Typical fleet manager responsibilities usually involve establishing a vehicle maintenance program, managing drivers, supervising the fleet’s financial activities, and ensuring overall efficiency. While all of these responsibilities can easily overwhelm some ill-prepared fleet managers, there are many who rise to the occasion and find great ways to optimize their fleets. The following are five things successful fleet managers do to promote fleet efficiency and ensure the safety of the workforce.
Due Diligence
Some of the things getting past you as a fleet manager could include unreported vehicle damages, a counterfeit Department of Transportation certification, or the purchase of gasoline for a vehicle that uses diesel. As a fleet manager, you ought to audit your processes on a daily basis and let everyone you work with know where you stand in regards to unethical practices.
Internalized Information
In most cases, fleet managers tend to be overwhelmed with their fleet’s abundance of paperwork and forms. This often includes information about maintenance schedules, fuel purchases, driver licensing and certification, etc. If all these are not managed well, a disaster could befall the company. To combat this, the fleet manager should assign matters concerning employees to Human Resources, if possible, and support their mobile workforce with advanced field management software.
Stay In Touch
A successful fleet manager should be familiar with industry seminars, trade associations, and conferences that will keep them current with any changes or developments in the fleet world. This will enable them to comprehend the industry, and thus be equipped with the latest technologies and developments in the industry.
Communicate
Many fleet managers are mindful of the challenges that exist within the field. A successful fleet manager keeps up with the issues facing their drivers, checking in regularly to make sure everyone is feeling supported in their work. One great way to ensure open communication is to maintain a 2-way channel which gives each driver equal opportunity to communicate with their manager. Fleets can opt for vehicle tracking systems that include 2-way communication systems, putting communication at the forefront of everything the fleet does.
Prioritize the Pump
A successful fleet manager knows that fuel costs have a tendency to get out of hand, especially when drivers are put in charge of filling up themselves. Be sure to ask your fleet management software provider about fuel cards, to see if integrating these into your system is an option.
The most successful fleet managers are those who focus on improving both their bottom line and their operational efficiency. Fleet managers everywhere could stand to benefit from adopting some of the above-listed habits.
