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8 Tips for Managing Fleet Vehicles

Posted on September 24, 2019 by fmsupadminnxtjs

Whether in business organizations like a trucking company or in educational institutions or school districts, fleet managers have to supervise even complex fleet operations daily.

Managing a fleet of vehicle includes supervising, organizing, as well as recording all aspects of a company’s fleet.

Being a manager, you may have to set up regular vehicle maintenance schedules, look for cost saving trials, or even execute effective driver training plans.

The complexities in managing fleet operations force many companies to outsource their fleet management tasks to firms that provide services of experienced fleet managers.

Exceptional fleet management can provide diverse benefits such as better productivity, reduced fuel usage, increased business efficiency and even happy customers by supplying goods and services on time.

Here are 8 tips to make you an effective fleet manager

1. Key step – have a complete fleet management program

A well-executed fleet vehicle management plan can serve as a major contributor to any business’ bottom line.

Such a well planned program includes tracking, evaluating and optimizing every element of the fleet such as buying vehicles, monitoring the fleet, managing costs, appointing and training drivers, modifying safety set of rules, setting up Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), preparing the team for all operation situations and justifying associated risks.

2. Keep proper records of all data

Maintaining records are crucial for vehicle management. The manager is responsible to know all details such as what vehicle will be handled by which driver, during which time.

Make sure to have a log which will be signed by the drivers daily and this log should include details such as name of the driver, date, number of vehicles they drive and the time they started and returned.

Managers should also maintain physical and digital records of –

condition of the vehicle, which helps to know all the mechanical problems
the mileage before and after the shift and perform regular maintenance accordingly
tire conditions and pressure
detailed maintenance history such as date of last oil change for all vehicles in the fleet
common routes that the vehicles are taken through and
alternate routes that can avoid heavy traffic patterns

With digital records, it is easy to find any report much faster than searching among a pile of papers.

3. Use advanced fleet management software

With a fleet management system, managers can track and maintain their fleet in a quick and accessible way.

Desktop as well as mobile based fleet management applications are now available to manage all types of transportation.

Such software helps to take complete control over almost every aspect of the fleet’s operations. Along with adhering to regulatory requirements, such apps can reduce the operational costs, improve fleet visibility and fuel management and increase profitability as well as driver satisfaction.

Companies are providing automation platforms for transportation that helps to convert your current fleet operating procedure to much easier ones that can boost engagement and create a better secure experience for all stake holders.

With this type of software, managers can also benefit from features such as real-time alerts, route optimization plans, planning for deliveries on-time and more. Choose the one that can integrate into your systems flawlessly.

Auto fleet management also helps to allocate the task to agents one by one based on the nearest location or it will be assigned on the first come first serve basis. There are also options to serve batch wise.

4. Hire qualified drivers

While hiring fleet employees, you should consider several factors. Accredited medical cards should be obtained to certify that the applicant is medically fit for driving commercial vehicles.

The driver must have –

a valid driving license with appropriate class requirements
the physical as well as mental potential to operate vehicles in a safe manner
Department of Transportation’s (DOT) medical card
a commercial driving license (CDL) to operate truck vehicles
experience in the field and a history of steady employment
passed a certified pre-employment drug and alcohol screening
a better driving record

Experience required for a driver may differ for different businesses. If they are not that experienced, consider the period of time in which they had their license.

Also ask for references from previous employers, which help to learn about the candidate’s skill level, behavior on the job and capability in the field.

5. Offer additional training for drivers

Even if the drivers joining your team has sufficient experience and training, providing additional training with instructions to drive on different types of roads, hazards of unfocused and weak driving and first aid training will help.

You should also arrange superior screening policies for all drivers and train them with safe-driving policies to lower traffic incident risks of fleet vehicles.

With successful safety training programs, organizations can decrease accident rates, reduce vehicle repair costs and lessen legal issues.

Make sure to provide your drivers with guidelines regarding the importance of wearing seat belts, and advise them on what need to be done in case of a vehicle breakdown, road incident or crash.

Also implement fleet-wide safety rules and make it mandatory for every staff to follow them. Make them aware of the consequences that may occur due to distracted driving and use of mobile devices during driving.

Also make them sign this document of safety rules to ensure their understanding of these policies.

Regular training programs also help drivers to be up to date with the transportation industry trends and any change in company rules or standards.

