If you’re a fleet manager, you’re most likely familiar with the usage of fleet management tools and their usefulness. However, many people are unaware of the benefits they can gain from these tools.

That said, fleet management can help managers acquire visibility into their operations in real-time, while also increasing driver satisfaction. That’s also one of the main reasons why fleet managers rely on these vehicles to help their daily operations.

If you’re still having doubts about what fleet management is and what are its main benefits, don’t worry! This guide will show you a step-by-step guide you can follow to learn more about this software.

What is Fleet Management?

People who are part of an organization and need commercial vehicles are most likely engaged in some type of fleet management. The main purpose of these fleet operations is to have full access to fleet maintenance and performance and increase productivity. As a result, their businesses have higher chances to run smoothly.

Even the statistics show a massive demand for fleet management. According to a recent report by MarketsandMarkets, the fleet market is estimated to increase at a rate of 15.5% by 2027. This growth allows fleet managers to oversee vehicle maintenance, fuel costs and consumption, route planning, and implement additional programs to increase productivity in the next few years.

Many fleet management companies rely on fleet cards to increase efficiency and decrease instances of waste. For example, large fleet cards for businesses are designed to help larger fleets control their savings more efficiently and handle their fleet payment needs better.

However, public fleets like schools and governments rely on telematics data to oversee and analyze fleet vehicles, driver behavior, vehicle location, service delivery, routing, diagnostics, and more. That way, they can improve their service and respond to customers.

5 Responsibilities of a Fleet Manager

Behind a fleet management company, there’s a fleet manager who’s responsible for many tasks, including the following:

Driver Safety

Keeping their drivers safe is one of the toughest challenges for fleet companies. As such, fleet managers are responsible for their safety, even if they’re hundreds of miles away from the vehicles. According to statistics, 42,915 people were injured by a fatality, leading to an increase of 10.5% from 2020.

Luckily, there are useful tools they can, such as tracking systems and dash cams – both of which provide real-time visibility into the vehicles.

Driver Retention

Despite its success, the trucking industry is constantly faced with driver shortages. However, fleet managers always aim to increase driver retention and improve workplace conditions to ensure their drivers are happy with their job.

Fleet Tracking

One of the main aspects of driver safety includes fleet tracking too. Fleet managers must know where their vehicles and drivers are at any time. Although it may seem like a simple task, tracking can be tricky and challenging, especially if the fleet has multiple vehicles.

Thanks to GPS tracking systems and technology, fleet managers know where their vehicles are, which also allows drivers to operate the vehicles safely.

Total Cost Reduction

When it comes to fuel management and operating costs, managers must identify any additional and unnecessary expenses to establish efficient and cost-friendly fleet operations. 

Unfortunately, maintenance and fuel costs are likely to increase over time. Regardless of whether it’s asset tracking or fuel efficiency, the fleet manager is responsible for creating efficient solutions and increasing the company’s productivity.

Compliance with the Electronic Logging Device (ELD)

Many people haven’t heard of the ELD mandate, mainly because it went into effect in 2017. Essentially, this mandate requires vehicle operators to put their Hours of Service (HOS) electronically. One of the main reasons for this is to decrease cases of dangerous driving and replace paper logging – both of which are caused by intoxicated or fatigued drivers.

Additionally, fleet managers must comply with ELD systems to ensure they record their driving hours more accurately and efficiently.

The Advantages of Fleet Management

Although fleet vehicles can be challenging to handle, the Government’s Fleet annual survey shows that most fleet managers use vehicle telematics or other software to support daily operations in their vehicles.

Additionally, fleet management software is useful, especially for fleet managers who need to acquire visibility into their vehicles because it decreases fuel usage through accurate reporting and predictive analytics.

Management fleet features can improve fleet safety in many ways, such as:

  • Monitors and records driving behavior (acceleration, hard braking, or speeding)
  • Generates personalized reports with data to have access to drivers with risky behaviors
  • Provides non-stop access to reporting for reviews and analytics
  • Provides real-time feedback and notifications to drivers
  • Increases safety awareness for drivers through performance apps