Just like any other industry or business sector out there, if you are in the vehicle transportation and logistics business, there are many things that you need to take into consideration – some play a much more important role than others. To ensure you are on top of your game as far as fleet management is concerned, let’s take a look at the top 5 factors that might directly impact your fleet utilisation, efficiency, productivity, and equipment & driver safety.
In-house or Should I Outsource the Hassle?
This is the first and foremost decision that companies or individuals need to make at the very initial stage. Depending upon the size of business, business processes, sales volume, and other operational-related procedures, this decision could go either way. Both come with their pros and cons; for example, in-house fleet management gives you more control, in-depth knowledge about your equipment, ability to quickly move around your vehicles within designated routes, etc. If you decide to outsource it, one of the significant advantages is that you don’t have to spend your time and effort on the management part, professional individuals will be taking care of it for you. However, whichever way you decide to go, the most critical aspect is to not label this as ‘hassle’ at any given point.
Vehicle Selection & Maintenance:
Your fleet manager needs to be vigilant 24/7 on what needs to be bought, what needs to be discarded and can or should be repaired. Trust me, knowing your vehicles inside out and making sure they go through regular maintenance checks can save you a whole lot of time and money later on.
Vehicle Telematics:
Regardless of all the experience your fleet management individuals might have on their CVs; you need to embrace the technical assistance and get your hands on the latest and upgraded GPS-based vehicle tracking and management software that is available out there.
Record Management:
Another factor that will play a significant role in your business efficiency and productivity is having up-to-date and accurate visibility of all your equipment at any given time. This includes all financial costs incurred in the past, vehicle maintenance, buying and selling, etc. Make sure you are using the best record management software to achieve this.
Driver Management & Safety Checks:
You might not be able to achieve short-term or long-term transportation or logistics business goals if your drivers are not equally managed and taken care of. You are at a loss if your human resource is underworked or overworked. To ensure you are getting the best of your drivers along with their safety and vehicle safety as well, start using one of the FMS (fleet management software) today.