| Jan. 2023 |.
Work vehiclesare a big part of the economy and are used in almost every industry. Companies with fleets of vehicles include carriers, couriers, sales, repair and service companies, utilities, public transportation, oil and gas delivery and emergency services. In addition to cars and trucks, fleet management technology is also used for marine vessels.
As organizations have scaled, they have seen the benefits of trying to coordinate and keep track of their fleets. We answer some frequently asked questions about fleet management, and fleet management software, in this blog.
Fleet management technology is a set of tools that streamline fleet oversight and monitoring. It connects companies with their commercial vehicles on the road. Integrated with fleet management software programs, it gives you complete, real-time visibility into the fleet and facilitates two-way communication with drivers. It also allows you to measure and establish strategies to improve driving behavior, cost control, resource management and other aspects. Fleet management technology also includes GPS tracking, dashcams, fuel monitoring tools, etc.
Want to learn more about the basics of fleet management? Read our blog 'Fleet Management. What is it?
Fleet management consists of vehicle procurement, maintenance, safety, budgeting and monitoring.
The amount you pay for fleet management software depends on the size of your fleet and the number of assets to be tracked. Most telematics providers, including All-Connects operate on a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, which means you pay a monthly subscription fee per tracked vehicle.
Fleet management software uses GPS technology to provide constant, real-time updates on the exact location of fleet assets. A GPS tracking device, cameras and other sensors installed in the vehicle record and transmit data over a mobile network. A cloud-based software program then analyzes and presents the data on clear, easy-to-understand dashboards and other reports.
KPIs related to cost control and budget compliance are always important to track, including total cost per mile and total fuel costs. KPIs related to safety and driving behavior are also essential. With these, you can ensure that your vehicles, your drivers and others on the road are as safe as possible at all times.
This depends on the partner you want to work with. At All-Connects, you get full support during the purchase phase all the way through implementation. Our customer service is legendary, and our dedicated team members are always available to answer all your questions.
Yes, you can use fleet management software to track your fleet's maintenance costs. By measuring things like the turnover rate of repairs, you can stick to the preventive maintenance schedule and avoid unexpected downtime. It can also help you identify the optimal window for vehicle maintenance and replacement.
You can use fleet management software to track vehicle needs and base maintenance intervals on real-time odometer readings. You can also implement digital vehicle inspection forms and QR notifications that allow you to quickly identify and resolve problems.
A fleet management dashboard is the primary command center for a fleet manager, displaying fleet management KPIs and all related information within specified time periods.
A fleet management dashboard also provides full visibility into things like performance, fuel and maintenance costs, live updates on fleet activity, critical alerts and more. The dashboard can even provide an overview of your fleet's historical and current performance data for quick comparisons and analysis.
The fleet management dashboard is a crucial point for data access. When choosing the right fleet management software, make sure the dashboard is intuitive, customizable and organized. It should display all the information you need in an easy-to-understand layout.
Fleet management trends are key events in the fleet management market that can negatively or positively change a company's performance and product demand.
Here are some examples of trends that have been observed or are predicted to emerge in the fleet management industry:
Electric Fleet. Worldwide, laws are being enacted that require all new cars and trucks to be emission-free by a certain year. As a fleet manager, prepare for this by projecting and comparing costs for fuel, charging, electric car purchases, etc.
More remote fleet management. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced industries to work remotely and limit physical contact. Even in the post-pandemic , fleet managers will likely continue to perform remote fleet management. This forces fleet managers to adopt more effective remote fleet management strategies. Maximize the use of fleet management technologies to ensure real-time operational visibility across multiple sites.
A fleet management workflow is a repeatable and measurable series of steps or tasks organized in the proper sequence to achieve stated goals.
Workflows should be documented so that responsible parties can track progress. Many workflows are visualized using flowcharts and checklists or are written and displayed in easily accessible areas or platforms.
Typical workflows of fleet companies are:
- Driver workflow
- Vehicle maintenance
- Vehicle shipping
- Purchase orders
- Freight delivery
- Driver training
- Vehicle Inspection
Fleet Management Operations are the day-to-day activities that ensure your fleet is running smoothly. These activities involve processes and workflows related to various aspects of fleet management, such as:
- Purchase of vehicles, equipment and assets; replacement; and storage
- Vehicle and asset life cycle and utilization management
- Drivers and license checks.
