What is fleet management?

Fleet managers oversee the operation and maintenance of a company’s fleet. This includes selecting and tracking vehicles, ensuring they’re used correctly, keeping them on the right routes and servicing them properly.

Fleet managers are also responsible for managing drivers, keeping fleet-re­lated costs under control and ensuring any related legal require­ments are met.

To increase the effect­iveness and efficiency of their fleets, fleet managers often rely on vehicle telematics that work in combination with fleet management software and hardware.

Finding the right solution involves several steps, including defining your business needs, under­standing the function­al­ities of different suppliers, confirming IT require­ments and setting service expect­a­tions.

A fleet management system is a combination of connected software and hardware that fleet operators use to manage their vehicles.

These systems can include several elements:

• Fleet management software. Fleet managers use this interface to access vehicle data and gain insights into how to optimise fleet performance.
• Vehicle tracking devices. Hardware devices can be installed or plugged into vehicles to track vehicle locations in real time. These devices can also collect data on driving behaviour and engine diagnostics.
• Driver Terminals. These devices help drivers with enhanced navigation. They can also receive up-to-date assignment details, enable easy commu­nic­ation and record details of vehicle usage.
• Dash cams. Vehicles may have road and driver­-facing cameras installed to identify risky driving and give insight into any road-re­lated incidents.

Businesses that use a fleet management system can cut costs, improve vehicle performance, save fuel, improve driver safety, manage risk and increase overall fleet efficiency.

Fleet management can help you to:

• Track vehicle locations. The vehicle devices share real-time coordinates with the main system.
• Communicate with your team. You can send instruc­tions or updates directly to your driver through the Driver Terminal.
• Monitor driving behaviour. Hardware sensors can monitor driving habits to see if your vehicles are being used safely, econom­ically and appro­pri­ately.
• Set better ETAs. You can set more accurate arrival times and communicate any delays to your customers.
• Keep drivers on track. Drivers can receive advice about driving and better routes through the Driver Terminal. They can also get alerts about speed limits and speed camera locations.
• Record working times. Some telematics systems can automat­ically record driver hours, helping you comply with any legislative require­ments.
• Strategise and improve. Your fleet management solution’s dashboard gives insights into past trips so you can analyse vehicle performance and plan future trips more effectively.
• Automate admin­is­trative tasks. Other departments benefit from fleet management systems by automating invoices or downloading info on driving times.

Fleet management does not only help fleet managers, but also drivers, admin­is­trative staff and anyone else involved in operating a business fleet. The key benefits of working with a fleet management solution are:

• Increase efficiency. Easily access relevant, up-to-date info so you can plan effectively and adapt quickly when unexpected events arise.
• Increase productivity. Use accurate real-time traffic info to keep your drivers on the fastest routes and complete more jobs.
• Improve safety. A fleet management system can give enhanced insights to help reduce unsafe driving behaviour that could harm your drivers, vehicles or business reputation.
• Decrease costs. Encourage more fuel-ef­fi­cient driving and avoid expensive repairs by getting timely maintenance reminders.
• Improve commu­nic­ation. Stay connected to drivers by sending job details from your office to Driver Terminals in their vehicles.
• Increase customer satis­faction. Keep customers informed of schedule changes and cut unnecessary waiting times.
• Reduce stress for drivers. Set the best route for drivers and give timely traffic updates through driver terminals, so they can do their job with ease.
• Simplify admin­is­tration. Save time across different departments by automating admin­is­trative tasks.