6 Key Tactics for Efficient Fleet Management

As a business owner with a fleet to manage, it is of the essence to have the best tactics to ensure that your fleet stays afloat. The notion behind this argument is based on the fact that, if you don’t have an effective fleet management plan, chances of recording losses and your business collapsing are high. Apart from this, managing your fleet primarily includes managing your budget, and staying afloat while at the same time ensuring that your business is running effectively.

Getting the best performance out of your fleet is anything but a bed of roses. High costs, time constraints, a fluctuating market, and workforce availability are just some of the few factors that can influence how your fleet operates. As a fleet manager, you can be able to withstand the rainy days if the correct measures are followed to the latter. The following are some of the best tactics that can keep a fleet running regardless of the economic constraints.

Gain Full Control of your Fleet
One of the easiest ways of having an effective fleet and managing it accordingly is by having the ultimate control of the fleet. For instance, you should be able to have the full control of your vehicles, drivers, vehicle testing, and most importantly, a maintenance schedule that informs you when a particular car should be serviced. With this information at your disposal, you will be able to manage your fleet and record profits rather than losses. Apart from this, it would be easier to run other errands with ta peace of mind.

Improve Collaboration between Different Departments
For any fleet to run smoothly, there has to be a form of collaboration between different departments. For example, there can be a finance department that oversees the finances incurred by the fleet. As a fleet manager, you should be able to cooperate with each department to ensure the fleet is managed accordingly. With an effective collaborative team, it should be easier to pinpoint which department is failing in its responsibility, and design ways of correcting the errors.

Always Be Innovative
A successive fleet manager should be in a position to understand new trends in the market and apply them accordingly. Thinking outside the box will also allow you to pinpoint the strengths and weakness of your fleet. For instance, a fleet management device can be used to monitor your fleet. With such a fleet management tool, you will be in a much better position to pay your attention to other areas of your fleet, hence making it easier for you to manage the entire fleet easily and efficiently.

Have a Replacement Protocol
If you want to maintain an active fleet, it is advisable to have a replacement protocol that allows you to replace old fleets with new ones. With a replacement protocol, your fleet will always be on the road. However, as simple as it may sound, you might find yourself incurring losses if your replacement costs outweigh your income. In most cases, a vehicle in a fleet is usually replaced after four years. However, this is generally determined by the workforce the fleet undergoes. The higher the workforce, the higher the chances of replacing your fleet.

Manage Your Costs
In fleet management, one thing that determines how effective a fleet is going to be is the financial might of the involved company. The moment the finances of the company starts recording losses, the fleet is going to be affected as well. Managing fleet costs such as fuel and employees salaries can determine how effective your fleet is going to be in the long run. You can control your costs by having an effective finance department that keeps tabs of any incoming or outgoing cash. Apart from this, tracking your fleet to know where a particular car is can also help you avoid losses caused by employees taking extra trips without your knowledge.

Have a Versatile Fleet Manager
For a fleet to be effective in its day to day running, the person given the role to manage the fleet must be well equipped and experienced. The notion behind this argument is based on the fact that the moment an inexperienced fleet manager takes the role of managing the fleet, the chances of the fleet recording losses and collapsing is high. On the other hand, if an experienced fleet manager manages the fleet, profits are bound to be recorded. A versatile fleet manager should also be in a position to multitask. For instance, the manager should be able to communicate effectively with his or her teammates and be result-oriented.

Adam Richards

About Adam Richards

Adam Richards is a semi-retired business professional originally from Bangor, Maine. He spent the majority of his career in sales and marketing where he rose to the marketing lead of a Fortune 1000 company. He then moved on to helping people as a career counselor that specifically helped bring families to self-sufficiency through finding them rewarding careers. He has now returned to Bangor for his retirement and spends his free time writing. This blog will be about everything he learned throughout his career. He'll write on career, workplace, education and technology issues as well as on trends, changes, and advice for the Maine job market and its employers.