- Vehicle maintenance and repair
- Fuel and emissions
- Coaching, training and reward programs for drivers
- Vehicle dispatch and scheduling
- Vehicle inspection, audits and defect reporting
- Inventory of vehicles and parts
- Regulatory and legal compliance
- Budget, cost control and revenue projections
- Insurance management
- Accident and risk management
- HR and other back office duties
A carefully thought out fleet management process leads to efficient and profitable fleet operations. Some of the best ways to optimize fleet management include:
- Use fleet management software .
Integrating fleet management software into your fleet operations eliminates (or reduces) manual, paper-based processes. This ensures efficient collaboration, seamless workflows and improved productivity.
- Centralize fleet data.
Putting your fleet information in one location makes it easier and faster to access, store, organize and analyze your data. For example, you can use fleet management software that integrates seamlessly with your other fleet solutions. This gives you a comprehensive view of your fleet data without manually pulling information from each source.
- Streamline preventive maintenance.
Proactively establishing regular preventive maintenance schedules extends the life of your fleet. This ensures that your vehicles are in optimal condition at all times.
A sustainable fleet management strategy aims to reduce environmental impacts through various best practices, such as:
- Proper sizing of your fleet
Determining the right fleet size involves considering the activities, needs and mobility of your fleet with your operational goals. First, identify and eliminate inefficient vehicles to scale up your fleet. Then, if necessary, replace them with ones that are more productive and use less fuel. By right-sizing your fleet, you can identify opportunities to save on the maintenance and travel of your vehicles throughout their life cycle. You can also minimize vehicle purchases and optimize fuel consumption and other operating costs.
- Less road traffic
By reducing mileage, your vehicles can avoid unnecessary trips and contribute to CO2 emissions. This prevents excessive fuel consumption and vehicle wear and tear. To reduce mileage, assess trip necessity, consolidate routes and optimize delivery time and distances with fleet management software.
- Increasing the fuel efficiency of your fleet also creates green fleets
Do so by:
o Purchase low consumption vehicles, such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs); conduct suitability assessments to see if electric fleet management is feasible for your business
o Equip your drivers with training strategies for fuel efficiency
o Perform a functional fleet maintenance program and pay attention to the pneumatic pressure of your vehicles to keep them in optimal condition
o Avoid idling the vehicle
o Use alternative fuels, such as biodiesel, renewable diesel blends and electricity
Fleet management solutions are a combination of several harmonized components that provide end-to-end support for monitoring your vehicles, drivers and assets.
These solutions typically consist of fleet management software programs, hardware and telematics that are integrated with monitoring systems for fuel, asset utilization, maintenance, driver performance, work orders, etc. They may also include employee time and attendance tracking.
In addition, fleet management solutions consolidate data capture, monitoring and reporting functions.
By using fleet management solutions, you can streamline your operations and better optimize your resources. You can also avoid risks and incidents and provide excellent, valuable services to your customers.
Remote fleet management involves the use of innovative technologies to remotely monitor fleet assets and stay in touch with drivers and other key personnel.
Remote fleet management offers these benefits:
- Real-time receipt of relevant information. With connected technologies, receive instant notifications, information, error codes, etc.
- Increased visibility of fleet operations. Remote fleet management gives you comprehensive top-level views of your fleet, which is especially useful when managing multiple branches. No need to physically go to each office to know how things are going. From your dashboard, you can view consolidated reports or summaries of fleet performance for all branches, so you can maintain accurate oversight despite the distance.
- Easy coordination with multiple sites. With remote fleet management, you can communicate with your staff at any time and delegate tasks, work orders and other duties. With GPS tracking systems integrated into your remote fleet management solution, you can also contact nearby places of interest (e.g., gas stations, service stores, other vehicles, etc.) when needed.
Do you still have questions after reading this blog and what works for your specific business situation? Then contact us directly by phone 03 289 55 35 or click here for more information.
After reading this blog, are you curious about which tracking and digital solutions All-Connects offers? Ask us your question and we will answer you as soon as possible.
