleet. It serves the pivotal function of addressing its overall state and is key to ensuring that vehicles are on the road and making money as much as possible.
But that’s not to say all ways of performing fleet maintenance are the same – there are definitely better ways to optimize efficiency. After all, a well-oiled machine is one that’s running as close to its potential as possible.
In this post, we’ll discuss how effective fleet maintenance can help you run a leaner, meaner operation – and save money in the process.
How Fleet Maintenance Improves Efficiency
The first thing to understand is that fleet maintenance and fleet efficiency are two sides of the same coin. Just as you wouldn’t expect a car to run without gas, you can’t have an effective fleet without properly maintaining it.
Proper maintenance helps to ensure that your vehicles are running as efficiently as possible. This, in turn, saves you money on things like fuel, repairs, and even vehicle replacement.
What Is Effective Fleet Maintenance?
To understand how to optimize your fleet, we first need to know what effective fleet maintenance looks like.
At its core, effective fleet maintenance is a proactive process, rather than a reactive one. It means staying well ahead of repairs with regularly scheduled check-ups, implementing best practices, and using high-quality parts and products.
The right solution will help minimize downtime and keep your vehicles on the road, whether by tracking maintenance records or scheduling future appointments.
Helps to avoid breakdowns: By catching problems early and addressing them head-on, you can help to avoid larger issues down the road. This not only saves you money in repairs, it also keeps your vehicles on the road and keeps your organization profitable.
Increases fuel efficiency: Regular maintenance helps to keep your vehicles running smoothly, which can lead to increased fuel efficiency. This lowers your overall operating costs and helps you save money at the pump.
Improves vehicle lifespan: Properly maintaining your fleet extends the life of your vehicles. This not only saves you money on replacement costs, but it also minimizes downtime.
Reduces repair costs: Because small problems have a tendency to snowball into larger, more expensive ones, addressing issues early on can help to reduce the cost of repairs.
Boosts productivity: Automating your fleet maintenance processes helps keep your fleet running smoothly, minimizes downtime and maximizes productivity.
Tips For Optimizing Your Fleet Maintenance
Schedule Regular Inspections
By scheduling regular inspections, you can catch problems early and prevent them from turning into larger issues. This helps to keep your vehicles on the road and minimizes downtime.
Use High-Quality Parts And Products
Using high-quality parts and products helps to ensure that your vehicles are running smoothly. This, in turn, increases fuel efficiency and extends the life of your vehicles.
Keep Accurate Records
Keeping accurate records is essential for effective fleet maintenance. This helps you to track maintenance history, schedule future appointments, and troubleshoot problems.
Automating these processes by digitally recording your maintenance data is the most time-efficient and cost-effective way to ensure data accuracy and easy access.
Develop a Preventative Maintenance Plan
Developing a preventative maintenance plan helps you to stay ahead of the curve and avoid problems before they start. This includes things like regularly scheduled check-ups and using operational best practices.
Work with a Fleet Maintenance Partner
Fleet maintenance is critical for any fleet-based business, but it’s only effective if done correctly.
An optimized maintenance program will result in fewer breakdowns, increased fuel efficiency, improved vehicle lifespan, reduced repair costs, and boosted productivity. All of this leads to a lower total cost of ownership.
Whether you’re tracking records, scheduling appointments or just want to stay organized, working with a fleet maintenance partner can help to take your program to the next level.
Your consultants at GoFleet can provide expert advice, and around-the-clock support. Contact us today.
Frequently, commercial fleets tend to get stuck with maintenance inefficiencies, simply because it’s “easier” than trying something new. With an exponential increase in maintenance expenses paired with advances in fleet connectivity, now is the time to think about upgrading your fleet maintenance strategy.
What is Fleet Maintenance?
Fleet maintenance keeps your vehicles operating in good condition so that they remain reliable and safe. A proper fleet maintenance strategy will also extend the life of your vehicles on the road and is an important part of managing a fleet.
TechTarget identifies fleet management as “an administrative approach that allows companies to organize and coordinate work vehicles with the aim to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and provide compliance with government regulations.” Proper fleet maintenance will reduce your operating costs and improve inspection outcomes, keeping your engines in good health and your drivers safe.
The Importance of Efficient Fleet Maintenance
Maintenance is the cornerstone of any successful fleet. Without vehicles that function properly, your operations will inevitably come to a grinding halt. Sticking with an outdated fleet maintenance strategy will only end up hurting you in the long run.
How?
Higher repair costs, more downtime, and less productive drivers to start. It’s also worth considering how much time is wasted using an inefficient system. In today’s fast-paced world, time is money – the sooner you can get your vehicles back on the road, the better.
The following strategies will help improve fleet maintenance and keep your vehicles on the road, where they belong.
1. Establish Standards For Vehicle Maintenance Performance
The first step towards having an efficient fleet maintenance strategy is to establish standards for performance. This means setting measurable goals for things like fuel economy, brake life, and scheduled downtime.
This simple step will give you a better idea of how well your vehicles are performing and where you might need to make changes in order to improve efficiency. It also provides a baseline against which you can compare future results.
2. Keep Track of All Maintenance Records Electronically
Another important part of running an efficient fleet is keeping track of all its maintenance data in an accessible and digital format.
