Fleet managers have a lot of responsibilities, many that extend past what this role may have involved even a couple of decades ago. Today, fleet managers are an integral part of the management team and are seen as essential to accomplishing corporate or company goals and objectives.
Managing a fleet of vehicles of any size requires the development of effective management skills, an understanding of best practices and also an awareness of what needs to be improved. To help accomplish those goals, there are also several mistakes to avoid that will assist in addressing many common challenges in managing a fleet of vehicles.
Not Using Technology
Fleet management software offers a range of different options for tracking, monitoring, analyzing and reporting on data with just the click of a mouse or a few strokes on a keyboard.
Failing to stay on top of how new technology can help assist in effectively managing a fleet of vehicles creates inefficiency, inaccurate assumptions or, even worse, trying to make decisions with the data you need.
Not Providing Ongoing Driver Training
Drivers are just like any other professional; they have their own unique approach to their job. While this is fine for many aspects of driving, when their own approach to the job is resulting in poor fuel economy, increased wear and tear on vehicles and a lack of correct safety procedures, it is a large problem for the fleet manager and the company.
Regular and continuous driver training and safety focuses can help to reduce the risk of these issues and save the company money.
Failing to Review Driver Routes
Routes change over time as delivery locations are added or deleted. Often when fleet managers don’t take an active role in monitoring and reviewing driver routes with these changes, inefficiencies in the routes develop very rapidly.
By using technology to track the movement of the trucks, the efficiency of routes and even the speed of the drivers over the routes can help to remove wasteful practices and improve your bottom line.