What is Fleet Management and What Do Fleet Managers Do?

Fleet management involves the operations of vehicles. However, the word fleet is commonly used to refer to ships or boats today; white, billowing sails pushing across the sea, bringing goods and people around the world. It’s a much prettier picture than the roads and vehicles transport goods for people today.

People don’t necessarily think that today’s fleets are composed of semi-trucks, vans, cars or other vehicles, unless they work in that industry. But just like the fleets of sailing ships, much more work goes on behind the scenes to create the web of trucks that hold the globe and its goods together today.

Let’s take a look at what holds the fleets of trucks and more together today and dive into how it works.

What is fleet management?

In a nutshell, fleet management involves the management of commercial vehicles, whether they be cars, trucks, or vans. Fleet managers aim to maximize the efficiency of all vehicles in the fleet. In some way, every fleet has some sort of management. The major difference is how standardized and regulated it is.

While some fleets need less management than others, all fleets must be managed. It’s not enough to manage individual vehicles, even in the smallest of fleets. This is because fleet management is not about the condition of the vehicles, the drivers, the routes, or any other single part of a company’s supply chain and process.

Fleet management deals with the entire process, from start to finish. It ensures that everything runs as smoothly as possible and that to the best of its and the company’s ability all needs are met. The benefits to a well-maintained and well-run fleet management system can be grouped into three major categories.

• benefits to drivers
• benefits to overall supply chains
• benefits to the business overall

How fleet management benefits drivers and businesses

It’s easy to make claims that fleet management benefits companies, but how does it actually improve situations? The answer is in multiple ways and places. The top areas are outlined below:

1. Better supply chains

Supply chains can be fulfilled far faster when fleet management takes care of logistics. The high level from which fleet management looks at the supply chains and logistics provides a different point of view. When viewed from this higher angle, companies can see the gaps and flaws in their chains and are enabled to improve them.

2. Cheaper shipping options

Fleet management works to find the cheapest and quickest routes available for drivers. When this data is properly analyzed and evaluated, it can show cheaper and better shipping options.

3. Less fuel usage

Cheaper and shorter shipping options means that less fuel is consumed over time. This is good for the environment and company costs.

4. Happier drivers

Drivers are happier when they have to fill up less and can reach their destinations quicker. Fleet management helps with both of these.

5. Extended vehicle life

When the fleet is well managed, it provides an extra layer of security and oversight for the vehicles in use. While this type of management may not noticeably increase the lives of the trucks, it does indeed extend vehicle life.

6. Improve safety

Similarly to extending the vehicle life, fleet management improves safety for all concerned. Again, this may not be visible, particularly at the beginning, but it has an impact.

7. Get real-time visibility into how your fleet works

Finally, good fleet management practices give you visibility into how your fleet operates on a daily basis. The data collected enables employees to observe, analyze and collect data on what exactly happens on and off the road.

How fleet managers keep the ball rolling

Fleet managers are incredibly useful in fleet management. However, it sounds impressive to list all these different things that a fleet management program accomplishes, but how do fleet managers actually make this results happen? Here are some of their tasks and responsibilities.

1. Hire responsible drivers

Fleet managers help hire responsible drivers that can get the job done on time. Ideally, they work in tandem with HR in order to provide for all the company’s needs.

2. Help track the fleet

The birds-eye view that fleet management brings comes into play strongly here. Fleet managers help track the fleet, either with software or manually, by using that particular view of the company’s assets. Depending on the software used, they may be able to track from additional angles.

3. Keep great drivers on the team

A large part of the fleet manager's job to keep great drivers on the team and make sure they’re getting what they need to do a good job. When this is deliberately planned, it’s much easier to find and keep great drivers.

4. Ensure drivers are safe

Finally, fleet managers also check the fleet to make sure everything is up to code before a driver takes off on their routes. This adds another layer of checks to the process for everyone’s safety.

Fleet management software makes deliveries easier & safer

On a high level, that’s how fleet management software affects people and businesses. Now let’s look at the impact it has on deliveries, vehicles, repair and maintenance.

1. Fuel reduction

Fleet management software can help reduce fuel costs for drivers and the overall fleet. It can also determine when a vehicle is simply using too much fuel to be efficient any longer.

2. Optimized route configurations

Generally, this software is ideal for optimizing route configurations. Routes can be faster and more efficient when running them through fleet management software.

3. Maintenance and repair configurations

Fleet operators can send in repair and maintenance tickets when needed. One of the best ways to do this is to integrate a work order software system into your overall fleet management structure.

4. Optimized safety for drivers

Fleet management software also can monitor your inventory and parts tied to vehicles to ensure they’re operating efficiently and safely. This is part of a quality inventory management solution.

5. Fleet tracking capabilities

Finally, fleet tracking is much easier when viewed from the perspective of a well-maintained fleet management program. For an additional level of insight, mobile devices such as maintenance apps can integrate smoothly into your systems.

Before you start the journey or hit the road again

The UpKeep CMMS covers all the parts of a great fleet management system. It gives fleet managers, drivers, and companies the tools that they need today to take their fleets to the next stop on the road to greater things.

Whether that is by improving your supply chains, using less fuel, helping happier drivers, and/or some or all of the points discussed above, many low cost CMMS software choices are there for you and your fleet management needs.