From vehicle inspections and repairs to scheduled maintenance and downtime, these data sets will keep everyone up to date and reduce manual tracking. Using a vehicle inspection app simplifies record-keeping and inspection processes, ensuring everyone has the latest information. Digital tracking also offers several advantages. First, it allows you to easily access records and track trends over time. Second, tracking makes it possible to share information with other members of your team quickly and easily.
Finally, tracking helps you avoid losing important data if something were to happen to your physical records.
3. Invest in the Right Tools and Technology
If you want your fleet to be as efficient as possible, you need to invest in the right tools and technology. This includes GPS tracking devices, electronic logging devices, and software that can help you to better manage your operations.
Using these maintenance tools will help you to save time and money, while also improving the overall safety and efficiency of your fleet.
4. Create a Service Schedule for Each Vehicle
One of the best ways to ensure that your fleet is running efficiently is to create a service schedule for each individual vehicle. This schedule should include things like oil changes, tire rotations, and other routine maintenance tasks.
Creating a service schedule will help keep your vehicles in good working condition and minimize the risk of unexpected breakdowns.
5. Keep Tabs On Inspections
Inspections are essential when it comes to properly caring for and reducing the maintenance needs of any fleet. Not only are they necessary to log and track issues with a vehicle, but they can also help to identify potential problems before they become more serious.
As such, it’s important to keep tabs on all inspections that are carried out on your fleet. This includes everything from routine safety checks to more comprehensive annual inspections.
6. Outsource Your Fleet Maintenance Strategy to a Specialist
If you don’t have the time or resources to properly maintain your fleet, you may want to consider outsourcing this task to a specialist.
GoFleet, for example, offers fleet maintenance strategies, and they can help to keep your vehicles in good condition while also saving you time and money.
Making even a few small changes to the way you manage your fleet can have a big impact on its overall efficiency. By following the tips in this article, you can make sure that your fleet is running as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
Is your fleet currently using an outdated fleet maintenance strategy? Contact a GoFleet consultant and ask how we can help take your fleet maintenance to the next level.
Fuel is one of the most fluid factors – literally and figuratively – to determine the success of fleet management. Whether one considers price hikes or supply chain issues, fuel economy for fleets remains top of mind for all fleet companies.
While you may not be able to control the fuel market’s volatility, there are factors to consider when it comes to fuel consumption; namely how much your vehicles use, and where you can find areas of improvement.
In this article, we’ll discuss fuel efficiency and how a fleet management solution can positively impact your bottom line.
Why Focus on Fuel?
Fuel expenses constitute up to 60% of a fleet’s operational costs, making it the second-largest expense for most fleets and an ideal area of focus when looking to optimize a fleet’s operational efficiency.
Investing in a solution that optimizes your fleet and makes it more fuel efficient has a profound impact on your company’s budget and environmental sustainability efforts – two areas of focus for most of today’s business leaders.
What Affects Fuel Economy for Fleets?
There are a variety of factors that affect fuel efficiency, including:
Idling
Speeding
Driving Habits
Payload
Route planning and optimization
Fortunately, fleet management solutions can help fleet managers keep tabs on all of these factors – and more – to ensure optimal fuel efficiency.
Idling
Leaving a vehicle’s engine running while parked or not in use is a major contributor to wasted fuel. In fact, idling for just ten seconds can consume the same amount of fuel as restarting the engine.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), vehicles that idle more than 50% of the time when in use require more maintenance and cost fleets more money.
While there may be some instances where idling is unavoidable, such as in the case of emergency vehicles or delivery trucks that need to keep their refrigerators running, an automated, scalable fleet management system can identify idling patterns and offer solutions.
Speeding
While speeding may get drivers to their destination more quickly, it also significantly reduces fuel efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that for every 5 mph over 50 mph, fuel economy for fleets decreases significantly.
A fleet management solution, such as GPS tracking, allows fleet managers to monitor speeding events and correct them in real-time. Some fleet management solutions also trigger speed limit alerts that notify drivers when they are exceeding the posted limit.
Vehicle Weight
A recent UK study found that fuel consumption increased by 0.112 mpg on average for every tonne of payload added. Essentially, the heavier a vehicle, the more fuel it will consume. That’s why it’s important to ensure that vehicles are not carrying unnecessary weight, even when it’s in the spirit of reducing trips.
Telematics data is one way to monitor your vehicles and their payload to ensure compliance with weight restrictions. For example, a fuel management system enables fleet managers to track fuel usage patterns across their fleet.
Driving Habits
It’s not just speeding that can impact fuel economy for fleets. Aggressive driving habits, such as hard acceleration and braking, can also lead to wasted fuel. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that “jack-rabbit” starts and harsh braking can increase fuel consumption by as much as 40%.
Fortunately, telematics data can help to identify patterns of aggressive driving so that fleet managers can address the issue with drivers. In addition, some fleet management solutions offer features such as driver coaching that can help to improve driving habits and optimize fuel efficiency.
Route Planning and Optimization
An inefficient or poorly planned route can lead to a lot of wasted fuel – not to mention wasted time. By using a fleet management solution, fleet managers can plan and optimize routes based on real-time traffic data, which can help avoid congestion and reduce travel time.
