| If you have more than two company vehicles, | | | | and vehicle and if the driver is persistently |
| you have a fleet. As with all business components, | | | | speeding, for example, the fleet manager can |
| fleets need managing and this can include a wide | | | | then implement actions to reduce this behaviour. |
| range of duties including vehicle financing, | | | | Speeding uses up fuel and by monitoring the |
| maintenance, tracking and diagnostics, driver | | | | average speed of the vehicle, larger fleets can |
| management, fuel, and health and safety | | | | make considerable savings in their annual fuel bill. It |
| management. Fleet management minimises the | | | | also presents a far better image of the company |
| risks associated with vehicle investment, | | | | to the general public, particularly if your fleet is |
| improving efficiency, productivity and ensuring | | | | made up of sign-written vehicles or carries the |
| that overall transportation costs are kept to a | | | | company's logo. |
| minimum. They are either dealt with by a | | | | One very important part of fleet management is |
| dedicated in-house fleet management department | | | | duty of care. In April 2008, the UK's Corporate |
| or outsourced to a fleet management provider. | | | | Manslaughter Act was strengthened to target |
| One of the most fundamental components in | | | | company directors as well as their drivers where |
| fleet management is vehicle tracking. Modern | | | | road accidents that resulted in deaths were |
| technology in the form of GPS tracking devices | | | | caused by fleet vehicles. The Police now treat |
| has made tracking and diagnostics much more | | | | every road death as an 'unlawful killing' and are |
| efficient and easier, leading to far more efficient | | | | determined to bring prosecutions against company |
| fleet management overall. Vehicle trackers allow a | | | | directors who fail to provide clear policies and |
| fleet manager to know exactly where every | | | | guidance for employees who drive on company |
| vehicle in the fleet is at any given time and gives | | | | business. Vehicle tracking systems incorporate |
| them the opportunity to plan the most efficient | | | | software that can build up a profile of a driver's |
| routes and reduce waiting time for customers. | | | | habits, so enabling fleet managers to monitor |
| Vehicle tracking also introduces safety and crime | | | | behaviour on the road and just how safely |
| prevention elements by allowing a silent alarm to | | | | company vehicles are being driven. Part of fleet |
| be triggered if the vehicle is stolen or involved in | | | | management is also the essential maintenance of |
| an accident. This is particularly important if the | | | | fleet vehicles, ensuring that every vehicle is |
| fleet operates in more remote areas and can | | | | roadworthy before leaving the depot. Diagnostic |
| mean a far more rapid response to an | | | | information provided by vehicle tracking systems |
| emergency system. The introduction of | | | | can make this task much easier, preventing |
| 'Low-Jacking' technology also means that if a | | | | vehicles that may be faulty or dangerous from |
| vehicle is stolen, the engine can be disabled | | | | being used. This ensures that a fleet manager's |
| remotely by the fleet manager and the Police can | | | | duty of care to both the public and their |
| be directed to the exact location of the vehicle. | | | | employees and drivers is maintained at the |
| This reduces recovery time for stolen vehicles | | | | highest level. |
| and therefore the costs associated with vehicle | | | | Fleet management is a complex and far-reaching |
| theft. | | | | position and is far more than just knowing where |
| Tracking systems can also provide fleet | | | | drivers and vehicles are or occasionally checking |
| managers with crucial data for mechanical | | | | the oil levels in the fleet vans. With the assistance |
| diagnostics including mileage and fuel consumption, | | | | of modern technology such as GPS devices or |
| speed and direction. This enables fleet managers | | | | vehicle tracking systems, that job has now |
| to build up a profile of the activities of both driver | | | | become much easier. |