Key features of a truck fleet management system
Published By: LogiPe on July 18, 2022
Any logistics firm today has an extensive range of tasks facing it. The firm must keep track of a large fleet of vehicles and ensure that dispatches stay on schedule while maintaining the vehicles and drivers safe and in good order. The task is made much simpler in the presence of a fleet management system that automates the task. Using a fleet management system can help the company make savings on various fronts, with multiple essential processes automated.
Caption: Fleet management systems have a range of features that makes the job of logistics firms easier.
[Source: https://www.freepik.com/vectors/man-symbol Trailer truck photo created by aleksandarlittlewolf - www.freepik.com]
What is fleet management?
Fleet management involves various tasks, including keeping track of vehicle status, monitoring fuel usage and driving patterns, plotting efficient routes, maintaining records of expenses, synchronising operations and generating reports from fleet data. All these tasks are automated and centralised by a fleet management system, handling all the heavy details and providing valuable inputs for the business.
Why is fleet management important?
We have answered the question of what is fleet management. Now we seek to know the benefits of using fleet management solutions. Fleet management solutions help companies save costs in many ways.
They have the following benefits:
- Increased fuel efficiency: Fleet management solutions keep track of fuel usage and help optimise mileage while cutting down on wastage.
- Driver safety: Fleet managers monitor driver habits and help incentivise good practices. This monitoring keeps drivers safe, leading to efficient deliveries and happier customers.
- Vehicle maintenance: Fleet management software keeps track of vehicle health and lets the logistics wing make necessary and timely interventions.
- Planning for the future: Fleet managers can use data obtained on the road from fleets to make insightful reports that help plan for the future.
- Better route planning: Fleet management systems compare and analyse various routes available to arrive at the most efficient solutions. More efficient routes help make savings.
- Streamlined communication: Fleet managers help drivers, customers and fleet operators keep track of the live position of their vehicles and the destination. It leads to clarity via real-time communication, making the delivery process smoother.
LogiPe helps to easily manage fleet, fuel and FASTag payments. In addition to this, LogiPe also offers lending services, allowing one to get easy loans within a day.
What are the features of fleet management systems?
When choosing a fleet management solution for a company, we have to examine its various features. Here are some key features of fleet management systems that have to be considered.
Driver behaviour monitoring
An essential part of a fleet manager is keeping tabs on driver habits. Unhealthy habits like hard braking, idling, overspeeding and inefficient fuel usage cause losses for the company by endangering the vehicle and the driver. Keeping track of them helps flag them in the earliest stages and educate drivers. It also helps take steps to incentivise drivers to be more responsible.
Real-time GPS tracking
This is a must-have feature for a fleet manager. It helps know the real-time status of a shipment, promoting clarity. It also helps keep track of routes and driving patterns, such as how long drivers drive and when they take breaks. This feature helps optimise schedules and routes. It also provides many essential data points to analyse later and plan for the future.
Alerts
Alerts are important for maintaining fleet health. Knowing when there is an emergency with any vehicle on the fleet is vital so that the firm can address it promptly. A sound fleet management system helps swiftly handle minor issues and prevent them from growing into more significant problems. This is especially important for sensitive cargo and extremely time-dependent situations.
Vehicle maintenance
We gauge the health of a vehicle with metrics such as temperatures, battery voltage, wear and tear, and time since last maintenance. A proper fleet management system helps keep track of various such metrics in real-time, allowing the fleet’s health to be maintained. Better fleet health results in increased longevity and productivity of the fleet. The software also helps on the financial side of matters by keeping track of expenses that go into maintenance.
Route planning and optimisation
An efficient route saves time and fuel while on a delivery. It also helps adjust to driver habits and ensure that their driving hours stay within safety limits. This feature in a fleet management system increases customer satisfaction and leads to savings on the road. A good fleet manager also uses data from recent trips to learn and plot more effective routes in the future.
Fuel management
Using fuel optimally is key to making savings. A fleet management system observes fuel usage and flags wastage in fuel. This feature means the vehicles on the fleet make optimal use of fuel. It also helps avoid hazards such as fuel leaks or theft.
LogiPe: A complete financial solution for fleet owners
LogiPe is a fleet management solution that helps logistics companies streamline their payments. It provides ways to keep track of driver expenses and ensure payment reconciliation takes place. LogiPe also helps better manage costs and enables the availability of funds for logistics companies.
Conclusion
Fleet management systems need various features to cater to all needs of logistics companies. Buyers must consider all these features carefully before committing to a fleet management solution. An educated choice helps meet the demands that logistics firms face daily. Visit LogiPe’s site today to learn more about our fleet management and payment streamlining features.