Less experienced staff must also be provided with on-road and off-road real-time training with the support of experienced staff.

6. Take care of vehicles too

While training and caring for your staff, remember your fleet vehicle also needs care. Consider having vehicle-specific safety policies in place to protect vehicles from any damage or accidents.

Developing wide maintenance and assessment schedules for each fleet vehicle help businesses to manage risks related to fleet operations, guarantee safety, and reduce spending on repairs can help.

Also remember to regularly update and document these guidelines. Maintenance program for your fleet can be preventive, routine or even emergency one.

While preventive maintenance focuses on maintaining the overall condition of the vehicle, routine maintenance occurs on a regular basis for every type of vehicle.

At the same time, emergency maintenance is unplanned. With an excellent preventive and routine maintenance policy, your firm can avoid any major emergency maintenance problems that may occur.

7. Use GPS software to track your fleet

Sophisticated fleet tracking systems which use global positioning systems (GPS) are now widely available to track the exact location of any vehicle. Installing GPS tracker for trucks and other vehicles helps with the better management of fleets in a much lower operating cost.

By tracking your trucks and drivers real time, drivers need not have to call you to update the location or tasks done. You can also correct them in case of they are passing through a wrong route. Managers can check the driving patterns and if vehicle is missing or someone has stolen it, location can be noticed.

8. Have an idea about fleet insurance policies

With the right fleet insurance policy, all vehicles can be covered. Make sure to find the right coverage at the most affordable price for your specific fleet.

Discussing with experienced hands in the industry helps to understand your insurance needs and the insurance providers in the industry space.

There will be changes and updates to most insurance policies each year. Consider an annual review to assess whether your current policy is meeting the company’s changing insurance needs.

These reviews can also help managers to evaluate claims and recognize ideal steps to minimize insurance costs in the future.

You must have a clear idea about the changes that may occur in your insurance policy if you add more vehicles or drivers to your fleet.

Also check whether your insurer offer any discounts, if you implement fleet management software, or provide better security measures or arrange any focused training programs.

With this knowledge, you can consider adding these features to your fleet and thus take benefit from the discounts offered.

Let us know if these tips help you manage your fleets better.

7 Essential Skills To Become A Successful Fleet Manager

Posted on May 13, 2019 by fmsupadminnxtjs

Many of us may think that the role of a fleet manager is quite hilarious as if –a back seat driver. They can drive the fleet crazily all their way from there comfort. In fact, a good fleet manager is not a reckless person who steers their fleets as they wish but handles everything systematically and productively.

As we look at the fleet manager, they are who set the hard and fast rules of the fleets assigned.

Their duties involve selecting the most suitable vehicles, scheduling the routes, assigning the drivers, recommending the service and maintenance, updating the documents and the list of duties and the chart and is endless.

As the purpose of the fleet and the kind of services changes, the job of the fleet manager varies. Nevertheless, regardless of the challenges, all it needs is proper coordination and better communication.

Since single drivel can turn the business at stake, it is a job of attention and agility.

Today, let’s check what skills can make you a successful fleet manager.

1. Be a pro-multitasker

The best feature in a multitasker would be the ability to act lively on different tasks. Hence, for fleet management no less than a buzzing multitasker can handle this job.

There will be days when you can’t even sit back and take a breath to relax. The wagons and its drivers may screech from nowhere for help.

Also, you have to meet the productive scale on a day-to-day basis. From the procurement of new vehicles to bidding farewell to the decades-old vehicles may come on a single day. So, a fleet manager should be able to tackle any matter arising around the vehicles.

The fleet manager will be the only contact point for all the troubles coming across the way. Further, the manager should be up-to-date with the changing compliance of all sorts of vehicles and its road rules either.

So be a pro-multitasker all the way to cater to the needs of the fleets and the drivers. Be on the toe all the time.

2. Be scheduled intact

The fleets can’t make a move until they get a command. Because the bridle is with the fleet manager!

Of the tens of hundreds of tasks, there will be jobs that require different degree of attention. Sorting the productive and unproductive works is more vital for stacking the tasks properly on a daily basis.

Surprisingly, there won’t be many days with fewer schedules. Hence, a simplified schedule will help you to break down the tasks in a handy manner.

Always upkeep the list of vehicles and their working condition. Get updates from the drivers every day. Maintain a day-to-day log that can produce for future reference.

