5 Ways to Boost Fleet Efficiency

To thrive in a world governed by ever-evolving technology, it is necessary for businesses, including those in the fleet industry, to keep up with the times and constantly innovate. Such efforts will not only ensure greater efficiency but also improve productivity, reduce costs and yield many other benefits. As a fleet owner or manager, here are some of the things you can do to reap all these advantages:

Digitize payments and documents

As the ongoing pandemic continues to change the world and establish new norms, it requires businesses to streamline their operations and remove friction points whenever possible. In the fleet industry, human-to-human interactions can easily be eliminated through the digitization of payments and shipping documents. As an essential service that has to operate even in the face of a global health crisis, the fleet industry serves to benefit immensely from digitized payments. More than just being a method that keeps drivers from interacting with clients, it can also be a great way to limit the number of drivers that come into the office to receive payroll or settlements. In addition to digital payments, digital proof-of-delivery processes that use GPS, photos, text communications and other data points can also be introduced to enhance safety, increase efficiency and restrict direct contact between carriers and shippers.

Keep trucks in tiptop shape at all times

Many things — from driver safety and customer satisfaction to fuel consumption and operational costs — bank on the condition of your trucks. To avoid accidents and cut costs, keep all of your trucks in tiptop shape at all times. By simply making sure that your trucks are tuned up and the tires properly inflated, you can already reduce your fuel use by up to 4%. Although this may not seem like a lot, the savings will add up over time, especially for larger fleets.

Integrate and analyze data from GPS systems

Through data from GPS systems, fleet drivers can be alerted when vehicles are unnecessarily idling, taking inefficient routes, or illegally speeding. Depending on the PCB thickness and density specific to each unit, the GPS-based vehicle tracking circuit can be easily integrated into the vehicle’s system to interact with satellite technology. This enables fleet managers to help identify and curb inefficient driving behaviors which, if left unaddressed, can result in wasteful use of fuel and excessive production of carbon dioxide emissions that can harm the environment. With GPS, fleet managers can better guide drivers and provide them with the most efficient route, improving customer satisfaction in the long run.

Introduce platooning tech

Thanks to technology, improved driving systems now allow trucks to travel in long lines forming platoons. Platooning, which enables trucks to communicate with each other through telematics and smart technology, create drafting. Drafting combats wind resistance and traffic congestion, and helps save fuel by up to 10%. Electronically coupling trucks this way can also enhance safety by providing constant communication which enables rear trucks to instantaneously react to and be aware of the actions of the front truck. In some cases, platooning tech even comes with automatic brakes that react faster than humans, thereby reducing the likelihood of collisions.

Invest in data analytics

The fleet industry of today is not only run by fuel, but also by data. Within the industry, data analytics can be utilized for a range of applications, especially in encouraging safe driving and improving driver retention. Data analytics permit fleet owners and managers to have access to a lot of data points about their drivers. All these data points, including tenure, type of load, types of equipment used and average driver pay rates, can help predict driver retention rates. However, more than determining a driver’s risk of leaving the company, data analytics can be instrumental in promoting efficiency by enabling them to effectively determine who should take which load and when. When combined with AI, data analytics can even be used to predict highly accurate outlooks for shipping volumes, letting fleet businesses optimize their operations accordingly.

Post exclusively written for withvector.com by Jase Buel.