How Fleet Management Technology Helps Reduce Costs
Aug 09, 2019
For many fleet operators, running a fleet efficiently and safely while minimising costs is a constant challenge. To overcome such obstacles, an increasing number of operators have begun implementing fleet management technology.
Telematics systems monitor and provide smart information about fleet, allowing business operators to analyse the data and make strategic decisions that can help to reduce costs.
Fleet Trak, a UK supplier of TomTom telematics solutions, outlines several benefits of utilising fleet software and how it can positively impact the bottom line.
Improve driver behaviour
Modern fleet technology includes GPS vehicle tracking systems and vehicle cameras, which enables fleet managers to monitor driver behaviour via the secure cloud platform. The technology can track the driving styles of each driver, including whether they are driving within speed limits, whether they are braking or accelerating too abruptly, or if they are spending too long idling.
Fleet technology allows viewers to observe driving footage in real-time, reviewing driver conduct or road incidents as they occur. This is beneficial, since reckless behaviour ultimately leads to increased costs when road accidents are inevitable. If a fleet driver is found to be at fault, an accident claim can be made against the business, which results in higher insurance premiums.
Business owners can, therefore, utilise this technology and proactively overcome potential road incidents, ensuring drivers do not take risks while carrying out their jobs.
Moreover, if hazardous driving behaviours are detected, the fleet manager can decide to take disciplinary actions or provide additional training for the driver in question, leading to a safer and more efficient workforce.
Route optimisation
Fleet software provides automated route scheduling and live traffic information, which optimises the best route for the fleet’s journey, thus reducing mileage and, in turn, fuel costs, as well as increasing workforce productivity and punctuality.
By identifying the exact location of any vehicle, the technology alerts of any foreseeable delays and plans the best route to take in order to save time spent on the road. These features can also keep customers notified with expected delays and updated arrival times, which ensures a higher level of customer satisfaction.
Scheduling optimisation
Fleet technology allows businesses to manage their mileage effectively, through better scheduling. A driver’s schedule can be automatically uploaded to a routing system before the telematics can monitor their progress on the road.
If the fleet driver’s schedule isn’t as hectic, they can register their current status and put forward their availability for their next task, which allows the fleet managers to assign a new job to the driver closest to the next destination.
As such, optimising driver schedules can maximise their productivity levels as well as lowering operational costs, fuel consumption rate, mileage and their carbon footprint.
Fuel efficiency
Fleet software can provide valuable insights into the fuel efficiency of the fleet. The system continuously monitors and presents the user with their fuel consumption and carbon emissions levels. It will also provide suggestions on how to reduce their carbon footprint and improve efficiency by setting targets that the drivers should strive towards.
Maintenance checks
Any time a fleet vehicle is taken off the road due to maintenance troubles, the business loses money, which is why it is essential to monitor vehicle health and carry out maintenance where necessary.
Telematics can deliver immediate vehicle diagnostics issues, such as faults, warnings, or engine malfunctions, in order to act quickly and avoid vehicle downtime.
Addressing any maintenance issues earlier-on is essential, as vehicle downtime can cause significant delays, which will affect customer satisfaction. Likewise, ensuring that fleet is monitored continuously for maintenance problems can lower both fuel intake and repair costs in the long-run.
There is a variety of fleet management software on the market today, helping fleet businesses of any size and in any industry improve their operations. As well as enhancing the fleet’s overall performance, telematics systems can decrease fuel consumption rate, promote good driving behaviour, increase customer satisfaction and, above all, reduce company costs.