In addition, some solutions offer route planning and optimization features that take into account factors such as vehicle weight and payload, which can further improve fuel efficiency.
Invest In a Fleet Management Solution
Incorporating a management solution into your fleet is a big decision, but one that pays off in many ways, including reducing your fuel costs.
When choosing a fleet management solution, it’s important to consider your company’s specific needs and choose a solution that not only offers the features you need to optimize your fleet’s performance, but does so in a way that permits growth as your fleet expands.
Look for a solution that offers comprehensive telematics data around things like fuel usage, idling, speeding, and more.
Furthermore, a good route planning and optimization tool can help you to plan the most efficient routes for your fleet, which can save you time and money.
Finally, a solution that provides real-time alerts based on triggered events can help keep your drivers from speeding and wasting fuel.
Managers can make a significant difference in cost savings and fuel economy for fleets. Contact your GoFleet consultant to see which fleet management system is right for you.
Inflation, the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine have all contributed to an already exorbitant rise of fuel costs in North America. Fleet managers everywhere are looking for ways to reduce fleet fuel costs.
In 2019 alone, fuel was $2.60 per gallon. In March, 2022 fuel prices reached $4.17. With no relief in sight, fleet managers are continuously looking for ways to improve fuel economy.
#1: Dispatch the Right Vehicles to Reduce Fleet Fuel Costs
It might be time for a fleet upgrade. Newer trucks, such as EVs, use alternative fuel sources or are hybridized for better fuel efficiency.
While you may not necessarily have the resources to replace every vehicle, adding even a few of these trucks can help your fleet become more fuel efficient. More miles per gallon means less fuel consumption.
#2: Preventative Maintenance
Proper maintenance of vehicles ensures they are operating at full capacity. In many ways, good vehicle health can reduce the overall costs associated with their operation. Regular engine checks can ensure that nothing goes wrong on the road.
Tires
Tires are a big pain point for many organizations. Keeping tires in good condition and properly inflated can reduce gas mileage by 0.2% for every 1 psi lower than recommended.
Payload
Reducing extra weight in your trucks can have a positive effect on fleet fuel costs. In fact, reducing a truck’s weight by just 100lbs could save nearly $500 in fuel costs.
A/C
While everyone loves to cool off during the hot summer weather, reducing air conditioning usage in your vehicles can also reduce fuel consumption by 3%. The same goes for turning down the heat in colder weather.
Many telematics solutions can monitor maintenance needs across the whole fleet and send automatic notifications if a vehicle requires a tune-up or inspection.
#3: Improve Driver Habits
Bad habits such as speeding, aggressive driving and harsh braking can incur fuel costs for fleets to the tune of an additional 27%.
Provide drivers with insights into their driving behaviour and offer constructive coaching to get them back on track and improve overall fuel efficiency.
Telematics can provide valuable data sets to support driver coaching and scorecards, both of which are incentives to feel more engaged while positively impacting your fuel costs.
#4: Improve Vehicle Routing
Optimized routing not only shortens delivery times, but can also improve fuel economy. Telematics and fleet management software enable fleet managers to create and alter routes in real-time by considering factors such as weather, construction, accidents or other road obstructions.
As a result, trucks get where they need to be on time and faster, saving fuel costs in the process.
#5: Reduce Idling
According to a recent report, idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour.
Depending on the size of your vehicles and of your fleet, those numbers can spell big trouble for fuel economy. Fleet managers can reduce fuel wastage by:
Turning off the engine when making a delivery or waiting for a pick-up.
Reduce idling while in heavy traffic by turning off the engine
Don’t idle to warm up the engine.
The right telematics solution can monitor specific data sets around idle time, enabling fleet managers to address fuel waste.
#6: Invest in Telematics to Reduce Fleet Fuel Costs
Vehicle location information and driver recognition
Maintenance problems and engine health
Poor driving habits such as harsh braking and excessive speeding
Vehicle (and fuel) usage
The more data available, the more fleet managers can learn about their operations. By accessing insights around driving habits, route optimization, traffic delays and weather conditions, organizations can apply their learnings to future operations, all with the focus on choosing the best fuel solution.
The right type of fleet management software integrates telematics and other smart systems to reduce human error and improve operations. By leveraging this software solution to monitor fuel consumption, organizations are better empowered to lower fuel costs and grow their revenue.
As the commercial fleet industry continues to grow, evolve and adapt, having the right tools in your vehicles can help with improved productivity and efficiency. To that end, there are a number of ways in which telematics improves fleet management.
As fleet safety managers and owners work to retain drivers and integrate systems, it’s essential to consider fleet efficiency and new engagement opportunities. To that end, telematics provides valuable insights and data, changing the game in fleet management technology.
What is Telematics?
Telematics brings together two key areas – telecommunications and informatics. Telematics devices collect and transmit data on commercial vehicle use. This includes maintenance requirements and servicing needs.
Using telematics, it is possible for fleet managers to coordinate the vehicles they manage. It also enables them to have a complete view of the profitability, health, and productivity of their fleet at any time.
How Telematics Improves Fleet Management
What does telematics do for your organization? When it comes to investing in fleet management software or solutions, understanding the direct impact on your business’s bottom line is critical. Here are a few ways that telematics can help you to do that.
