If your small business has a fleet of vehicles, it’s essential to know details about each car, truck, or van. Decades ago, the primary solution was to stay in contact with each driver via telephone or even a pager, but now, the options are significantly more high-tech due to software. Several fleet management solutions have emerged in the market that take advantage of advanced technology such as GPS, sensors, etc. to make managing the fleet safe as well as efficient.
You Can Know If a Delivery Is Behind Schedule
Planning for an on-time delivery isn’t as easy as it may seem at first, especially if there are unforeseen difficulties related to getting merchandise from your supplier. However, if you invest in a software suite that helps you manage your fleet, it’s at least possible to know the location of a driver and cargo once deliveries get placed on a given vehicle.
If you notice that a driver is stuck in traffic or gets delayed due to another issue, you can view the statistics in your software, then communicate with your recipient as needed. Maintaining communication in this way is crucial, especially if the entity receiving your products ordered an exceptionally in-demand item from your small business.
In general, it’s much better to be upfront with a recipient about a delivery that’s running late instead of concealing the fact and hoping the customer won’t mind. Specialized software made for fleet management gives you peace of mind by letting you see that everything is running smoothly. Then, if you find out that something has gone wrong, you can update the relevant parties accordingly.
Improve Driver Retention Rates
Working as a private fleet driver can be demanding, but there are ways you can increase the likelihood of happy drivers. For starters, paying them a decent wage and being respectful towards them can give the impression that you value the drivers as integral parts of your small business team.
But, using a fleet manager can also be advantageous because it allows you to see the statuses of all drivers at a glance. Without that information at your fingertips, you may not realize that a driver is already on the road or off duty for the day. Using the software for schedule optimization allows you to fulfill the needs of the company without burning out your drivers and making them feel frustrated.
Stay on Top of Safety Concerns
If your fleet operates safely, that’s a direct, positive reflection on your company. Depending on software to assist you with fleet management could give you access to data that shows potentially unsafe behavior of your drivers. Some solutions even offer video playback so that you can see recorded events as they happened.
When it becomes apparent that a driver needs more training or other corrective action, you can base your decision on what your software says, plus the outcome of a discussion you have with that particular vehicle operator. Failing to insist on safe driving by your fleet members could bring unnecessary liabilities to your company.
Remain Aware of Maintenance Necessities
You can also find fleet management solutions that allow you to log maintenance records or data related to inspections. Then, it should be easier to budget for both routine maintenance and the possibility of issues that take a vehicle temporarily out of service.
If you own or manage a small business, you likely have too many responsibilities to endure too many manual processes related to managing your fleet. Investing in dedicated software allows you to get the updates that help the business operate without hiccups.