Also, schedule the fleets and its according routes at least a day before. Educate the driver about the productivity index that the company follows.

Plus, the adequacy to meet compliance and discipline on road. And be ready with the action plan for the troubles coming from nowhere.

Hence, a good schedule always enables you to follow up and meet everyday jobs pretty well.

3. Be a vehicle enthusiast

Like the saying, it takes a thief to catch a thief, and it is no different in the automobile sector. Only an automobile savvy can find out the issues on a vehicle precisely.

Being a fleet manager, it is better to have a clear understanding of the basic working principles of vehicles. Specifically, to scale the value of various issues coming across vehicle management.

Moreover, having a decent knowledge of automobile mechanisms will help to communicate better with the drivers. Further, it enables us to make decisions quite easily at times.

Similarly, always update the technological as well as technical knowledge. Thus, you can upscale and optimize the fleet operation more profitably.

4. Be a tech enthusiast

The wave of technology has reached over the shores of fleet management as well. The modes of managing fleets and its intricate operations are regulated by digital and mobile technology.

Amazingly, these software has cut down the more than half of the workload of the managers all the way.

Today, fleet management software is the lead role that is in control of fleet operations.

It encircles almost every aspect of fleet such as recommending the best routes, tracking the wheels, reporting to the events, updating the data, scheduling the trips and communication between the drivers on the ride.

If you are familiar with the technologies and software, you can easily educate the drivers to simplify their jobs too. It simply says you cannot be a successful fleet manager while indifferent to emerging technologies. So be a good tech enthusiast especially in the vehicle technologies.

5. Be a good communicator

The very trouble arising amid the employees and the employer is mostly triggered by the lack of effective communication.

The employer cannot understand what the employees have meant and the same process rotates vice-versa across the workflow.

So, as a person who needed to rattle off with a lot of people, a fleet manager shall communicate quite effectively. Above that, it should be understandable for everyone.

Regardless of the scenario, the fleet manager could mitigate the issue without compromising on the other responsibilities.

Further, be a good listener too. Understand their problems and the worries of drivers. Resolve it in the meantime. Also, if you have the flair to educate the employees proficiently, the half job is done. Hence, just be a good communicator.

6. Be a leader and an analyst

What makes a manager stands out is the ability to lead a team professionally. Hence a fleet manager is supposed to be more of a leader than a manager. The fleet and the drivers are led by the fleet manager alone, so this skill is a must have for every fleet manager.

When a hurdle pops up over the route or an unfortunate event has occurred during a trip, the fleet manager should be capable of dealing and leading the situation to a good resolution.

As a role of numerous responsibilities, a fleet manager is the very point of contact that every fleet sharpens their ears more accurately for making a move. Thus the role demands a conscious analysis of every process happening across the sector as well.

7. Be up-to-date

How annoying it would be when our manager repeats the same old story again and again? Undoubtedly, it sounds mundane and no one gives an ear.

Particularly, in fleet management, a lot of intuitive changes and updates come over time. The legislation, compliance, rules, and regulations have a thrilling tendency to vacillate often. And the changes may often influence by climate, seasons and movements in-laws.

Moreover, the age of the vehicle, maintenance cycle, duty schedules, certificates, and permits, policies also expire and need to renew yearly.

So, it is the duty of a fleet manager to follow up every string that follows the fleets and update it accordingly. Hence, it demands a skill to gather and share up-to-date information.

Conclusion:

However, the attributes are numerous that can up-skill our abilities to become a successful fleet manager. The above list is a few of the important qualities that we have to master.

As a manager, we would be expected to cater to all the requirements for the management as well as the subordinates. Hence it takes all these skills to function our jobs productively.

6 Tips For Effective Fleet Maintenance

Posted on May 6, 2019 by fmsupadminnxtjs

Effective fleet maintenance is a productive practice for keeping enterprises on a roll. Though it is a mundane task demanding day-to-day attention it cannot be neglected. Keeping the fleets ready for the trips helps the enterprises to optimize time as well as productivity pretty efficiently.

Surprisingly, today we have a lot of technological options to figure out the issues evolving in the fleet operation in advance. Thus, the major cause that hinders the seamless working cycles can be mitigated via these advances in fleet management technologies.

However, let see a few tips for effective fleet maintenance here.

1. Appropriate Vehicle Selection

Sadly, an unhealthy practice that is prevailing among most of the small and medium enterprises is the inappropriate selection of vehicles. Instead of procuring pertinent runabouts they prefer multipurpose vehicles that cater to all sort of purpose.

