Managing the logistics fleet entails overseeing the interconnected processes that relate to the transportation and organizational use of the fleet’s assets. The control of fleet assets includes the processes of vehicle financing and leasing, vehicle licensing, vehicular maintenance, vehicle remarketing, fleet issue resolution, and fleet supply chain, as well as managing the vehicle drivers; fuel consumption; and vehicle speed/time. Efficiently managing the logistics fleet will improve the productivity and profitability of your logistics operations.
By utilizing these steps to enhance the logistics fleet management operations of your business, you can significantly increase the productivity of your business.
Submitting electronic Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) forms for inspection will minimise the potential for error in the documentation of driver inspections, and also improve driver productivity, while providing the Department of Transportation (DoT) Inspector with rapid access to the driver inspection record. Therefore, the use of electronic DVIRs allows for less time spent by the driver on inspection, fewer personnel for inspection requests, and increased overall driver productivity.
Centralising all necessary fleet management information, and the streamlining of all fleet management workflows are made possible by utilising fleet management software. This software makes it possible to create the connectivity among functions and systems within the fleet management functionality, and, therefore, will provide fleet managers and all associated personnel with real-time access to Operational Performance Metrics for each vehicle in the assigned fleet.
Using fleet management software, fleet managers will have the ability to develop metrics to improve fleet performance and eliminate wasted time on manual data entry. A successful fleet manager will use a combination of effective processes and properly designed software solutions to improve fleet management efficiency:
With GPS Fleet Truck Monitoring Solutions, Fleet Managers can monitor their vehicles using GPS. This helps keep Fleet Managers updated on the vehicle’s location, speed, route history and how long the vehicle has been sitting idle. The use of GPS and telematics helps fleet managers to monitor:
• The progress of product delivery
• Determine the best routes for delivery
• Prevent misuse of vehicles
• Enhancing communication with their customers
The driver’s behavior can significantly affect the amount of money spent on fuel, the overall safety of the vehicle and its drivers and the wear and tear on the vehicle as it ages. Fleet Management Software helps keep track of the following driver behaviors:
• Harsh braking
• Excessive idling
• Hours of operation
• Driving patterns
Fleet Management Software uses this information to develop driver training, performance evaluations and incentive programs.
Advanced Fleet Management Software uses Artificial Intelligence and analytical tools to find the best route for a driver based on current traffic, delivery priorities, vehicle capacity and fuel efficiency. Optimized Routing will reduce delivery times and costs, fuel consumption and take unnecessary costs off the bottom line.
Fuel management represents a large portion of the total cost of logistics. Fleet Management Systems allow for Tracking Fuel Usage, Identifying Fuel Theft, Tracking Mileage Against Fuel Usage, Identify Fuel Inefficient Vehicles, and Driving Habits.
Proactive Maintenance will reduce the number of times a vehicle will break down and extend the lifespan of the vehicle. Fleet Management Systems can help Fleet Managers create a schedule for:
• Preventive Maintenance;
• Scheduled Service Reminders;
• Inspection Logs; and
• Maintenance History; which allows for more availability of vehicles and reduces costs incurred due to downtime.
All transportation fleets must follow regulatory guidelines, safety, and paperwork regulations.
Fleet management supports:
– Keeping track of vehicle documentation
– Keeping track of driver license/permit compliance
– Providing the necessary compliance reporting
– Assisting with the audit process preparing for audits
Fleet management for logistics uses integrated digital platforms to gather data from vehicles, drivers, fuel systems, and other sources for generating reports, actionable insights, alerts, dashboard,and reports. The information is gathered from vehicles, driver behaviour, and mileage, to produce actionable insights through data analysis. Based on vehicle GPS location, and fleet management software has the ability to send alerts, generate reports/dashboards, and help fleet managers take a proactive approach to correcting operational inefficiencies through the following workflow:
Logistics fleet management is faced with many challenges which include but are not limited to; High upfront investment costs for technology, resistance to adopting new technology from drivers, large quantities of data and difficulty integrating with existing ERP or logistics software. With the implementation of cloud-based fleet management solutions, and scalable applications for fleet management, both of those challenges have been alleviated substantially.
Cloud-based solutions along with the continued evolution of scalable applications for fleet management has transitioned fleet management from a reactive function of logistics operations to a strategic business advantage.
Fleet management in the logistics industry is no longer simply tracking vehicles; it is now becoming optimization of the entire transportation ecosystem. The core tenets of effective fleet management; Cost reduction, Safety improvement, Customer Satisfaction, Scalability are the keys to success in establishing and maintaining logistics operations.
As logistics networks continue to grow in complexity and competition, developing a solid fleet management strategy must be a top priority for any business if they want to achieve both sustainable growth and operational excellence in today’s marketplace.