Decreased Fuel Costs
With fuel costs on the rise, it is critical to have a plan in place to reduce operational costs. Telematics can help identify areas of waste. For example, it can help identify problems with fuel slippage and idling, both of which can increase costs dramatically.
Additionally, telematics enables better route planning and can create alternative routes that are more fuel (and time) efficient. Other examples of reducing unnecessary mileage and improving fuel efficiency using telematics include:
Improving driver behaviours that often increase fuel costs, such as harsh braking, idling or speeding
Creating maintenance schedules in a timely manner so as to reduce vehicle stress and improve overall engine health
Improving Overall Fleet Safety
Telematics improves the safety of your vehicles and your drivers, which contributes to your fleet’s financial gain, especially with regards to reducing insurance claims and accident-related liability claims.
A continuous feed of recorded video footage allows fleet managers to assess driving habits, and to provide live in-cab coaching when an event is triggered. Ongoing training and coaching is just one of the services that telematics provides, and is equally useful in the moment, or for creating better driving behaviour in the future.
Secondly, the same video footage can be collected and reviewed in the event of an incident, identifying who was at fault and potentially reducing false claims while lowering insurance premiums, all of which feed into the safety and security of your fleet.
Improved Productivity
Telematics includes real-time GPS data that can be used to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency. Directly and indirectly, this increases driver productivity.
Accurate, real-time data can identify delays due to traffic and create alternative routes. It can also help fleet managers plan for poor weather that may keep drivers off the road, allowing them to adjust timelines or routes to minimize risk.
In addition, telematics data provides a bird’s eye view of your fleet. If the office manager needs to add a new stop or change a destination, having a holistic overview of your vehicles’ activities can help.
Better Financial Management
Because telematics provides better insight into vehicle start and end times, it helps manage compliance requirements, such as hours of service (HOS).
From a business standpoint, telematics allows you to get the most out of your resources by identifying money going in and out of your fleet.
Today’s fleet managers face a continuous need to improve driver safety and minimize roadway accidents, a task that often takes them from other important work. This is where artificial intelligence (AI) dash cams for fleets can improve processes and keep drivers safe.
With the use of AI dash cameras, fleet managers gain more insightful and actionable data than ever before. AI is more accessible than ever, revolutionizing commercial fleets in the process.
Some of the best dash cam systems now incorporate AI features. AI and machine learning in dash cameras allow for continuous monitoring of driving behaviour and road conditions.
The benefits are expansive, saving fleets time, money and resources.
#1: AI Dash Cams Reduce Distracted Driving
Even under optimal circumstances, drivers can get tired or distracted, leading to a higher risk of accidents or aggressive driving.
The mere presence of AI dash cams can help keep your drivers focused on roadways. Moreover, this smart technology recognizes distracted driving and notices any changes in the driver’s behaviour.
AI dash cams can initiate alerts, either audibly or by haptic sensors, to let a driver know that they need to focus their attention on the road, keeping them safe while enforcing compliance.
#2: Monitoring of Road Conditions Reduces Incidents and Optimizes Routes
Weather conditions, road conditions and other motorists can all impact a driver’s delivery schedule. AI dash cams can help fleets by identifying obstacles and risks on the roadway, while providing alternative routes in the event of excessive traffic or inclimate weather.
AI dash cameras can also connect to telematics software, allowing fleet managers to connect with their drivers and offer alternative routes in real-time. Finally, because AI “learns”, it can aid future deliveries and more efficient travel with route optimization.
#3: Mitigating Risk After an Accident
Did you know that 87% of road accidents are preventable? When a collision occurs, and they often do, there tends to be a disconnect between negligence and liability.
Large organizations with massive fleets are assumed to have more resources (i.e. more insurance), and are therefore targeted for payouts, even if they’re not at fault. For example, there are cases where a company can be identified as 10% negligent and still have to cover 100% of the financial liability.
AI dash cams can record what happens before, during, and after an incident occurs. Video footage can be used as evidence in a claim and identify who is truly at fault, potentially exonerating your drivers.
#4: AI Dash Cams for Fleets Reduce Costs
The use of AI dash cams can significantly reduce the cost of operations, including insurance premiums, maintenance and operational costs.
When paired with telematics, AI dash cams can provide real-time data around how your drivers operate your vehicles, identifying speeding, distance, idling, harsh braking or speeding.
These data sets provide insights not only into driver behaviour, but into vehicle repair and maintenance. Using AI footage to identify these behaviours allows you to stop excessive wear and tear before it happens.
#5: AI Dash Cams for Fleets Improve Driver / Management Relationships
Good or bad, all driving behaviour becomes a teachable moment. AI dash cams are changing the way fleet management takes place by offering driver coaching in real-time.
In-cab communications triggered by an alert offer transparency between drivers and management, allowing the latter to promote better driving habits and keep drivers safe while enforcing a culture of trust.
AI dash cams constitute a next-gen approach to coaching, training, accident reduction and better driving. Contact us at GoFleet to see how our AI dash cam solutions can be a great fit for your enterprise.
The logistics industry is a vast ecosystem of supply chains, software, and services that work in unison to deliver goods to customers as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.
