Being a fleet manager is quite hectic, to be honest. In a nutshell, fleet managers should keep up with market shifts. Issues like supply chain disruptions, faulty recruitment drives, failed talent retention often make the life of a fleet manager impossible.
However, a fleet manager can open new ways to tackle fleet management challenges given they start using fleet management technologies.
If current trends continue, then fleet management will become more expensive and complex. If businesses do not let their fleet managers integrate available fleet management tools then managing in-house fleets won’t be sustainable.
What are the primary challenges of managing a fleet?
Fleet managers face various kinds of challenges every day. However, the most pressing issues associated with fleet management are as follows.
Keeping operational costs down
The biggest challenge for a fleet manager is to keep the overall operational cost of a fleet down. If operational cost is not managed then a fleet cannot compete with market changes.
What’s the best way to keep the operational costs of a fleet down?
A visionary fleet manager will readily retrofit fleet vehicles with fleet tracking devices. Fleet tracking makes cost management easy.
How?
Well, managers will have all relevant data at their fingertips that can be used to analyze every aspect of the fleet. Then it will be easy to identify the areas in a fleet that needs improvement.
For example, solutions like Vyncs fleet management lets managers cut vehicle idling by instructing drivers to use routes with less traffic. Additionally, fleet managers can keep their company from being sued by environmental watchdogs.
How?
By minimizing vehicle idling and optimizing routes, businesses can reduce the entire carbon footprint of their in-house fleet. Thus, penalties and lawsuits can be averted.
Overcoming supply chain disruptions
Supply chains are fragile. When supply chains go out of order, businesses and customers feel the subsequent negative effects.
What are the negative effects of supply chain disruptions?
Well, the natural outcomes of supply chain disruptions are as follows –
- Runaway fuel prices.
- Raw material shortages.
- High material costs.
So what is the solution for managing issues that crop up when supply chains fail?
A fleet manager can future proof their fleet by using fleet GPS solutions. Integrating fleet trackers into a fleet is a great idea. Additionally, businesses and their supply chains benefit from GPS trackers.
How?
Solutions like Vyncs OBD 2 devices for fleets let managers ensure they have drivers and vehicles available at all times. In this way, delayed deliveries and unsatisfied customers will become things of the past.
Managers can establish clear lines of communication between them and the fleet drivers they manage.
What would this achieve?
- Driver requirements will be met.
- Delivery issues will be solved on the fly and
- Vehicle problems are nipped at the bud!
What do you think about that?
Managing fleet fuel expenses
Companies with in-house fleets dread rising fuel costs. Although fleet managers cannot control fuel prices, they can surely take some steps.
For example, experienced fleet managers will equip every fleet vehicle they manage with a GPS fleet tracker.
How will this help?
A latest generation GPS tracker for fleet supports fuel management. A company spends a lot of money on fuel purchases for its in-house fleet. Hence, it makes sense for a fleet manager to curb fuel fraud and fuel theft within the fleet they are managing.
Devices like a Vyncs fleet GPS also help identify the gas stations offering high quality fuel at the best prices. Managers can also ensure that fleet vehicles are not overloaded. Overloading fleet vehicles bring down the mileage of a fleet by several folds.
Fleet tracking and management solutions also let managers plan the quickest route for their fleet drivers. This simple step minimizes fuel wastage, engine idling and instances of a fleet vehicle being stuck in traffic.
Optimizing delivery routes
A successful business is the one that delivers products to the doorsteps of its customers on time. This can be done easily by retrofitting fleet vehicles with fleet GPS trackers.
How would that help?
Managers can alert drivers when a significant event occurs within the company. Additionally by using real time data, managers can track the position of vehicles and optimize delivery routes on the fly. If a planned route has heavy traffic and a delayed delivery is imminent, an alternate route can be identified.
In short, GPS fleet trackers let managers optimize delivery routes, keep the company reputation intact and reduce delivery times.
Keeping drivers and vehicles safe
One of the primary responsibilities of a fleet manager is to keep fleet vehicles and drivers safe. Keeping fleet vehicles safe is easy. Just make sure the fleet vehicles are equipped with fleet trackers.
How can fleet tracking devices help in this case?
Well, managers can ensure the company vehicles are properly driven. Rash driving not only puts other motorists at risk, but also reduces the overall operational life of a vehicle. A badly driven vehicle will break down often and will need frequent repairs – meaning an increase in operational costs.
Additionally, rapid accelerations reduce the life of a vehicle’s transmission. Harsh braking, on the other hand, increases the wear and tear of brakes. Managers can also ensure that the company vehicle is not used other than official work. At the same time, fleet vehicles can be kept away from high risk zones.
Drivers can be kept safe by tracking by ensuring they drive for limited hours. A tired driver can crash the fleet vehicle, make deliveries at wrong addresses and even fall asleep behind the wheel! Using fleet trackers and monitoring driver behavior puts an end to this problem.
Keeping up with fleet vehicle maintenance
In-house fleet vehicles should be in their top-notch condition – which is an expensive affair, to be honest.
However, fleet vehicle maintenance costs can be controlled using solutions like Vyncs fleet telematics. By using fleet management solutions, fleet managers can –
- Track vehicle performance using OBD-II fault codes.
- Track OEM recall notices.
- Track the overall health of fleet vehicle battery.
- Track fleet vehicle emissions and more.
Additionally, electrical and mechanical issues are solved as they come up. In this way, fleet vehicle downtime is minimized. On top of this, the entire fleet becomes more efficient.
Integrating smart fleet management solutions is strongly advised
Integrating smart fleet management solutions is strongly advised for fleet managers. As a fleet manager, you can manage fleet assets, monitor drivers or schedule vehicle maintenance on the fly. The best part about fleet management solutions is that they are compatible with businesses of all kinds and sizes. Any business would suffer losses or disruptions in its supply chain if its in-house fleet is not efficient. Integrating fleet management solutions is one of the best ways to tackle fleet-related challenges and make it efficient. To learn more, click here.