Bringing the Fleet to the Street: Key Considerations for Bosses

One of the most lucrative business ideas is a delivery or haulage business. Because we’re all ordering items online, there is a greater demand for people to ferry products from A to B. But what about those beginner entrepreneurs that need to learn how to manage a fleet? There’s a lot to consider here, so let’s get you on the road to managing your fleet effectively. 

Hire a Fleet Manager

It could be tempting to be a fleet manager yourself if you are in charge of the business, but as companies expand, and roles become more defined, you must think about how much attention your fleet receives. After all, it’s not just about the staff, but it’s about the vehicles. It’s vital that the right person understands the necessary fuels and lubricants needed to keep a vehicle operating, and a fleet manager is someone that can physically oversee the vehicles and deal in fleet maintenance. 

Establishing Clear Communication

One of those things that are commonly reiterated by businesses is having great lines of communication. In an office, it’s easy to communicate with everybody due to proximity, but when we’re talking about fleet management, we’ve got to diversify our lines of communication to ensure that drivers, managers, and support staff are all in the know. 

Drivers are not able to check their phones as they are on the road, and this is why communication shouldn’t be about the “little and often” approach. Drivers will need debriefing, but it also benefits you to send out one mass email a day or have a meeting before the day begins. But because drivers are working shifts this is not always possible. Regular meetings and regular communications are always the cornerstones of a great business. 

Fleet Management Software

Fleet management software is something that is going to direct efficiency, maintenance, manage drivers, and deal with a lot of the most frustrating aspects of a business. You don’t necessarily have to use fleet management software, but you can always design a user-friendly software program and this will help you to monitor a variety of data points and come up with clear action plans to establish a more efficient company approach. 

Source – CC0 License

Training Up Your Drivers 

Ensuring that your drivers have proper training means that they are doing their job correctly, but more importantly, are driving efficiently and safely. You need to have clear safety rules set in place, especially when it comes to the topic of distracted driving. One of the biggest problems that cause accidents from any driver is distracted driving. Training up your drivers’ good habits means that everybody will be far safer. 

Get Involved Within the Industry

There are so many aspects of the industry that will make a positive impact on your business. From the right suppliers to the trade shows you can attend, it’s important to educate yourself and other fleet managers so you can work on continual improvement. 

Running a fleet of vehicles is an incredibly rewarding, yet logistically difficult undertaking. But despite the challenges, it is an industry that will never go out of style, which means that you’ve got to get to grips with your best practices.