From the ongoing demands of inventory management to data security and risk assessment, this industry demands constant vigilance. These struggles can be mitigated with efficient and effective fleet management. Below, we’ve listed the top five ways to improve fleet management in the logistics industry.
The World of Logistics: Current State
Currently, the logistics sector is growing at a rapid pace, making it a particularly attractive target for those looking to leverage their skills and enter the industry from a new angle.
The chief gap in logistics is a lack of quality data. At its most basic, the industry is made up of individual suppliers and businesses that come together to support business processes.
For fleet managers, an overflow of data sets (or not enough) makes it difficult for businesses to understand their supply chains and track the performance of their operations as a whole. Read on for five ways to improve fleet management in the logistics industry.
Utilize GPS and Telematics Devices for More Than Location Tracking
The telematics industry continues to create increasingly sophisticated apps that connect to fleet vehicles, allowing logistics companies to track the location of their fleet vehicles in real-time.
Of course, these apps are only as good as the data they receive. There are a number of benefits associated with incorporating GPS tracking devices in your fleet vehicles, including improved fuel efficiency, better driver safety, less vehicle maintenance, and reduced insurance costs due to liability or repairs.
Another option for improving fleet management is the use of telematics devices, which provide a variety of analytics, including fuel consumption and driving behaviour.
Fleet managers who use these devices not only know where their drivers are, but what kind of driving behaviour they’re engaged in.
These data sets can improve training and reduce accidents caused by risky driving activity such as fatigue or distraction.
Switch to Electronic Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports for Speed and Compliance
Electronic driver vehicle inspection reports for speed and compliance are the best way to optimize your fleet’s performance. These reports show a company’s progress over time, highlighting points where improvements can be made.
The electronic driver vehicle inspection report is an excellent metric for tracking business performance to boost productivity across the board.
You’ll also get access to customizable dashboards with metrics such as fuel efficiency and employee satisfaction so that you can see how your team members are performing, and where they can improve.
Of course, it’s not just about improving performance; these reports also offer security through monitoring drivers, vehicles, and companies across the supply chain.
With these reports, you’ll better understand how safe each link in your supply chain really is, and where privacy can improve.
Better Leverage Fuel and Maintenance Data with Integrations
Logistics companies that have a fleet management system typically have one of two options for integrating with logistics software.
First, they can use a web-based integration tool like API bridges, which is what most logistics companies do. This method is the simplest and most straightforward, but does not provide all the benefits that integration through a software platform offers.
The second option is to use third-party integrations, where logistics managers can better allocate resources across their supply chain and make more informed decisions about where they should place stockings and other materials.
Overall, integrating with a software platform provides logistical managers with more insight into their fleet’s performance and helps them improve it faster than ever before.
Track Expenses More Effectively
One of the biggest challenges in logistics is that it is a capital-intensive industry. An organization must spend a significant amount of money to maintain its operations.
With that said, it is also imperative that they can track expenses to keep tabs on overall performance.
For example, many logistics companies work with carriers who offer insurance and tracking services for their goods. These services do wonders for operational efficiency, but can be quite expensive.
The good news? A business can track these expenses by getting an invoice from the carrier and entering it on a spreadsheet, allowing them to monitor how much money they’re spending on these services over time.
This system does not only help a company see where their financial resources are being allocated, it also allows them to make more informed decisions about whether or not these investments are viable and sustainable.
Improve Fleet Management in the Logistics Industry with GoFleet
Without quality data, it’s difficult for companies to make informed decisions about their operations. One way to improve fleet management in your business is by using a customized solution with GoFleet.
We have a range of features that let you easily manage your fleet and keep track of the performance of every vehicle in your fleet.
With GoFleet, you can identify potential problems before they impact your bottom line. For example, if you notice that one of your vehicles is consistently late or experiencing mechanical issues, you’ll be able to rectify the problem before it becomes something more serious.
What is GoFleet?
We have premium fleet management solutions to meet the business needs of virtually every industry.
From telematics, work routing and dispatch, ELD, driver apps and asset monitoring, GoFleet offers countless hardware and software-based solutions to address all needs related to efficiency, maintenance and management in fleets.
Our fleet management software helps logistics companies across the globe improve fleet management and productivity. Our solutions are customizable, so you never have to worry about limitations or restrictions when it comes to business growth.
Commercial fleet managers face all the same problems as those in professional management—directing and coordinating people, talent and assets, while simultaneously trying to save money for the parent company. When your employees are on the road, there can be additional fleet management challenges in the logistics industry.
That’s a lot to juggle effectively; when your employees are most often on the road, crossing state lines and borders, logistics can get even trickier.
Fleet managers are often forced to solve a plethora of problems in real-time—vehicular accidents, personnel safety, package delivery issues, closed routes.
Often these fleet-management decisions are made within a shifting and sometimes volatile marketplace. One recent glaring example is the recent volatility in global gas prices.
When it comes to transit logistics and all the details involved in transport, there’s much that can go wrong in any single workday.
Recent digital innovations such as driver dash cams and integrated GPS communications have revolutionized logistics, allowing fleet managers to streamline information by automating a range of processes.
