There are many fleet management tools on the market, and fleets of all sizes want to make their jobs easier. It can be challenging to determine what features get you the most bang for your buck, especially when running a smaller fleet. Of all the available features such as GPS tracking, route planning, maintenance alerts, and safety tools, it’s important to narrow down what your fleet needs and make decisions that will benefit yourself and your drivers over time. We will go over what features are best for each fleet size so you can consider them when making decisions for your fleet.
Small Fleets
Route Optimization
Regardless of the size of your fleet, fuel costs are one of the most significant expenses in your budget. Keeping fuel costs down will help your fleet’s bottom line significantly, and route planning is one way that you can do so. Route planning is a technology that uses machine learning and algorithms to get drivers from Point A to Point B in the most fuel-efficient way possible. Fleets that use route optimization software can experience savings of up to 30% each year. Not only does route optimization save on fuel costs, but it also decreases time spent on the road, making your fleet more efficient and improving customer service by always getting your technicians or deliveries to their destination on time.
Asset Trackers
If your fleet has a warehouse or lot full of assets and vehicles, you’re not alone. As a fleet, you’re always vulnerable to the dangers of theft, but with asset tracking, that danger diminishes significantly. That’s because asset tracking tracks your vehicles and assets with GPS, meaning that if something is ever stolen, you can report its exact location to authorities and increase its chances of being recovered. Furthermore, you can even set up geofences, meaning if your assets leave a specific boundary that you set up, you will be notified right away to take action. Asset tracking allows you to rest easy, knowing that your assets are around to stay.
eLogs
Keeping in compliance with the FMCSA’s ELD mandate may seem like an easy task, but fleets mess up all the time, and they pay heavy fines for their errors. That’s why it is so crucial to take steps to avoid any mistakes, such as eLogs that automatically record certain statuses, so drivers don’t have the chance to make an error. ELD mandate violations can cost anywhere from $1,214 to $182,877 if you’re carrying hazardous materials. These fines can be catastrophic to your business, so it is vital to ensure that you take all of the proper steps to comply.
Large Fleets
Driver Rewards
Driver safety should be the top priority of any fleet, and safe drivers deserve recognition for their behavior. Driver rewards programs like Azuga’s track driver behavior gathered from telematics and assigned each driver a safety score. Unsafe behaviors such as speeding, hard braking, distracted driving, swerving, and other dangerous actions count against this safety score. Drivers with a higher safety score are eligible for enticing prizes such as gift cards to their favorite venues and restaurants, gamifying the most important aspect of the job: safety. Rewarding safe drivers creates a culture of safety in the workplace that encourages all drivers to try their best.
Maintenance Alerts
Keeping vehicles maintained has a variety of benefits, both for drivers and managers. Not only does it keep the business running smoothly when vehicles aren’t breaking down on the side of the road, but it also saves money in the long run for costly repairs and replacing vehicles prematurely. That’s why fleet management software comes with maintenance alerts that let you know when a vehicle has an issue that needs attention. When these issues are addressed before they become a bigger problem, it saves everyone a lot of headaches further down the road. Scheduled maintenance notifications also ensure that you stay on top of your vehicle’s regular maintenance to prevent issues from arising in the first place.
Dashcams
Dashcams are becoming increasingly popular among larger fleets, particularly dual-facing dashcams that can detect driver behavior as well as what’s happening on the road. Whenever one of your vehicles is involved in an accident, you’ll have a reliable witness to relay precisely what happened. This can exonerate your drivers while cutting the time it takes to resolve any accident dispute. Furthermore, most insurance carriers offer discounts to fleets that have dashcams installed in their vehicles. It’s an investment that certainly saves you money in the long run.
Conclusion
All of the features listed in this article would benefit fleets of any size, but it is vital to weigh your fleet needs if you’re on a tight budget. Azuga offers various fleet management packages that offer various features for both large and small fleets.
