Fleet managers have a complex job on their hands. Besides managing their staff and taking care of a fleet of vehicles, they also have the day-to-day responsibilities that need to be taken care of.
They need to follow government guidelines, schedule vehicle maintenance and develop safety measures while keeping the business profitable. With all of this on their plate, it’s no wonder why fleet managers make mistakes sometimes.
When mistakes happen, it’s easy to get frustrated. But if you’re a new fleet manager, don’t worry. Today, we’ll be discussing six repeated mistakes with fleet management and tips to avoid them.
1. Bad Route Planning
When you give your drivers bad routes, it wastes time and fuel, resulting in late deliveries. Use telematics with fleet fuel management to give your drivers more efficient options.
Telematics eases your logistical burdens by devising quicker and more effective routes for your drivers. It will keep your deliveries on schedule, which results in your customers sticking with you for the long haul.
2. Poor Communication
As a manager, you need to give your employees precise details about the operations and what you expect. If messages aren’t clear, employees could act on their intuition, which could compromise the business.
Hold staff meetings to iron out complicated details that could confuse staff. Also, schedule individual appointments with your staff members. In these meetings, you can give your employees feedback and listen to any concerns that they may have.
3. Disregarding Maintenance Schedules
Regular fleet maintenance is vital as a fleet manager. You need to be aware of the condition of your trucks and trailers before delivery.
Follow your maintenance schedule to avoid vehicle breakdowns and supply chain disruptions. Use your telematics to help view problems and schedule the corresponding maintenance to preserve efficiency.
4. Failing to Innovate
As a manager, it’s your job to avoid mistakes with fleet management. Changing with the times is essential to a good fleet management strategy. Some fleet managers fail to innovate, and this causes regression in their fleets’ production.
As technology changes, so will the demand from customers. Meeting customers’ needs is important because if you don’t, they’ll take their business elsewhere. Adapt, so you don’t fall behind the competition.
5. Untrained Staff
Don’t assume that your employees know what they need to do. If your staff isn’t trained correctly, this will affect the efficiency of your business.
Make sure that you offer training programs to teach employees new skills as technology changes around your business. Also, make sure that their licenses and certifications are up to date.
6. Unorganized Inventory
When delivery vehicles become overcrowded, it makes it hard to locate products. Keeping your inventory organized prevents any slip-ups during delivery.
Create an efficient system for loading and unloading goods to maximize your business’s effectiveness. You’ll prevent goods from being wasted and save money in the process.
Use These Tips to Avoid Mistakes With Fleet Management
As a manager, mistakes with fleet management will happen from time to time. But with the tips above, you’ll be able to reduce the number of errors that occur and maximize your fleet’s productivity.
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