While the world prepares itself for the inevitable path towards automation, technology is causing seismic shifts across every industry. Businesses everywhere are upgrading, aware of the timeless maxim: adapt or perish.
For fleets, this usually means better fuel efficiency and improved onboard technology—car dashboard systems, wireless connections, vehicle sensors, telematics and more.
As the roll-out of innovative disruptions continue, smart technology is being instituted at an equal pace. However, with new tech come new challenges.
Logistics & Fleet Management
Fleet management is one of the industries most thoroughly impacted by recent technological innovations. Vehicles in particular have undergone massive changes in recent years, offering smarter navigation and driver-focused ‘infotainment’ centres.
Yet when it comes to logistics, most fleets are still struggling to manage their employees, stay on top of administrative paperwork, and adapt to each upgrade.
Here are the top eight most encountered fleet management challenges in the logistics industry, as well as how the digital revolution is currently addressing each challenge.
08. Excessive Administrative Tasks
TomTom, maker of car navigation systems, recently conducted a study of over 1,000 companies to determine the particular challenges most affecting fleet management. Most complaints revolved around inefficiencies in time management. Specifically, spending a majority of their time on rote tasks: a reported 42% said they spend too much time searching for the right employees, and 59% stated that reporting and management of staff work hours takes up the majority of their time.
Common rote tasks include sorting through spreadsheets and databases for up-to-date transit information, or updating printed lists of information that become obsolete immediately after printing.
Replacing paper-based systems with automation can help save businesses enormous time and considerable money over the long term. Automating administrative tasks can free managers from outdated practices that monopolize their precious time.
07. Rising Fuel & Maintenance Costs
Since 2019, the cost for fuel has risen. Not coincidentally, fuel and maintenance are often the largest expenses for fleets, with soaring costs significantly impacting fleet management.
As more cars move toward greater fuel-efficiency, including hybrids and electric vehicles, some drivers still prefer the more powerful gas guzzlers.
Telematics can also inform you of vehicle servicing dates and schedule maintenance reminders, as well as provide engine information and sensor alerts. These features in turn help fleets avoid or reduce larger maintenance costs.
06. Data Privacy & Control
Today’s world is teeming with data vulnerabilities and privacy concerns. As TomTom writes, “It’s common for new companies to be overwhelmed by the selection of tools and APIs when creating proprietary software to manage fleet operations, making it easy to overlook potential data privacy vulnerabilities.”
Many apps sell driver location information to third parties, which add cookies, trackers and even sales ads on top of GPS navigation screens.
GoFleet engineers work to streamline fleet operation processes. Our intuitive software solutions assist with data management, assuring that fleet managers do not drown in data.
We build scalable web and mobile solutions that integrate different platforms and device tracking types. This gives fleets control of their operations while seamlessly protecting wireless transmissions and data privacy.
05. Effective Fleet Communication
When drivers are on the road, it’s not always easy (or safe) to communicate using regular means such as calling, text or email.
Drivers must keep both hands on the wheel, yet successful fleet operations depend on open communication and regular updates. If a delivery suddenly changes, or a significant change in road conditions will affect ETA, all parties need to be made aware.
Our integrated devices and telematics support help simplify order workflow through automated messaging.
Both management and drivers can send automated messages, providing regular status updates and relaying key information: schedules, calendar and other regular communication through navigation devices, visual updates, and customized dashboard solutions.
04. Coordinating Geographic Diversity
Commercial fleets, whether coast-to-coast or across international borders, have quite a few logistical and travel hurdles to manage on a daily basis.
Large, active fleets are not always easy to track with accuracy. For example, coordinating communications providers across long distances can make remote fleet management very difficult, and changing road conditions can disrupt scheduled arrival times.
GoFleet telematics software and GPS tracking solutions let fleets of all sizes effectively integrate their communications systems and their customer service.
Locate drivers, track operations and communicate with your team more intuitively, anywhere on Earth. We help fleets maintain visibility across all terrain, with real-time data on all major moving assets.
Managing these fleet management challenges in the logistic industry amidst geographic complexity is what keeps drivers and fleets ahead of the game.
03. Asset Authorization & Utilization
Remote entry, keyless entry, facial recognition, and other asset authorization technologies have revolutionized fleet industries—from rental vehicle exchanges, to expanded ride sharing enterprises.
Automated authorization and chain-of-command GPS tracking help assure that assets stay in authorized hands and in designated areas.
Along with delivery deadlines and accurate ETAs, fleet management software can track all types of driver and vehicle behaviour. Such dashboard reporting systems can warn of aggressive driving behaviour, or if vehicles are operating outside authorized work hours.
Accurate metrics allow for a finely-tuned fleet-force, able to generate continuous cost savings and an optimal ROI.
Integrated fleet management services also include ZenduWork, which coordinates dispatching, work order tools and vehicles. This helps fleets keep utilization high, logistics efficient and people productive.
02. Integrated Data & Accuracy
It can be difficult to integrate apps, platforms and software operating systems at the same time and expect them to work as a streamlined whole. Especially when all of communication, onboard navigation and data transmission rely on a patchwork of cellular service providers.
Data integration means being able to support your drivers in real-time with alerts, status updates and responses. Well-integrated data lets fleets and delivery teams meet ETAs and send automated updates to waiting clients when backups occur.
