Are you a business owner or a manager whose main responsibility is to manage a fleet of vehicles? While this may sound relatively simple on the surface, in reality, there are all kinds of factors to be aware of, which takes a high level of organization and awareness. If you feel like things are slipping by unnoticed, or things have gotten a bit out of control within your company, it’s time to take a moment and remind yourself of all the important basics.
Here’s a look at four tips that will help you manage a fleet of vehicles with ease.
Preventative Maintenance Should Be Prioritized
All too often, fleet managers will wait until a car is out of service before reacting, and at that point, it’s too late. Now the business is losing money and productivity thanks to idle time while the car is out of commission. A much smarter and frankly more cost-effective approach is to make preventative maintenance a priority. Ideally, you don’t want to get to the point that a car needs servicing, instead, you’re always one step ahead.
To ensure maintenance is happening regularly, you need to be able to track what has been done and when.
Drivers Need to Communicate Any Issues
This goes hand-in-hand with maintenance and repairs, but drivers also need to be sure they report any potential issues with the vehicle when it happens. Ignoring strange sounds or repairs isn’t something that should be tolerated. This means you need a reporting system in place that drivers can easily use.
Many expert fleet managers suggest using a driver checklist that is completed before the shift begins and at the end of it. This will allow for consistency and transparency.
Make Use of Software with Management Capabilities
Because most businesses rely on software and digital platforms to keep things running smoothly, there is no reason not to use the same approach to managing the fleet of vehicles. A company like Acertuscan offer drive away insurance, just the kind of thing that fleet managers can benefit from. The ideal platform should make the logistics seamless and smooth, offering information in real-time so that it’s always efficient.
Some of the things you can manage and keep track of in fleet management software can include the status of each vehicle, condition reporting, inventory status, request a move, and so much more.
Get Into the Habit of Logging Everything
It’s also wise to get into the habit of logging everything possible, even details that you may not think are important at the moment. Some of the key items that should be tracked are fuel usage, the age of each vehicle and its leasing/purchase details, what the vehicle was used for, licensing details of each driver, and more.
Taking Control of the Fleet Management
Getting better control of fleet management won’t be an overnight fix; rather, you’ll need to take several steps to realize results. Once you start to see improvements, you mustn’t slack off and you must continue using the steps that are proven to work. They will make life easier.
About The Author
Jim Pullman
Jim Pulman has extensive knowledge and experience in Home Building, Construction, and Design. He writes articles in his free time and partners with content creators to share his expertise with the online community. He is also passionate about automobiles.
