Managing a fleet of vehicles can be difficult. For example, you have many variables to consider, and sometimes you have to guess what’s going to happen in the future. If you guess wrong, you could have some serious problems to deal with. However, the top fleet managers have several fleet management best practices in common, which make them successful. Here are some of the things that they do.
Make Maintenance Easier
Most people put off things like maintenance until the last-minute, and this often happens with drivers. The harder it is to schedule maintenance and take care of it, the more likely your drivers will forget or not follow all the rules. So how can you make it easier on them? Here are three things you can do:
- Automate the process – this can be done with software programs.
- Make it more convenient – use mobile apps that do most of the work and provide reminders.
- Increase accessibility – make the process easy enough for anyone to use.
Be Consistent with Buying and Selling Guidelines
If you want to improve your fleet management best practices, you need to be consistent with the rules for buying and disposing of your vehicles. Each department should have the same rules so you can benefit from bulk purchase discounts.
Anticipate Accidents
If you wait until accidents happen, it’s too late. Fleet management best practices must include a good prevention program. Safety training is essential, and every driver should attend. Driving monitoring devices can help you identify the problem drivers, so you can take action before a problem develops.
Reward Good Driving Behavior
Many drivers don’t get recognition unless they do something wrong and this sends the wrong message. Monitor fuel usage and reward drivers with the lowest numbers. If your rewards are attractive, everyone may participate, saving the company a lot of money on fuel.