These improvements in real-time road visibility and flexible support help fleet managers navigate unexpected events and avoid catastrophes.
01. Driver Safety & Productivity
For fleets, road safety and security are a must. Creating a driver safety program, educating and encouraging your drivers on good driving habits are essential.
Safe driving, paired with automated reminders for regular vehicle maintenance and servicing alerts, means that fleets today have every possible advantage when it comes to driver safety and accident prevention.
Not only does this save lives, but it also significantly reduces unexpected costs such as downtime, liability and insurance premiums.
Driver education and real-time driver coaching have come a long way. Features such as voice-activated technology, geofencing, ZenduMaps and other customizable navigation tools greatly bolster fleet productivity, accuracy and timeliness.
Next-generation safety solutions include the gamification of driver coaching, two-way dash cams and real-time safety alerts for distracted, drowsy or aggressive driving.
GoFleet: Rising to Fleet Management Challenges in the Logistics Industry
Telematics software and fleet management solutions have come a long way. In these past 20 years, customizable platforms and AI-equipped dash cam solutions have simplified transportation, streamlined data collection, and protected drivers.
Around the globe, vast fleet challenges are consistently being met by superior IT solutions.
At GoFleet and around the world, improvements in automation continue to make fleets safer and more efficient, with improved ROIs and a satisfied workforce. Contact your GoFleet representative for a free demonstration.
Like it or not, fuel is the biggest expenditure for efficient fleet management. A custom fuel management system is the perfect solution to understand gas consumption within your fleet.
Extra integrations and mobile apps are also popular features of these systems.
Without a fuel management system in place, managers often find themselves overspending on fuel and repairs, and drivers may run out of fuel as the result of a misgauged fuel meter or taking trips without optimized routes.
What Are the Benefits of a Fuel Management System?
Fleet management is comprised of a number of factors outside of vehicles; there are operating systems, assets and expenditures to take into account.
A fuel management system allows fleet managers to monitor asset usage for gasoline, diesel, truck repairs and maintenance services. These systems also generate compliance reports, limit operational risks, provide real-time fuel consumption data, and optimize fuel allocation, giving managers a truly holistic overview of their fleet.
Benefits for Fleet Managers
According to a recent study, aggressive driving increases fuel costs by up to 30%. The study also notes that unsafe or aggressive driving behaviours in urban areas drive air pollutant emissions up by 40%, regardless of the road grade.
With a well-developed fuel management system, fleet managers can track data like fuel usage, road grade, operational risks, real-time trip statistics, fuel consumption data, fuel allocation, and much more.
This data can also help them improve route planning and asset utilization, develop more effective vehicle maintenance schedules, and gain holistic insights into fuel economy.
Benefits for Drivers
Drivers benefit from data sets provided by fuel management systems as well. For example, refueling alerts, streamlined receipt/expense management and route optimization all offer drivers a safer, more efficient trip.
Fuel theft and unauthorized use of fuel continues to be a persistent issue, so ensuring that each and every fleet vehicle has a monitoring system in place can save your drivers from suspicion.
No matter what your fleet does, what products or services they deliver, or how many vehicles are involved, fleet management is an important tool that can help optimize assets and minimize expenses.
Why are Fuel Management Systems Important?
Small issues can become serious ones if not repaired in a timely manner. According to Intellias:
Flat or under-inflated tires can reduce mileage by up to 30%
Engine problems reduce mileage by 4% on average
Faulty oxygen sensors cut up to 40% off mileage
Brake drag can also affect driver safety and fuel consumption.
A fuel tracking system can track anomalies in your fleet’s fuel consumption, which can be either indicative of potential maintenance issues or the result of driving behaviour.
With detailed and real-time data on fuel usage and expenditures, a fleet manager can ensure that assets are properly distributed, repairs are managed as needed, and that drivers are supported and well-prepared to do their jobs.
Many mechanical issues can impact fuel consumption, including the amount of fuel used, mileage, the quality and safety rating of your engines, the cost of fuel, and repair services.
Having a properly developed fuel management system can help mitigate these risks and expenses not only by giving you a window into your fleet’s performance, but by protecting your drivers and overall fleet performance.
The more advanced these systems become, the more predictive they can be, which means you can identify the best scheduling sequence for vehicle repairs.
Fuel management systems can mitigate logistical issues, and in many cases can prevent them from happening in the first place.
How Can I Create a Fuel Management System?
Developing and installing a custom fuel management system is no easy feat, but the professionals at GoFleet can help you build a regulatory monitoring system designed for your fleet’s specific needs.
Whether you need to measure fuel levels in real-time, identify fuel consumption patterns per vehicle or detect fueling locations, a fuel management system will enable you to do just that.
The priorities for any fuel management system are convenience and control. If you’re looking to install a fleet management system for your team’s vehicles, contact us at GoFleet for a consultation today.
Effective fleet management provides organizations with real-time visibility into their logistic operations and increases efficiency through vehicle routing and accurate reporting. Fleet maintenance management software paired with vehicle telematics can help support your day-to-day transportation needs while providing an overview of your business. Below is a beginner’s guide to fleet management.
What Is Fleet Management?
