Fleetr, a Jooycar company, is the leader in small fleet management and insurance solutions. We have built an AI-powered platform that provides actionable insights to fleet owners with our GPS tracker. We are proud to serve nearly 40,000 connected vehicles via our OBD II device with affordable and easy solutions across several countries. We believe in the power of telematics and big data to address the pressing needs of the small fleet owner and are working tirelessly to reduce costs, improve efficiency and increase safety.
Top Tips for Fleet Management in 2022
Few businesses are changing as fast as fleet management, and for many managers, the sheer number of changes they have to keep up with can feel overwhelming.
Whether it’s business conditions and the economy, supply chain issues or pandemic protocols, staying on top of it all can seem impossible.
But it’s not. In fact, dealing with these changes can actually be simplified by breaking them down into different categories, then implementing the best possible solutions.
With that in mind, let’s take a more detailed look at the most important tips to help you keep up with the changes that are taking place in 2022.
Personnel Issues
Regardless of the industry, the pandemic wreaked havoc for both managers and employees when it comes to personnel. Temporary shutdowns cost many people their jobs, and the sudden shift back to the new normal often put fleet managers in a bind with regard to staffing shortfalls.
Now, however, the mandate is clear—hire, hire, hire. Pandemic restrictions are lifting, the supply chain is slowly recovering, and so is the economy as a whole.
If you’re a fleet manager playing catch-up, the message here is obvious—don’t wait. Do whatever hiring you feel is necessary to get your fleet management house in order. That means getting the best people possible, then setting up your policies and procedures to keep them happy and retain them.
Update your Software
If you’ve been behind the curve with your fleet management software, it’s time to catch up in that area, too. This software is not only a fact of life now, it’s essential to keep up with the competition.
Not only that, but the more job and tracking functions you automate, the more you’ll be able to get an edge. This software is advancing in leaps and bounds, so take the time to learn what’s out there, how it works, and what advantages it can give you.
Catch Up on Your Audits
You may have noticed that catching up is a common thread in these first few tips, and it’s just as important when it comes to your auditing system, too.
Why? Because the structure of the Compliance, Safety, Accountability program is constantly changing, and in the current timeframe that means more site visits and possible roadside inspections for your fleet vehicles.
You can minimize the impact of these changes, however. The solution is to take care of your internal audits and update your operating procedures to help your drivers keep their CSA scores as solid as possible.
If you do that you’ll avoid expensive fines and penalties, but be sure to observe whatever restrictions are added as the program gets updated.
Fuel Costs
Fuel costs were already a major expense at the start of the year, and that expense has increased exponentially.
Fleet companies that weren’t paying close attention to their fuel cost patterns got hammered, and even though gas prices have been falling lately, the market as a whole is so unstable that no fleet manager can assume anything, good or bad.
For many managers, fuel cards are part of the solution to the ongoing problem of fuel costs. There are a lot of changes happening with the rates these cards offer, which means there are money-saving opportunities at hand if you’re willing to take the time to do some reviewing and shop around.
Update Your Insurance
Insurance rates have been all over the map for the last couple of years, too, so it’s worth reexamining your policy and looking to see what’s available on the open market.
You may find yourself pleasantly surprised by some of the rates you encounter, but make sure to do a thorough review of any new policy to make sure it meets your specific needs.
Stock Up On Replacement Parts
If you’re a fleet manager who got hit hard by shortages of any kind back when the supply chain broke, there’s a good chance you learned a hard lesson in the process.
Fortunately, there’s an easy fix—future-proof your inventory and restock now. You’ll likely save some money in the process, and you’ll also protect yourself against the inevitable rise in prices if there are bumps or hiccups in the supply chain going forward.
Track Your Assets
The business conditions we’ve all endured for the last couple of years have kept many fleet managers in scramble mode, so the second half of 2022 is actually a great time to reassess.
If you’ve been cutting back on equipment, you can start buying to catch up. Make sure you do any necessary updates as you do, and it’s not a bad idea to update your business plan, too, so you have a solid idea of what you’re going to need going forward.
Vehicle Replacement
If you’ve been operating in scramble mode for a year or two now, there’s a good chance your fleet could use some love as well.
If you have some vehicles that are creeping up around the 70K mileage mark, now’s the time to consider vehicle replacement, especially for the ones that have exceeded that number.
It’s a tricky juggling act, though. Vehicle prices are sky high, too, right now, so you may have to plan carefully as you consider updating your fleet.
Retrain Your Drivers
There’s never a bad time to focus on driver safety, so consider that possibility as you make your way through this list of tips.
With more people on the road now that pandemic restrictions are being completely limited, it’s a good time to make sure your drivers haven’t gotten into any bad habits, and you can help your bottom line by going over some basic drivers safety procedures.
Know Your Cost of Doing Business
The final tip should be an annual staple when it comes to how you run your business, but it’s an easy one to overlook when things get busy.
You should always have at least an approximate idea of your total cost of doing business, so make knowing your total cost of ownership (TCO) the overall goal when it comes to any financial moves you make.
The Best Way to Make a Comprehensive Plan
One of the best ways to update your business and stay on top of the changes you face is to ask for help from a great source, and that’s us. At Fleetr, we’re happy to answer any questions you may have, so call us at 415-651-7575.
You can also email us at sales@fleetr.com or visit our site, www.fleetr.com, where you’ll find all kinds of great information about how to handle business changes and anticipate the future ones that are likely to occur.
