It’s hard to understate how important the transportation industry is for society. Even with all the technological advancements over the past decade, we still primarily use trucks to get things to the correct location.
That’s why the fleet management industry is so big and will remain so in the future. Believe it or not, it had a market size of $20.6 billion in 2021.
With how vital your truck fleet is to the success of your company, you can’t afford to handle management the wrong way. Follow the five fleet management tips below to improve fleet management.
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1. Create a Maintenance Schedule
Preventative maintenance is one of the most critical aspects of managing a fleet. The last thing you want is for a truck to be on the road and break down. You can avoid many of those problems with preventative maintenance.
It also helps you keep more trucks available for emergencies. If you have several vehicles on the sideline because of problems, you may not be able to meet all your customer demands.
2. Optimize Routing
Routing is critical to making it to a customer location in the shortest time. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to do when you do it manually. You need software to help the process.
You can use a mini tracking device to keep track of your vehicles’ current locations and use software to route them to the quickest paths. This will help you avoid obstructions on the road and make it to your customers without delay.
3. Manage Your Fleet Size
Keeping the maximum number of vehicles on the road is critical for optimal fleet management. Unfortunately, some companies buy too many vehicles and end up with storage areas full of unused trucks. All of that is wasted money and space.
Don’t go overboard when you buy vehicles. Keep only the number of vehicles you need to handle your routes and a few extra for emergency situations.
4. Train Your Drivers
Driver training is paramount if you want an effective fleet. Not all truck drivers are good actors on the road. Because of that, they waste time and use more fuel than necessary.
Your drivers need to meet certain standards if they want to work for you. Create a set of standard procedures and training programs that tell drivers how to act on the road. This training will improve road safety and cut your fuel costs.
5. Invest in Management Software
You don’t have to handle fleet tracking manually anymore. There are now countless business tools available for fleet managers that automate much of the process. If you aren’t using these programs, you’re doing things the hard way.
Investigate your fleet management software options to find one that has the features you need. Your software will let you get more done during the day and run a more efficient operation.
Implement These Fleet Management Tips As Soon As Possible
Managing your truck fleet is no easy task. You have to keep your drivers on time and make sure every vehicle you have is ready to go at all times.
The fleet management tips above are a great way to optimize your process. Start putting them into place today to make business management easier for your fleet.
Head back to the blog to learn more tips that will help you get the most from your truck fleet and increase your business.
