| "body"> | | | | If a driver is constantly speeding, a fleet manager |
| The cost of running, maintaining and operating a | | | | will be able to chart this behaviour and find out |
| fleet of vehicles can eat up a large part of a | | | | the reason for it. If the driver is rushing to meet |
| company's budget. Managing that fleet efficiently is | | | | deadlines then the manager has the chance to |
| an absolute priority - particularly during an | | | | re-plan the driver's route, allowing him or her |
| economic recession or period of financial hardship. | | | | more time to meet deadlines and reduce fuel |
| Fleet management isn't just about incorporating a | | | | consumption as a result. Where fleet |
| vehicle tracking system or real time GPS tracking | | | | management systems have been incorporated |
| into vehicles. It's about vehicle financing, fuel | | | | into large organisations, a saving of up to 40% on |
| management, vehicle telematics (tracking and | | | | annual fuel bills have been achieved - particularly |
| diagnostics), driver management and a whole host | | | | important when you consider the constantly rising |
| of other aspects. With all that responsibility, any | | | | price of fuel. |
| tool that makes a fleet manager's life easier has | | | | Vehicle trackers can also help to reduce your |
| to be a bonus. | | | | fleet's annual insurance costs. Insurance providers |
| Fleet management can be dealt with in-house, or | | | | reward any attempts by fleet managers to |
| alternatively it can be outsourced to a fleet | | | | minimise the chances of vehicles being stolen or |
| management provider. Whether you choose to go | | | | used inappropriately, so by fitting a vehicle |
| down the self-management route or bring in a | | | | tracking system to your fleet vehicles you can |
| third party to do your fleet management for you, | | | | also make considerable savings on your insurance |
| there are a number of tools at your disposal to | | | | premiums. Real time tracking also means faster |
| help you save money. The most obvious is the | | | | recovery of stolen vehicles, minimising the impact |
| inclusion of a GPS vehicle tracking system that | | | | to your daily operations and costing less in repairs |
| relays real-time information to a central control, | | | | or even replacing stolen and damaged vehicles. |
| telling you exactly where all your fleet vehicles are | | | | Fleet management systems are designed to |
| at any time. Vehicle tracking systems don't just | | | | streamline operations, cut costs and increase |
| tell you where your vehicles are - they can also | | | | efficiency. All of these will result in long-term |
| give you diagnostic information regarding speed, | | | | savings to the company as a whole, and while the |
| fuel consumption and other operational aspects. | | | | initial outlay of installing GPS tracking or fleet |
| By analysing this data, fleet managers can work | | | | management system may seem high, the |
| out the most cost-effective routes, reduce fuel | | | | long-term benefits to the company far outweigh |
| consumption due to excessive use of speed and | | | | the initial expense. It also means that the |
| streamline the operation making it more efficient. | | | | company is more likely to be fully compliant with |
| Collating the data from the onboard computer and | | | | any legislation, the duty of care to employees and |
| from data fed back to the base station also gives | | | | prove to be a worthwhile investment, no matter |
| fleet managers the ability to 'profile' their drivers. | | | | how big or small your fleet. |