A fleet manager is considered the ‘Captain of the Ship’ during fleet operations. They are the ones in charge of all the decisions taken during routine working. Due to such a massive reliance on managers, they are primarily considered responsible for the outcomes of the business. As the stakes are very high, the managers need to be fully vigilant during their job. Modern fleet tracking systems help them a lot in this regard.
Strategizing and planning are an integral part of a manager’s job. It is done by analyzing the various operational aspects. The reporting and data analytics help make effective data-driven decisions. However, you should know the right metrics to consider for running effective operations, and we will discuss them here.
Idling Time:
Idling is an undeniable reality in fleet operations which is a big nuisance for managers. It not only reduces productivity but also results in greater fuel expense. Although it is impossible to eradicate idling completely, intelligent driving can help in its reduction. Therefore, a manager should check the idling time of the drivers to gauge their efficiency during trips.
Modern vehicle tracking systems keep a record of every type of data, including the idling time. It will give you a complete picture of the driver’s performance. You can create reports to view and compare the idling times of different drivers. Moreover, you can hold the drivers with increased idling time accountable and impose penalties on them.
Driver Performance:
During routine fleet operations, drivers take many trips in a day. Some are very efficient during their driving while others are not productive. How to monitor what every driver has been up to? As a manager, you have the luxury to analyze every single detail about the drivers’ performance via real-time data. Modern fleet tracking systems offer everything from the drivers’ speeds at various intervals to their fuel efficiency.
Managers can generate customized reports to analyze the performance of every driver. They can compare the performance indicators of different drivers to hold the culprits accountable. In this way, drivers will be vigilant during trips and try to produce the best possible outcomes.
Fuel Expenses:
Fuel is a major fleet expense and causes a big headache to the managers. Therefore, it is essential to track them to ensure that they do not get out of control. With fuel management systems, the job of gauging fuel levels becomes much convenient. By applying the notifications, you can get informed every time there is a sudden drop in the fuel level. Thus, you can identify leakage immediately, preventing the risk of any undesirable event.
By continuously monitoring fuel consumption, managers can detect loopholes. They can rectify them and come up with sound planning to prevent excessive fuel spending. It will have a great impact on the overall return on investment (ROI).
Maintenance Parameters:
Maintenance is one of the high-priority tasks on a manager’s list. Whether you talk about the mileage and engine hours or fuel-efficiency, there is a lot to consider. The concept of preventive maintenance is prevalent in the fleet industry. It compels managers to remain vigilant to anticipate issues beforehand and execute timely service and repair.
With the help of a fleet tracking system, a manager can get a complete overview of the maintenance needs of a system. They can schedule future maintenance tasks and set notifications for them. Whenever the task becomes due, a notification will be triggered instantly, notifying the manager about it.
Managers have a lot of planning to do during their routine working. If they consider the critical metrics before devising any strategy, they are more likely to be successful. The guidelines mentioned above will help you to come up with smart strategies.