When looking for ways to improve fleet productivity, it’s important to consider how to track driver and vehicle data. Whether you’re using a vehicle telematics system or another system, you’ll need to find out how your vehicles are running and how you can reduce downtime. You can also look at ways to reduce waste and increase asset utilization. For example, you’ll need to ensure that your vehicles are properly lubricated and that you’re measuring the amount of time that your assets are in service.
Reduce downtime
There are a few key steps that you can take to reduce downtime in your fleet when working with fleet management services. These steps may include improving your maintenance program, implementing safety measures, and tracking your vehicles.
Using a telematics system can help you monitor your vehicles, detect recurring issues, and identify risky driving behaviors. Telematics can also be used to track down the best route for your drivers.
Another way to minimize downtime is to avoid accidents. Managing your drivers’ driving behavior can help prevent employee-caused crashes. This includes training your drivers in safe driving techniques.
Increasing the number of new vehicles you purchase can also cut down on downtime. Newer vehicles are equipped with advanced automotive technology, which makes them more robust. You can also make use of speed limiting devices to restrict maximum vehicle speeds.
One of the best ways to reduce downtime in your fleet is to perform regular inspections of your vehicles. This will catch small issues, which can eventually become larger problems.
When a vehicle fails, it costs your business between $850 and $1,000 per day. Even worse, these assets are also expensive to repair. That’s why a good asset management plan can help you keep your trucks in tip-top shape.
The most important part of this strategy is planning. Planning helps you achieve a budget-friendly schedule while minimizing downtime. A solid downtime-related strategy can be implemented on a seasonal or monthly basis.
Track driver and vehicle data
If you have a fleet of vehicles, you may have noticed that it isn’t working as efficiently as it should. This could be due to several factors. However, you can use a variety of fleet productivity management tools to make your fleet more efficient.
One way to increase efficiency is to track the driver and vehicle data of your fleet. This will help you to improve costs and uptime. It will also enable you to monitor maintenance and repairs.
You can track fuel consumption, driver behavior, and accidents. You can even track vehicle maintenance to prevent breakdowns. As a result, you can save money and keep your team safe.
Safety is crucial for any business, and you can use telematics data to improve your fleet’s safety. These devices can be integrated into your fleet to provide real-time information about your drivers and vehicles.
If you’re not monitoring the health of your fleet, you’re putting your business at risk. With advanced telematics, you can give your drivers guidance and solve problems in real-time.
To ensure your drivers’ safety, you can encourage them to report any aggressive driving habits. This will help you to identify drivers who need more training.
In addition, you can track excessive idling to discover which vehicles are not contributing to productivity. By limiting driver hours, you can also prevent fatigue.
Measuring asset utilization
If you have been involved in fleet management for a while, you may have heard the term “asset utilization.” It is a common statistic that tells you how well your fleet vehicles are performing. This metric helps you to make important business decisions.
Using it effectively can help you to reduce costs, improve efficiency and increase your competitive edge. Moreover, knowing its merits will let you know when to take corrective action to maximize your assets.
There are many different methods you can use to calculate the asset utilization statistics that are most relevant to your fleet. To get the best results, you need to determine what metrics are most critical to your operation.
Tracking the number of hours your fleet vehicles are in service is a good start. However, you also need to take into account maintenance and other factors. Keeping track of your asset utilization can ensure that your vehicles are functioning at peak efficiency.
Managing your fleet properly will allow you to avoid safety and security breaches. You can also leverage innovative processes and technologies to improve your fleet’s efficiency.
Measuring the performance of your fleet is crucial in a rapidly changing environment. In addition, you need to ensure that your drivers are performing their jobs well. The metrics you use will depend on your industry. For instance, in the trucking industry, your metrics may be much different than in other industries.
Proper lubrication
When it comes to maintaining a fleet of vehicles, proper lubrication is an important element. It helps to maximize the effectiveness of your equipment and reduce your maintenance costs. In addition, it also improves your equipment’s productivity.
There are many factors that can affect the cleanliness of a lubricant. These factors include storage and handling. If not handled properly, contaminants can be introduced into the lubricant and cause damage to the equipment.
Maintaining proper lubrication standards is important to help prevent equipment breakdowns, unscheduled downtime, and premature engine overhauls. Proper lubrication will also increase the lifespan of your equipment, which means fewer repairs and increased productivity.
Using the correct blend of base oil is essential for achieving maximum performance. In particular, the viscosity of the lubricant will determine how it moves. A high viscosity can also delay lubrication of engine parts.
It is critical to understand the different types of lubricants available and their functions. Selecting the right blend of lubricant can save you time and money. Lubricants are designed for specific machine parts and perform at different temperature ranges, depending on the SAE grade.
A comprehensive defect elimination strategy includes monitoring the lubricant’s cleanliness and handling. This will ensure that you are getting the most out of your lubrication program. Choosing the best lubricant can reduce your maintenance costs and boost productivity.
Downsizing
It’s no secret that your fleet is an expensive piece of real estate. The key is to make a well-informed decision on which vehicles to keep and which to toss. The best way to do this is to have a central command point that manages the flow of information. This is the best way to make sure that the right people are in the right place at the right time. Likewise, you need to ensure that you have the right tools and materials at hand. In short, you need to be prepared to weed out the unproductive vehicles, so you can focus your efforts on the most important tasks. Luckily, there are a number of vendors that can help you navigate this quagmire. One such company is Fleet Management Solutions. Whether you are in the market for a full-service fleet management program, or are simply looking for a fleet health assessment, the experts at Fleet Management Solutions are here to help. Regardless of your needs, you can count on the team at Fleet Management Solutions to provide the highest level of customer satisfaction.
Telematics
Many businesses are aiming to improve their fleet’s efficiency. With a more efficient fleet, companies can cut costs while increasing overall productivity. Telematics can help companies achieve this goal. It offers a comprehensive look into fleet vehicles and drivers.
Fleet managers can use telematics data to develop safer routes. This can save fuel and reduce operational expenses. A telematics solution can also help decrease unexpected repairs and emergency maintenance.
More productive employees will make more sales and satisfy customers. They will use the budget more efficiently, reducing labor overtime. As a result, they can complete more jobs in the same amount of time.
The telematics industry has been developing solutions that can benefit any size fleet. Geotab and T-Mobile have teamed up to bring telematics to small and medium-sized fleets.
In addition to tracking vehicle locations, telematics can provide data on maintenance. The devices can help to avoid breakdowns and theft. Using GPS and factory-installed sensors, telematics can also provide information on oil pressure, speed, and other vehicle details.
Telematics can be integrated with other software to help fleet owners keep track of driving habits. Detailed reports will show unauthorized fuel usage, wasteful idling, and more.
With a better knowledge of where drivers are, fleet managers can dispatch the most appropriate vehicle for the job. This can reduce fuel consumption, idle time, and time spent behind the wheel. Additionally, it can increase on-time deliveries, boost repeat business, and increase customer satisfaction.