Fleet management has gained popularity over the past few years based on its reputation for guaranteeing efficient performance, optimum fleet maintenance and helping organizations run smoothly.
Fleet management refers to all actions allowing a fleet to run on time, efficiently, and within a given budget.
Similarly, it can be defined as the process by which fleet managers monitor the fleet’s activities by applying asset management, vehicle dispatch, and routing to make informed decisions.
Benefits of Fleet Management
You can maximize the efficiency of your fleet using fleet management software or by hiring reliable fleet managers.
Here are the major benefits of fleet management, and how they can improve your bottom line.
Ability to Manage Fleets Remotely
With all the various components that require coordination and organization, managing a fleet of any size can be difficult.
The GPS feature on vehicles allows easy monitoring of performance and identifies possible vehicle damage. It is easier to detect potential maintenance issues when you have access to logistics such as mileage and tire wear.
Being well informed allows you to carry out and perform timely maintenance, thus improving the lifespan of your vehicle.
Improved Safety
Fleet management software allows managers to trace the location of a vehicle and keep up with the driver’s behaviour. Most fleet management software has a video recording feature to help monitor driving behaviour while on the road.
This prevents dangerous behaviours such as drowsy or distracted driving, thus improving the vehicle’s safety and consignment.
Fleet management software also provides accurate reports on your vehicles’ performance and total costs incurred during deliveries. These features all play an important role in cost reduction.
Central Data Management
It is a lot easier to organize and coordinate your fleet when all your data is centrally located. Fleet management software provides valuable data sets on demand, from a central (often cloud-based) location.
Improved Customer Service
Customers look forward to working with businesses whose feedback reflects accurate, reliable deliveries.
With fleet management software, you improve customer satisfaction by ensuring all the information you share with them is up to date. Additionally, the software will aid in tracking the current location of consignments.
Preventing Fraud
As a fleet manager, you have trust in your drivers. However, driver fraud does happen and requires even the most well-intentioned managers to stay vigilant.
Drivers who use their fuel card for reasons other than fueling company vehicles or falsely claiming card misplacement are both well-documented examples of driver fraud. Other examples include drivers using their own credentials to allow non-approved drivers to operate company vehicles.
An AI-powered fleet management system prevents fraud and helps promote transparency among your drivers.
Maintain Communication
Fleet management software equips your fleet with a built-in communication tool that allows you to make contact with your drivers directly.
As a result, drivers can communicate in real-time while on the road, without compromising safety or missing deliveries.
Vehicle Routing
Planning the day’s business in advance helps everything work seamlessly. A fleet management system can help you effectively assign vehicles, routes and drivers.
6 Tips For Effective Fleet Management
What are some of the fleet management steps can you incorporate into your operations, and where should you begin? Below, we offer some suggestions for managing your fleet more effectively.
1. Set Your Goals
If you want to be successful at managing your fleet, establish your business goals and monitor your progress from time to time.
Your goals should be specific, well defined and adequately aligned to the success of your business. Have a common objective to keep your team united and avoid the need for micromanagement.
2. Track Everything
Data is crucial in helping make sound business decisions. Having all necessary data on how your vehicles and drivers perform on a daily basis is essential.
Maintain a track record of how much fuel your vehicles consume, driver performance, and when deliveries are made. Keeping detailed records helps predict future outcomes and keeps your operations predictable.
3. Choose the Right Fleet Vehicles
Before purchasing or leasing any fleet vehicles, it is essential to assess your business needs. The vehicles you acquire should meet the size and scope of your operations, both in current and future states.
Purchasing too many vehicles up front could mean that several of them remain unused. Acquire too few, and your drivers – and trucks – could burn out.
4. Think About your Drivers
The credentials of your drivers ensure the safety of your fleet and consignment.
Having certified drivers with the right skillsets translates to better business performance, significantly reducing unnecessary costs and repairs.
5. Spend Wisely
As a fleet manager, you should consider all costs incurred through vehicles and equipment that are purchased, leased, or rented.
Spending your capital effectively depends on your knowledge base of strategies that help you meet return-on-investment goals. You should also consider available resources, flexible strategies, and any maintenance costs that change your business’s operational needs.
6. Invest in Fleet Management Software
Investing in technology-based systems such as fleet management software will help you utilize fleet intelligence, improve operational efficiency and properly manage your business.
Your fleet likely runs on data. Fleet management software acts as the “brain” behind your operations. The right fleet management solution will continually play a vital role in ensuring that fleet management activities are well coordinated and properly executed.
In addition, fleet management software records vehicle operations in real-time, allowing you to stay on top of maintenance and avoid potential breakdowns.
How Fleet Management Software Can Improve Fleet Safety
Fleet management is a data-driven process. It requires the involvement of multiple moving parts to function effectively.
It can help improve safety in several ways:
Real-time audio and visual feedback.
24/7 access to safety-related analytics, which can prevent accidents.
Driver performance applications keep your drivers safe and accountable.
Accurately records footage before, during, and after a reported incident. Footage can help prevent future accidents, assign liability and potentially exonerate your drivers.
A successful fleet management program tracks, analyzes, and optimizes your fleet. For more information, contact a GoFleet representative, and see how our fleet management solutions can benefit your business.