In fact, in the long run, enterprises have to splash a huge amount to maintaining these vehicles. Also, procuring relevant vehicles help a lot to save time and money. Further, it helps to upkeep a healthy fleet management cycle as well.

Moreover, having a clear understanding of the purpose of vehicles and its demand in the business will enable the business owners to optimize the fleet selection.

2. Preventive Maintenance

Around 50 % of issues arising over the vehicles can be eliminated by periodic inspection and timely service. Checking the wheels and its alignments, applying lubricants at the proper intervals and checking fluids and transmission systems reduce the maintenance frequencies as well as increase the efficiency of vehicles.

In fact, the lack of regular inspection costs a lot and ends in unexpected downtimes to business.

Making inspection a habit is a productive exercise that helps to maintain the fleets industriously. Figuring out the issues and fixing it quickly helps to run an uninterrupted fleet operation regularly.

Further, leveraging fleet management software for finding the issues at an early age and replacing the weak parts and repairing the issues will help the fleet owners to prevent unnecessary money loss.

3. Regular Monitoring

Monitoring the day-to-day activities of fleet allow us to optimize its operation. Including the work cycle, fleet routes, fuel efficiency, maintenance frequency, productivity and all sorts of activities relating to the fleet operations has to be monitored more often.

Recording all these data will help the fleet owners to gather the most efficient practice and subsequently formulate an optimized fleet maintenance frequency to exercise.

Though driver behavior is a noticeable factor in fleet efficiency, by monitoring the driving style and behavior of drivers the fleet owners can assume the most cost-effective plan fleet maintenance cycle to practices.

4. Stringent Fleet Compliance

Formulating a strict fleet policy to follow would help enterprises to bring almost everything in the beeline. Educate the company policies of fleet operation to the drivers enable them to comply with the rules and road laws.

The vision of organizations and the requirements that they are striving to achieve can be conveyed through a healthy policy. Thereby, fleet employees can follow up with the policies and work accordingly.

Encouraging practicing a good fleet management policy helps to grow a responsible work culture among the vehicle staff and inspire to report relevant matters in the meantime as well.

5. Clear Communication and Training

Training is an essential factor to mitigate fleet maintenance. There may be drivers of unlike driving styles and skills. However, giving proper training to handle the particular vehicle and the technologies attached with it mitigates a large sum of troubles at once.

Today, as the fleet technologies are booming in helping the fleet managers to optimize the operations, training the drivers to use those technologies always add productive inputs into the whole system especially in keeping the working momentum.

Timely communication is a big helping tool in the fleet industry. Through the proper exchange of communication fleet owners can eliminate unnecessary quarrels and contradiction with the employees. Specifically, drivers can immediately inform about the maintenance requirements to the managers. Also, if they are getting trained they can resolve minor issues on the trip itself.

Informing the changes of routes, additional emergency tasks and listening to the drivers would help to schedule the works at the convenience of both the parties.

6. Employ Fleet Technologies

The fleet industry is no short of technologies today. There are plenty of diversified technologies such as fleet management software and fleet management systems for optimize out the fleet operations.

Therefore, employing appropriate technology supports in the vehicle enables to manage the vehicles more efficiently. The fleet management software that is able to monitor and scan out the entire vehicles helps further to figure out the issues that are hidden from our eyes as well. Thus, it opens a gate for an efficient fleet maintenance operation.

Conclusion:

Fleet management can be done today in many ways. However, to keep it efficient we have to follow up some fruitful tips as mentioned above. Hence, practicing it will help you out to upkeep an efficient fleet operation all around.

What Are The Benefits of Fleet Management Software?

Posted on April 25, 2019 by fmsupadminnxtjs

Those who have tried to manage fleets at least once would know how complex and tiresome it is.

Following up with a fleet and its drivers is an endless task. The routes, the distance traveled, the fuel consumed, the tires burned, parts’ wear and tear, the never-ending list of procedures are dry as dust to compile every day.

For the managers, fleet management software is more like a relief from all these troublesome tasks. Today, they can easily manage any number of vehicles with single software.

Though this convenience is a major reason for choosing a fleet management system, it’s not the only reason. Let’s check some of these other reasons.

