Fleet management tools offer practical solutions to boost productivity and improve fleet safety and performance. They allow you to leverage the best tracking, accounting, and management technologies in a single solution.
GPS tracking is already the industry standard, but adding to that automated reporting, insurance claims, and video tracking for your fleet management needs will unlock greater automation and efficiency. Find everything you need to know to use fleet management tools for your fleet.
What are Fleet Management Tools?
Fleet management tools simplify and improve fleet operations. Imagine you have a single semi-truck that is picking up and delivering loads. You’ll want to track the loads, monitor fuel consumption and maintenance, file insurance claims, and generate reports to improve safety and efficiency and minimize human error. Even as a single owner-operator, fleet management tools perform a necessary role.
For large fleets, fleet management tools are non-negotiable. They’re a necessary technological way to manage your asset and fleet information. These tools reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve compliance.
Types of Tools
Fleet management tools can be used individually or as part of a comprehensive software suite. They include dashcams, ELDs, TMS, digital documents, and management tools. Many of the best dashcams, GPSs, or ELD offer additional solutions like real-time tracking, smart route optimization, fuel efficiency suggestions, or asset scheduling and assignments.
5 Ways Fleet Management Tools Protect Your Business
Fleet management tools do more than improve efficiency—they protect your business and the bottom line. Here’s how:
GPS Tracking
Fleet management solutions allow fleet owners to see exactly where drivers are with GPS. GPS helps locate, track, and manage your fleet in real time. Look for software that gives real-time updates with interactive maps to help you respond to what’s happening and manage resources.
With GPS tracking, you’ll be able to dispatch drivers, set geofences with notifications, review full trip histories, and share ETAs with customers.
Video Tracking
Fleet management software offers cloud-connected video that tells you what’s happening in your fleet. Fleet management software with dash cams provides video feeds of drivers and the road. This feature can improve driver safety and protect the company’s assets. You’ll be able to keep drivers accountable and encourage safe driving.
Also, you’ll have proof if accidents occur. You’ll know whose fault it was and have sufficient documentation for insurance claims. Many video devices can continually record and highlight specific incidents based on set triggers like collisions or speeding, making it easier to find the footage you need.
Automated Reporting
Fleet management technologies usually provide automated reports to help you find areas for improvement. You’ll gain visibility in trucking operations to pinpoint strengths and areas of weakness. Visibility into specifics of trucking operations can reduce human error and ultimately save you time while reducing costs.
Fuel Management
Beyond the purchase of trucks and personnel, fuel is the single largest expense in the trucking industry. Fleet management solutions can help you save on fuel by providing insights into current fuel usage, optimizing routes, finding less expensive locations to refuel, and setting fuel limits. Fleet management software can usually generate meaningful reports on driving behaviors that contribute to wasted fuel, like hard braking.
Why should you care about fuel usage? Because it’s the expense that can lead to the greatest savings when properly optimized.
Insurance Claims
For most companies, being able to settle insurance claims efficiently makes fleet management tools worth it. Fleet management technologies can lower insurance premiums because of the improved fleet safety standards they promote.
You’ll be able to assist with claims by being able to prove what happened, including who was at fault in an accident. Beyond that, you can demonstrate exceptional driving records for your company or fleet.
Fleet Management Tools Do More
Compared to their potential returns, fleet management tools offer significant returns for trucking businesses of all sizes. Taken on their own, they’re helpful for any driver or fleet. Taken together, they can lead to optimized management processes, including financial savings through lower fuel costs and less downtime, along with more home time and improved safety for drivers.
FAQ
Fleet management tools can help fleets gain real-time insights into fleet locations and driver efficiency. Fleet management tools often include a comprehensive range of tools including GPS, Dash Cam, and ELD, along with software that can generate accurate reports and predictive analytics.
Fleet management software and tools can help improve fuel management, suggest optimized routes, and generate reports to highlight inefficiencies like excess downtime or unsafe driving behaviors.
Technologies used in management center around GPS tracking. You can also use ELDs, Dash Cams, and software suites that use these tools’ information to build meaningful reports.
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