More companies are turning towards in-house fleets to help facilitate the transport of their goods and other cargo. From education institutions to healthcare facilities and trucking companies, fleet managers are in more demand in today’s job market.
While this demand for effective fleet managers creates opportunities to succeed in the field, you’ll have to overcome various complex fleet management issues.
Successful fleet managers need to perfect skills and practical measures to save operational costs, set up vehicle management schedules, and run driver training initiatives.
Some of the best tips to help become an effective fleet manager include;
- Have an effective fleet management program
Any business that seeks to streamline its fleet management services needs to invest in fleet management software such as WEBFLEET.
With the right fleet management platform, you’ll be able to keep tabs on all your vehicles. Additionally, the platform helps you evaluate numerous optimization metrics, including the right fleet to invest in, how to monitor the fleet, and training drivers.
When you invest in the perfect fleet management platform, you can set KPIs for your team, manage costs more effectively, and prepare the team for various risks.
- Maintain proper data records
Keeping records is a vital part of effective vehicle management. As the manager, it is your responsibility to know which vehicles are active, when they are active, and the drivers assigned to specific vehicles.
If possible, you can keep both digital and physical records of essential data such as;
- The state and condition of the vehicle
- The mileage before and after each shift
- The pressure and overall condition of tires
- A detailed vehicle maintenance history
- Hire professional drivers
Drivers are an integral element in any successful fleet management service. With the right drivers, you can be sure your vehicles are safe at all times, and the cargo will reach its designation in good time and condition.
When hiring drivers for your fleet, the right driver should have;
- A legal driving license meeting all the class requirements
- The mental, psychological, and physical ability to safely operate fleet vehicles
- The relevant department of medical transportation card (DOT)
- Relevant abstract and practical skills and experience
- Clean driving history and record
- Service and maintain your fleet regularly
Taking care of your vehicles is as important as taking care of your drivers and the other aspects of fleet management.
When your vehicles are well maintained, you don’t have to worry about sudden mechanical and operational failure.
When servicing the vehicles, remember to use both preventative and regular maintenance efforts. The preventive measures will help solve matters before they arise, while the regular maintenance will ensure the cars are always in optimum capacity. If possible, you should also consider emergency maintenance services for unforeseeable fleet issues.
- Employ GPS tracking software
One of the biggest worries for any flight manager is tracking your vehicles at all times. If you don’t have the means to track your cars, you could easily run behind on your orders. In most cases, this will lead to delayed orders and, eventually, a collapse of the business or department.
With the right fleet management software, you can now keep tabs on your fleet at all times. This way, you can liaise with both the driver and the destination. Additionally, when there’s an emergency with the fleet, you’ll know as it happens.
- Consider the right fleet insurance policy
While you can do your best to be on top of your fleet management tasks, there’s always the chance that something could go wrong. As a result, it’s always best to have an insurance policy.
The right fleet insurance policy should care for all your transportation needs. This way, you can be sure your needs will be taken care of, and your fleet management efforts run smoothly.
Ultimately, it’s important to realize the complexities of an effective fleet manager. The above-mentioned tips will help you thrive as a fleet manager.