Managing your fleet means that you need to be aware of the obstacles that come with the job, and you need to be ready to provide solutions for all of them. Running a business is going to come with a lot of challenges, and you need to be prepared for the things that you can expect, and for those unplanned surprises that can affect your brand.
Here, we are going to talk about some of the biggest challenges of fleet management, and we will help you learn how to overcome them. Keep on reading on AUTOsist to find out how a fleet service management software can help you out with that, and how the drivers’ behavior can either help your business or break it.
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Costs of the fuel
The number one challenge that every fleet faces is the cost of fuel. With the rising prices of fuels nowadays, it is becoming even more difficult to deal with this and, it seems like our budget is never enough. This will put a huge toll on our vessels, and can even crash our business.
The best way to deal with this is to use fleet service management software that will optimize your routes, it will give you information on how much fuel is consumed and what can be done to change the habits and spend less.
Another great way to help drive down the cost of fuel to your fleet business is to sign up for a fuel card. You will benefit from the wholesale price of fuel – which in some cases can be up to 10p off per litre. Before committing your business, it could be wise to do a fuel card comparison to find the best fuel card for you. Online comparison sites like iCompario are great for this.
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Behaviors of the drivers
We know that the way that our drivers act on the road is going to have the biggest impact on when our products arrive from one place to the other, the fuel consumption, as well as the safety of the goods they are transporting.
In addition to that, the way that the driver handles the vessel is going to affect the maintenance needs, so by introducing fleet service management software you will be able to track these habits, and if needed, implement changes.
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Digitalization of Vehicles
Tracking the automobile routes and getting the data on service parts can be time-consuming and tedious. With the help of advancements in telemetry and internet of things (IoT) technology, fleet managers can track all of the below-listed activities.
Fleet managers can follow vehicle trails, obtain information on the service history of the parts and components, keep compliance contracts, and get reminders when preventative maintenance is necessary by using digital applications.
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Non-core business duties take up a lot of time
Supervising documentation, organizing service, and planning routes are vital aspects of owning a fleet of automobiles. However, all these tasks might be time-consuming. According to a study, 40 percent of fleet managers exhaust most of their time on administrative tasks when they could do something more productive.
With the ideal technology, fleet managers can expend limited time on these activities, making the operation more dependable, productive, and eventually profitable. It’s not just the fleet that needs managing; relationships with vendors and suppliers are equally crucial. This is where vendor management software comes into play. By using Gatekeeper as a vendor management software, fleet managers can streamline communications, maintain records, and ensure compliance with vendors. This integration of fleet and vendor management creates a cohesive environment that optimizes operations and saves valuable time and resources. Even with this, only around half of the fleet managers utilize fleet management software currently.
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Environmental Controls
Drastic weather incidents have raised awareness about climate change and prompted the adoption of modern clean air standards all over the world. As environmental regulations become strict, fleet managers are faced with different demands to meet.
In addition to that, they are being pressured to discontinue the usage of internal combustion engines. All the fleet managers and the service professionals who assist them have to understand these problems and develop their own plans.
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Communication errors
COVID-19’s overall impact is still being stabilized, but it has pushed remote work to the lead. For that time being, several fleet managers have had to adapt to working from home. It became difficult for some people to stay concentrated due to numerous distractions.
However, remote success is possible, but communication is the most vital factor. Your staff is distributed throughout the day, and some of them are in charge of a fleet that spans various places. Thus, you have to give the drivers the most efficient solution for smooth communication.
There is no doubt that mobile phones will be crucial communication tools. Ensure all the drivers have the essential contact information and ensure that the manager stays close to their device throughout the day. Besides that, smartphone apps allow you to supervise your fleet from everywhere while also allowing your team to add data in real-time.
Even in traditional work settings, communicating more often or from time to time will help reduce miscommunication. In addition to that, proper communication enhances processes for your team, service providers, and dealers in any typical work environment.
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Maintenance
Scheduling and conducting maintenance means that the vessels are going to spend time in the shop instead of being on the road. Depending on what needs to be done, this can take between several days and several weeks. Every day that the vessel is not on the road, means that we are losing profits or delaying the shipment.
So, if you want your vehicles to spend less time in the shop, you need to make sure they are upkeeped regularly. You need to get them checked, you should track all the changes with the fleet service management software, and you need to act as soon as a problem arises. This will help you save a lot of money in the long run, and you will have a secure and better fleet.
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Security
Maintenance staff will be a vital line of defense as fleets evolve to be autonomous and digitally enabled. The maintenance teams assure that transit and the usage of automobiles are safe. The technicians should examine and confirm that backup systems and protections are in place. Besides that, they need to keep an eye on the technologies used in fleet operations, from dispatch to detectors that monitor brake fluid levels.
Bottom Line
These are some of the biggest challenges that come with fleet management, and even though they are not the only ones, they will impact your business the most. Fortunately, there are always ways to overcome them, and the only thing you need to do is have a good plan, set it in motion as soon as possible, and make sure that everyone is following it.