A lot of businesses have fleets of vehicles and drivers to help manage the logistical side of their business. Whether it’s delivering components and shipping products across the country, or simply transporting VIPs from one destination to another, having a fleet of vehicles is usually a sign of a professional and well-off business.
Sadly, it’s a challenge in itself to manage a fleet. It’s a logistical nightmare that requires a lot of monitoring, and there are many problematic areas that could waste company time and money. To give you an idea of those challenges, here are a couple of considerations.
Driver Checks
If your business requires a lot of drivers to operate your fleet, then you need to understand the importance of running background checks and maintaining a positive attitude throughout your workforce. If your drivers have charges on their license or have been known to drink and drive, then you should be more wary of their habits especially if they are hauling expensive cargo. You don’t need to put in too much effort to manage your drivers, but it’s worth noting that this could be a problematic area.
Maintenance
Owning a fleet of vehicles means that you’ll have to perform regular repairs and maintenance on them. Luckily, there are services like ryanrepairs.com.au which specialise in large vehicle repairs, making them the perfect business contact for a company that ships a lot of items on a regular basis. However, if you only have a couple of private transportation vehicles, then you might be better off making friends with your local garage. Just keep in mind that if they are company-owned vehicles, you’ll play a major role in maintaining them and fixing any issues.
Information Management
Managing a fleet involves a lot of data. For instance, you’ll need to track the locations of your vehicles using GPS, you’ll need to monitor how much fuel they are using, how efficient the drivers are and where they make stops. The larger your fleet, the more sophisticated your software systems have to be and the more people you need to monitor and process that data. Ensure that your company has an experienced fleet manager if you have dozens or even hundreds of vehicles to manage, and invest in industry-standard fleet management software. This comparison at softwareadvice.com should give you a couple of good recommendations.
Vehicle Misuse
One of the biggest issues with owning a company fleet is the possibility of vehicle misuse. If your drivers are taking their kids to school, picking up their partners from work or driving off their designated path just to stop at a fast food place, then you might need to have a word with them. What starts off as innocent uses for your vehicles will eventually turn into wasting company time and money. You can monitor their use by speaking with your fleet manager and utilising software. It’s best to have a word with them as soon as possible so they don’t use your vehicles for unauthorised reasons.