The Essentials Of Fleet Management That You Need To Keep In Mind
If you’re running a fleet of vehicles, especially if they’re on the larger side, such as trucks and vans, then you need to make sure that you’re managing that fleet with great care. If anything goes wrong with one of the drivers or vehicles, it can cost your company considerably and might have repercussions beyond that. Here, we will look at some of the essentials of fleet management that you need to incorporate into your business and why they matter so much.
Safety
First and foremost, your consideration should be the safety of your drivers, vehicles, and everyone else on the road. You can begin by investing in those drivers, keeping them up with safety training, and paying attention to their driving habits so that you can offer more precise training for those who need it. Of course, you should be taking the time to employ professional drivers who have the qualifications and the right attitude to driving, with experience running deliveries. Make it a company policy to prioritize defensive driving on the road and ensure you’re giving your drivers time for breaks and avoiding issues like drowsy driving.
Maintenance
The vehicles that your drivers operate can play a huge role in their safety, as well. You should invest not only in routine vehicle maintenance, but you can do what many fleets have done and train drivers to do the basics themselves. Of course, not all of the onus can be put on them. Creating a good working relationship with a local garage that takes care of your vehicles and promises consistent work for decent pay can be vital. You may also want to know which parts of your vehicles will likely need replacement most often and to keep a stock of those parts ready to swap when needed.
Liability
With the tips above, you can do your best to ensure that problems don’t arise on the road or that, if they do, they are at least not your team's fault. However, that doesn’t mean collisions, breakdowns, and other issues will never happen. When it does, you need to be able to prove that your drivers aren’t liable if they aren’t. This can include fitting each vehicle with dash and back cameras, but you should also have a legal team on hand, like a truck accident lawyer, who can help you fight any legal battles that come your way. Of course, insurance for all your vehicles and drivers is a must. Still, you should adjust your policy based on your needs as they evolve rather than choosing what is simply the cheapest legally mandatory option.
Document Everything
Documenting every aspect of operations is crucial, especially in the concrete industry. A comprehensive record is invaluable from the moment a concrete truck leaves the plant until the final pour. This documentation serves as a shield against potential liabilities, aids in operational efficiency, and provides critical data for analysis.
Equipping your fleet with cloud-based mobile video technology is a significant step towards thorough documentation. Real-time monitoring of your trucks empowers you to make informed decisions, optimize routes, and enhance driver safety. In the unfortunate event of an accident, these recordings become irrefutable evidence. Moreover, several companies specialize in providing tailored fleet management solutions, including hardware and software integration, to meet the specific needs of the concrete industry. By investing in a robust documentation system, you not only safeguard your business but also optimize your fleet's performance.
Cost
As well as the topics already raised, every business with a fleet will find that it can quickly comprise one of the most significant business costs. This should be no surprise. After all, the fuel costs alone can start to add up, and then you add maintenance, replacement parts, and more beyond that. Reducing your fleet’s fuel costs should be one of the first steps. Aside from teaching drivers to operate vehicles more fuel-efficiently, it would be best if you always were looking for providers selling fuel cards at the best prices and detecting issues like fuel theft, which can be prevalent in fleet-driven companies.
Control
Many of the decisions above can be made much more effectively when you have the data. Aside from helping you see where your products are at any given point, equipping your fleet with GPS tracking devices also allows you to see how efficiently they’re driving, if they are committing any safety errors, and other elements of their driving that could be worth addressing. With your dispatch team on the radio and able to react in real-time to the data as it comes in, you can also help your drivers be much more efficient in their route choices by highlighting traffic jams or other issues that can impede their progress. Of course, the technology needs people to monitor and respond to it for the best results.
Given the potential damage vehicles can cause to your reputation, finances, and liability, great care must be taken to ensure that they operate as effectively and safely as possible. Hopefully, the tips above will help you do that.