There’s a big difference between a well-run fleet and a poorly-run fleet, both in terms of cost and efficacy. Any effort and thought you can commit toward optimisation is therefore, going to be well-spent. But exactly what kind of approach to fleet-management will produce the best results? Let’s look at a few tweaks you might make.
Compose a Policy
If you have a policy thats more-or-less set in stone, then you can refer to it whenever your drivers are behaving in ways that you dont like. Note that a policy when it comes to best practice can be as specific or general as you like, and it neednt just be a tool to coerce drivers it can also be used to support their welfare. For example, you might limit driving hours and shift work to eliminate fatigued driving.
Go Electric
Making the switch to electric might already be more tax-efficient and its only going to get more so. Think about how your charging facilities are going to cope, and whether a widespread switch is practical at this point. Youre going to have to make the switch at some point, so make sure youre considering your options before you hand is forced. Of course, unlike individual motorists, fleet managers can make this transition in small stages, bringing in electric vehicles to see how they perform. Many can be had for not very much money with the Vauxhall Corsa-E being an appealing option at the budget end of the market.
Track your Fuel Consumption
If you don’t have access to the right data, then you’ll struggle to make meaningful improvements on the amount of fuel you consume. Fortunately, modern software makes it easy to monitor just how much fuel is going into your tanks, and what factors are influencing the amount you use. Furthermore, your business can use a fuel card to help tackle rising fuel costs. A fuel card will allow your business to gain visibility on the amount of fuel being used by your work vehicles and the associated costs. There are many fuel cards on the market ranging from, bp fuel cards or shell fuel cards.
Take Maintenance Seriously
One of the major ongoing costs of running a fleet is repairing vehicles after they break down. But a better approach is a preventative one if you act ahead of time, then youll not only avoid the disruption and caused by a breakdown, but youll also cut your costs significantly. Set up a schedule for maintenance of every vehicle, and make sure that repair work is properly logged. This will make it much easier to ensure that nothing has slipped through the net.
Hire a Fleet Manager
Getting the best from your fleet can be a full-time job and thus it might make financial sense to appoint a specialist individual to take care of it for you. This is something that only larger organisations will realistically be able to pursue, but the benefits can be significant.