1. Cost-Effective Operation

How great it would be if we can cut the fleet expense to half at once? That is the potential fleet management software offers for enterprises. Let’s see the different ways fleet management software helps us to reduce excess expense.

(a) Fuel management

The fleet management software utilizes GPS technology to foretell the easiest routes to reach your destination. Moreover, by informing the hurdles across the way, it helps to save time and fuel extensively.

Also, by tracing the driving style and driving practices of drivers, fleet management software enables managers to formulate a healthy driving practice all the way to reduce fuel consumption.

Further, the precise monitoring of fuel utilization of vehicles in diverse terrains and seasons helps to schedule fuel management processes accordingly. Hence enterprises can save a large amount of fuel cost comprehensively.

(b) Prevent vehicle theft

Reportedly, the rate of vehicle theft is pretty high across the globe and no different in the Middle East. During long, mundane trips, it’s not uncommon for troubles to manifest. Stolen trucks and injured drivers (sometimes they are even killed) make it a very serious issue for enterprises.

However, since the advent of fleet management software, vehicle theft has declined to nominal rates. As vehicle locations and routes are tracked, it is almost impossible for robbers to steal them and scoot. Thereby, via fleet managing software, companies can save millions every year.

(c) Time management

The rate of productivity relies heavily on time and its smart management. As good as we can manage the time that good will be our productivity. With the backing of fleet management software, the fleet managers can estimate, schedule and deploy the process cycle of their fleet all-inclusively.

With the real-time data of the vehicles and by predicting the possibilities of troubles that may arise across the routes will help to save the productive time massively. That will further help to improve the overall efficacy of the fleets.

2. Preventive Maintenance

Maintenance is an inevitable part for vehicles, but most of it can be foreseeable by timely inspection. Yet, there will be issues arising here and there often.

Working hand in hand with the sensors and gauges in the vehicle, fleet management software can find the problems in the vehicles in priority. Also, recording the recommended maintenance frequency it will inform the maintenance periods.

So, fleet management software is the pathway to peer through the vehicle and figure out the issue in its early stage.

Apart from the unexpected road accidents and issues arising from nowhere, a lot of other unfortunate events over a vehicle can be fended off by the aid of fleet management software.

3. Improves Compliance

Whether it is a fleet of car, truck or bus there will be certain must-follow rules and regulation. Moreover, for commercial fleets, it would be severely far and wide.

The papers, regulations, permits and inspections sheets shouldbe managed and updated. Hence, coordinating all of it is tedious and impossible often with our bare hands.

However, fleet management software is an integrated platform to make sure our fleets and the rules are toeing the line. It also helps the disorganized vehicles to join the rules of the road promptly.

Plus, it enables the fleet managers to check and schedule the vehicle documents updated and make it all compliant with the policies.

4. Enhance Vehicle Efficiency

The efficiency of a vehicle grows out of collective and equally productive actions. Also, it involves every factor that makes a vehicle run seamlessly. The type of vehicle, the capacity, the time, the fuel efficiency, the maintenance frequency, the productivity will sum up the overall efficiency.

Thus, incorporating all these elements that matter the efficiency of a vehicle, fleet management is comprehensively an auto-magical tool that can enhance the overall efficiency of the vehicle.

With the exciting tracking and monitoring function, it will help to cut off all the irrelevant time and cost consuming bugs from the process.

5. Customer and Employee Satisfaction

Customers are always eager to receive their orders as fast as possible. So as the driver, they try to finish the task as fast as possible.

So, if enterprises can deliver it without any delay, customers will be satisfied for sure. Also, it will retain the customers again. Hence, fleet management software offers not only customer satisfaction but also customer retention.

Also, fleet management software helps the drivers and the delivery staffs refrain from unnecessary quarrels with the work schedules and managers. Fleet management software would serve as a piece of clear evidence such as the route history and timeline stories to prove their honesty and working hours anytime.

6. Assures End to End Safety

The challenges across the life of drivers and vehicles are many. The weather, the location, the messy driving behavior, external distractions, and health condition are few reasons that influence the safety of driver and vehicle.

Hence, foreseeing the perils across the roads and the unhealthy condition of vehicles the managers and drivers can bring down the chances of daunting incidents.

Conclusion

The list of benefits of fleet management software is not ending here. Directly and indirectly, we can see the enhanced productivity over time, for sure. Our time, effort, expense of labor and mostly in revenue it will reflect more evidently.