Vehicle Fleet management has to do with the management of an organization’s commercial vehicles. Fleet management involved those challenging activities the organization engages in to keep the company’s commercial vehicles productive and yielding revenue.
Any organization whose operations are based on commercial vehicles is in some way involved in fleet operations and fleet management. Fleet management exists to supervise all fleet performance and maintenance to increase the organization’s smooth running and productivity.
A fleet manager’s job is to see to the function of fleet management, which is to oversee the fleet’s performance. The fleet manager is also responsible for overseeing fuel use, fuel cost, coordinating drivers, utilizing assets, route planning, and activities that influence company productivity and reduce waste.
Fleet management companies usually use fleet management software, like samsara or vehicle telematics, to improve fleet efficiency and reduce operating costs.
What Are The Responsibilities Of A Fleet Manager
Ensure Driver’s Safety
Ensuring driver’s safety is one of the challenging tasks fleet managers have to resolve for the sake of organizational success. To see to this, fleet managers need to access and analyze drivers’ performance to promote safe driving and prevent job-related accidents. It can be very difficult for the fleet manager to successfully monitor the driver’s performance since they are usually stationed several miles away from the moving vehicle. Using dash cam with GPS or vehicle tracking systems help fleet man, agers analyze drivers’ performance to implement drivers’ training.
Driver Retention
Fleet managers work to sustain and increase driver retention. The fleet manager creates mentorship programs; they also enhance workplace conditions or promote better relationships between driver and management. Fleet managers are constantly working to keep the company’s drivers happy at work.
Fleet Tracking
For fleet teaching, fleet managers usually rely on GPS technology and other GPS tracking systems. Fleet managers often need to track the driver’s location to increase the management’s accessibility to the operation of their fleets and vehicle safety.
Vehicle Acquisition
Before vehicle acquisition, the fleet manager must have forecasted how many and the types of vehicles a fleet will need for the fleet to be productive. The management can determine a purchase strategy with correct understanding and forecasting of the fleet vehicle utilization. Other things that are determined are which employee is eligible for a class of vehicle, vehicle life span, and market timing.
Total Cost Reduction
Fleet managers are expected to reduce the organization’s operating cost. They do this by cutting down on all unnecessary expenses. The fleet manager ensures proper fuel management, amongst other cost-friendly approaches in terms of maintenance of vehicles. The fleet manager sets up fuel efficiency programs, whether fuel price is high or low. It is up to the fleet manager to devise cost-saving methods within the organization, which results in productivity.
Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Compliance
The ELD mandate ensures that the hours of service of drivers of commercial vehicles are recorded electronically. The ELD is a substitute for the regular paper register. It reduces the chances of a d. When a fleet is subjected to the ELD mandate, the fleet manager must install a system that supports ELD in the vehicle so an accurate reading of drive time can be obtained.
How To Be Better At Fleet Management
A Fleet Manager Should Be Great At Multitasking
The responsibilities of a fleet manager are broad and complex. To successfully handle these responsibilities, a fleet manager needs to handle their different duties and obligations simultaneously and seamlessly.
Strong Communication Skills
Fleet managers need to know how to communicate ideas effectively, either in written form or verbally. They should be able to persuade other members of the organization to achieve organizational goals. A fleet manager should be able to communicate the accomplished goals of the fleet and the needs of the fleet. You should be able to get a good reception from your audience when you propose new programs and schemes.
Be Goal-Driven
A fleet manager should be goal-oriented. You should consistently work towards reaching productivity benchmarks, fleet utilization, and optimal management of operating costs. A goal-driven fleet manager will creatively handle every challenge of fleet management.
Patience And Flexibility
Fleet managers should be able to adjust to new events or situations. The roles of fleet managers are ever-changing, and fleet managers should know how to adjust to new situations to solve the challenges that arise at every point.
Great time management skills, strong decision making, accountability, and many other traits make a fleet manager even better at their job.
