Running a fleet is difficult. It doesn’t matter if you’re a five-truck operation or a company that runs its entire business on wheels; getting your drivers to act more safely and run more efficiently is no small task.
A safer driver is a more productive driver. When your drivers are peeling off the line, slamming their brakes, and rocking and rolling over the speed limit, you’re less likely to get the driver, or the product, to their destination. This could mean accidents, driver injuries, and an increase in fuel consumption and maintenance costs.
Now there are several things that you, as a fleet manager, can do. You can train your drivers and double-check them, but if you want to create a culture of safety and productivity, you need to leverage some new tools.
Using Technology to Improve Fleet Safety
But there is some good news. And that is that fleet managers do finally have a secret weapon. For several years, many fleet-based companies have been leveraging technology into powerful fleet management solutions.
With products like https://www.radius.com/en-us/ available, companies can track every vehicle in their fleet and figure out what their drivers are doing behind the wheel. They can even identify behaviors causing their best drivers to drive unsafely and make changes to promote safety and efficiency.
Technological solutions might seem complicated, but when used properly, they help fleet-based companies achieve their goals (both for safety and operational efficiency) in ways that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago!
Real-Time Data for Real Results
One of the biggest benefits of a fleet management software solution is getting information in real time. This allows a fleet manager to respond whenever necessary. Real-time notifications are great when it comes to safety and they help run business operations more efficiently.
Drivers driving at a steady, consistent speed, never speeding, and using routes that are either pre-planned or planned for them will help you save money on fuel costs and will help get the loads delivered more effectively.
Telematics: The Game Changer for Fleet Management
Many companies have realized how telematics has come to play such a crucial role in the modern economy. It’s changed the way a lot of companies do business. In fact, some experts would argue that companies that aren’t using telematics in some form are simply not running their fleets as efficiently as they could be.
But here is the great part: fortunately for companies, fleet technology firms are now providing telematics as part of a full-service fleet management solution. You can get solutions to all your issues in a single place! Companies can ensure that their vehicles are safe, monitor engine diagnostics, how vehicles are being used, how much fuel they are consuming, the fuel efficiency of drivers, and idle time. By having this full picture and the ability to manage it by incorporating driver training if necessary, decisions about when to pull vehicles off the road can be made before a bad incident happens.
Encouraging Open Communication
One more way you can build a bridge between your drivers and their management teams to ensure your fleet management success is by providing an open line of communication between the two. When drivers feel comfortable talking or discussing safety issues or problems they run into on the road, management can correct those problems before they become bigger problems. You’re proactively keeping your drivers safe and ensuring that they’re motivated so that they remain productive. Additionally, we can’t underestimate the importance of the degree of trust that you’ll be able to foster between your team, your management team, and your drivers.
The Benefits of a Well-Maintained Fleet
Driver safety and performance are not the only things that can affect your fleet for the better or worse – maintaining proper fleet performance is important, too. As a fleet manager, you can make sure you’re not just fixing any maintenance problems but avoiding them with proactive measures like oil changes, tire rotations, and brake checks. Not only will a maintained fleet be the safer bet, but it will operate better in general and even save on fuel.
Make Safety your Priority
Why You Should Employ Best Practices for FleetsIn business, it’s important that everyone wins. That includes fleet managers, drivers, and the company, all of which stand to benefit from safe drivers and efficient fleets. When you work with databases on a platform like https://www.radius.com/en-us/, you can rest easy knowing that your fleet is safe and efficient, with the tools you need to monitor performance, correct behavior, and even save money.
Telematics, open communication, and care for your assets mean the overall safety and efficiency of your fleet. Use the best practices below, and be sure that your fleet is truly the best in class.
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