Want To Be An Efficient Fleet Manager? Follow These Tips!

Posted by Gauri Satpute on July 22nd, 2019

If you are a fleet manager who needs to oversee complex fleet operations on a daily basis, there are a number of habits you should ideally inculcate. These practices, if applied appropriately, can make a significant difference to the overall output of your fleet management company as well as the safety of your workforce. This list has been compiled by taking lessons from the most efficient fleet managers and notable fleet professionals around the world. These are more or less a sure-shot way to improve your fleet operations:

1. Act, do not react when it comes to the safety of your fleet: since your drivers are any engulfed by numerous distractions and safety hazards, it is always advisable to get ahead of any potential perils. Take a proactive stand by understanding what your drivers are up to when you are not looking. It is also a good idea to invest in a hands-free device, driver behaviour monitoring app, in-cab camera, etc.

2. Make fleet vehicle maintenance management easy and accessible: it is crucial to make inspections, scheduling, and reporting as effortless as possible if you want your drivers to keep up with routine vehicle services and maintenance. Fleet maintenance management should be simplified by making it mobile, automated and accessible by anyone you want on your team.

3. Set guidelines for fleet vehicle purchasing and disposal: if no guidelines are set, personnel from different departments and locations may buy vehicles as required and keep them till as long as they please. As a part of fleet leasing companies, the aim should be to optimize vehicle replacement. A purchasing plan should be put in place.

4. Set goals and expectations for driver performance: it is always a good idea to hold your drivers to a standard of performance. Some fleet leasing companies also offer incentives to drivers for doing a job well- be it for achieving high fuel efficiency, performing regular vehicle inspections, or exhibiting high driving performance. This makes it easier to promote safe driving habits.

5. Measure everything that matters: keep in mind the importance of metrics, since they can not only help monitor progress but what is noteworthy is, they can be reduced to mere numbers if they are not measuring anything useful. A few metrics that provide considerable insight into overall vehicle performance and fleet performance include cost per mile, total cost trend, and operating cost summary.

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Gauri Satpute

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Gauri Satpute
Joined: February 15th, 2018
Articles Posted: 145

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