With just 40% of small businesses making a profit, you should do everything you can to position yourself for success. And if you manage fleet vehicles, that means finding an efficient solution to usage and maintenance. After all, you don’t want to run into big repairs or underutilize your fleet.
Read on to find a short guide to managing fleet vehicles!
Focus on Training
When you’re mapping out a business plan, make sure to focus on hiring qualified drivers — and offering sound training. Start by hiring drivers with clean records and the right class of licenses.
Make sure they know how to drive and maintain their assigned vehicles. Do ongoing safety reviews and promote a culture of safety that starts with the highest level of leadership.
For instance, ask your CEO to deliver some of the safety onboarding instructions. Include safety tips and best practices in your company newsletter.
And spell out any disciplinary action if drivers are careless. When drivers know the consequences, they will focus on better driving. To go a step further, provide incentives, like bonuses, when drivers perform well.
Take Care of Logistical Details
Are your vehicles and drivers licensed and insured? And do you have the right permits to haul your cargo? Make sure you’re up to date on compliance and schedule reminder notifications when you need to pursue renewals.
You may need state permits, a motor carrier number, or emissions inspections. And you may need an International Registration Plan permit, too, if you cross state lines. Reach out to state agencies to make sure you’re covered.
Gather the Right Data
As your vehicle fleet grows, consider using software to run data reports. You can track fuel efficiency and routes. You also can let drivers enter information to stay current on maintenance needs.
The right data can help you spot areas for improvement. If you notice that you’re frequently renting vehicles for bigger loads, maybe you can justify getting a larger truck with more cargo space.
Consider accident rates, repair rates, and odometer updates. Look at vehicle usage to understand which vehicles are amassing the most hours.
Ultimately, data can help you find areas to improve efficiency. For instance, you could turn to Instafuel for fuel delivery. This will cut down on the time needed to deliver vehicles to service stations.
Maintain Your Fleet Vehicles
Make sure you’re taking your vehicles in for routine inspections and oil changes. You’ll extend the life of your vehicles and stave off bigger expenses. In addition, ask your drivers to handle routine tire inflation and report any vehicle issues in a timely fashion.
Do you let your drivers have access to vehicles for personal use? Even though this might be a nice perk, it does contribute to wear and tear. If you’re operating on a tight budget, reconsider offering this option.
Pursue Better Vehicle Fleet Management
Managing fleet vehicles requires staying on top of data and pursuing regular vehicle maintenance. Invest in better training so your drivers can play a key role in fleet management. And make changes when the data shows you can be more efficient.
Find more tips to keep your vehicles humming. Check back soon for new articles!