Coming across the best management fleet requires some skill and research, but you can easily find the one that fits your business needs. Nowadays, the transportation industry is rapidly evolving, so managing a fleet is crucial for your company’s success. If you own many vehicles, picking the right fleet management software is a challenging decision that shouldn’t be made immediately.
The struggle is real, especially for fleet managers who are responsible for multiple things at once, such as responding to customer inquiries. The best management software allows you to have better customer service and make your business operations go smoother.
If you’re considering getting into the world of fleet management, you need to know more about its benefits and how to choose the best one. Luckily, we’ve compiled a guide of everything you should consider and more.
What is a Fleet Management Software?
If you’ve just started your fleet manager career, you’re probably wondering what fleet management software is. Simply put, this software is a type of system that allows you to monitor your vehicles’ activities and analyze their data.
But it doesn’t end there! Management software is also a low-cost option that you can integrate into your company because it’s an automated way of achieving maximum accuracy.
This type of software has many characteristics, including the following:
- Tracking vehicles and finding better routes
- Tracking hours of services
- Tracking driving patterns
- Checking driver behavior
- Tracking fuel consumption
- Analyzing assets utilization
- Keeps you up to date with fleet maintenance
Additionally, statistics show that the global fleet management software market is estimated to increase from $23.67 billion in 2023 to $79.82 billion by the next seven years. That’s a total growth of 19 percent, meaning the demand for fleet management software will continue to contribute to the maintenance and transportation of vehicles.
On top of that, multiple reports show that businesses can save money on vehicle maintenance thanks to fleet management software. With the help of technology, fleet managers can multitask and save plenty of time to focus on other essential things. In other words, it allows you to collect and organize your vehicles’ data in one system for easier access.
Why Use a Fleet Management Software?
A fleet management software is beneficial for many things, but most importantly, it helps you become updated with vehicle management methods, while also enhancing your business processes. However, it’s essential to go through the prices and find which software is the most cost-efficient one for your business.
Essentially, fleet management software can cost approximately $25-40 per vehicle, but the price can go up to $250. There may be other additional costs that add up to the price, such as dashcams or GPS systems, so you need to cautiously choose software that ticks all your needs, but in an affordable way.
Once you find the best solution for your business, you can quickly use the software to locate your vehicles, track traffic conditions, and reduce fuel costs. For example, if you want to avoid fraud and misuse of fuel controls, you need to focus on fuel expense management too by tracking expenses and seeing what type of fuel your drivers purchase.
A comprehensive fleet management software is the best solution for identifying potential threats and gaps in your safety program, spotting fuel inefficiencies, and increasing customer satisfaction.
4 Features You Should Include in Your Fleet Management Software
The best type of fleet management system is one that’s easy to use and can include fleets of all sizes. Before settling on one, ensure it has all the features your company needs, especially the following:
GPS Tracking
Being a fleet manager means keeping track of your vehicles and their routes, and that includes GPS tracking. These devices are extremely helpful because they help track the locations and show them on a map to quickly locate your fleets. This can avoid accidents and traffic, or determine which driver is closest to their predefined zones.
According to statistics, 64 percent of fleet managers have used GPS as a tracking solution for their businesses as it allowed them to help with route planning, handling basic functions, and fuel tracking. The integration of a tracking system is essential, especially when managing a large fleet because it provides specific location data and real-time visibility of all the vehicles.
As a result, it can enhance driver safety and allow drivers to havers to have more efficient dispatching to identify any potential vehicle risks. A high-quality navigation system should have specific traits, such as:
- Information for the driver
- Route planning
- Fuel station locations
- Toll locations and expenses
- Traffic updates
Safety
Regardless of your position in your company, the well-being of your drivers should be the main concern. Unfortunately, accidents can be an unavoidable part of driving a vehicle, but fleet management software can help avoid accidents by identifying leading causes of accidents, such as aggressive driving or speeding.
That said, a fleet management system can ensure your drivers are safe at all times, while also helping you reduce potential costs like wear or tear. One of the best solutions is installing dash cams and capturing footage of the road as evidence in case the worst happens.
The best fleet management software is one that prioritizes drivers’ safety by using advanced technology to identify driver behavior, sudden braking, or harsh accelerations. So, in case an accident happens, you can use the software’s footage to your advantage.
Hours of Service (HOS) Compliance
As with any business, there should be regulations that show how long employers are supposed to be working. HOS regulations are essential to reducing accidents because they limit the number of hours that drivers can be on the road. This is especially helpful for tired and drowsy drivers who tend to work long hours with no rest breaks.
If you want to avoid further expenses or losing your license, you should keep accurate records of your driver’s working hours. Additionally, the system should meet the FMCSA requirements for more accurate drive hours. For extra vehicle safety, your fleets may need to comply with Driver Vehicle Inspection Reporting (DVIR) – an efficient method of tracking the issues and conditions of the vehicle.
Route Performance
Like all fleet managers who are looking to reduce expenses, you can easily do that by using fleet managing software to search for the best routes your drivers should take. A tracking system allows you to analyze the performance of your prior routes and help predict arrival or departure times.
You should look for software that understands your needs and makes your job easier. One of the best features to look for is planned vs. the actual route your driver took because it lets you stay on track and adjust future routes based on the deliveries and other factors.
