Managing a fleet is anything but simple and the tasks involved may vary depending on the size of the fleet, the position of the fleet manager within the company (whether they are the owner or the operations manager, for example) as well as assessing the actual method of fleet management itself...
We have often reiterated in our blog that making assumptions is not good—misconceptions can arise regarding fleet activity—nor is procrastination, because issues that should be dealt with in good time can rapidly escalate into major problems if left for too long.
So what questions should you ask yourself in order to assess the quality of management regarding your vehicles and detect whether it is efficient or not?
#1 - Do you know the status of each of your vehicles; if they need maintenance or even replacement?
If the answer is “no”, it means you aren’t in full control of your fleet. It is hard to multitask and be kept updated on the status of all the vehicles under your responsibility, but this kind of control is required. Luckily, there are actually solutions available to put you right back in charge!
#2 - Do you have control over the routes travelled by your employees and are you able to divert them quickly in case of traffic or danger?
Again, if the answer is “no”, the fleet management system you are currently operating cannot guarantee real time location of vehicles, nor can it provide really efficient communication with drivers and employees, or optimise risk reduction, or comprehensively ensure drivers are compliant with the rules of the road and are respecting working hours.
#3 - Do you have a detailed register of all the servicing done on each vehicle?
If you don’t, chances are that you are never quite up to speed on the status of each vehicle within your fleet. On the other hand, if you are in possession of a complete database including all the dates of servicing, parts repaired or replaced, any issues, a detailed summary of costs etc., you will be able to evaluate incidents and set up an effective maintenance calendar.
