In vehicle fleet management, there are many moving parts. There is data to be gathered, costs to analyze, drivers to train, processes to apply, and so much more. As a fleet manager, your job is to make sure everything is running as efficiently as possible, growing the bottom line and improving the overall safety of your drivers. That can be a challenge. However, if you apply certain best practices, you’ll find that improving the fleet business is not as difficult as it may seem. Here are five principles that you should start applying right away.
- Make it easy to manage and access vehicle maintenance
While it’s not always their intent, people can be lazy. Being a driver is mainly about driving, so if you want your drivers to stay on top of vehicle service and maintenance on a regular basis, then you need to make it as easy as possible for them to do so. Drivers need easy access and reminders for inspections and managing their schedule and reports. There are simple, conventional ways to do this like handwritten notes, and office filing. Then there are more efficient and easier ways to stay on top of things like a using cloud-based fleet management software service like Fleetio.
Use a method that is simple, easy to use, available anywhere at anytime, and automated.
- Set driver expectations and performance goals
Good drivers know how to maximize fuel efficiency, take care of their vehicle regularly, and drive safely consistently. The goal of any fleet is for every driver to exhibit this kind of performance, and to take care of fleet vehicles. The way to encourage this is to set goals and incentives for drivers to achieve. This creates a standard in your company that encourages efficiency and, most importantly, safety. The result will save your company a lot of money in fuel and vehicle maintenance costs. You can even implement driver behavior monitoring using software and mobile apps.
- Measure everything that is important
In fleet operation and management, there are many different metrics you can track. However, understanding what metrics actually matter to your overall progress is important. Some of the most important are cost per mile, total cost trends, and operating costs. On top of tracking appropriate metrics, proper documentation is necessary, too. Document everything digitally. This will streamline the measurement and tracking process by giving you better and faster access to fleet information.
- Use bulk fuel services to save money…and time
If you’ve operated a fleet for some time, then bulk fuel is an obvious staple in your business. If you aren’t using a bulk fuel service as part of managing your fleet, then you are missing out on potential cost savings. By having a bulk fuel contract with a trusted fuel delivery service, you will have immediate access to fuel directly onsite. You’ll also save money by negotiating a wholesale price for fuel, and guaranteeing a fixed fuel cost per month which will improve your overall ability to budget costs. A good fuel delivery service will also assure you of having fuel in emergency situations like disasters, and in fuel shortages.
- Never stop learning
Like most industries, the fleet industry is always evolving. New technology is making fleet management much more streamlined and easier to manage. The challenge is in adopting such technologies. Don’t be afraid to try something out and see if it improves your business. Stay up to date on industry news by following blogs (like this one), reading trade publications, and by joining an industry association. There is always something new to learn and apply. Your business will be better for it, and you customers will feel it, too.
At Moffitt Services, we specialize in fuel delivery. If you’re looking to save time and money in your fleet management, then talk to us today. We’ll set you up and ensure you always have fuel when you need it at the right price to keep your business moving forward and your bottom line going up.
