Fleet management seems more difficult than ever thanks to driver and vehicle shortages. The good news is that there are ways that you can better manage your fleet operations to smoothly run this vital aspect of your business.
So here’s a comprehensive guide to fleet management solutions and fleet management software from RPM.
What Is Fleet Management?
Fleet maintenance involves running a fleet of commercial vehicles efficiently and effectively. Here are some of the specific tasks that fall under fleet management:
- Vehicle and fleet acquisition, sales, and financing
- Vehicle personal usage and expense tracking
- Preventive maintenance, repair, and roadside service
- Logistics and delivery management
- Fuel consumption
- Titling, licensing, registration, and tolling
- Roadway and interstate compliance
- Insurance, accident prevention, and accident resolution
- Driver safety and driver training
History of Fleet Management
Fleet management companies have been around for more than 50 years — although fleet management looked a lot different back then.
Take the role of fleet managers, for example. Fleet managers were usually just people who liked vehicles and knew a lot about them who worked with the primary goal of making sure that there were enough vehicles in the right places to transport shipments from point A to point B. This task was easier said than done since it was impossible to consistently track the real-time locations of the different vehicles within a fleet.
Fleet management changed with the introduction of GPS technology. While this technology can be traced all the way back to 1974, experimental satellites began being launched into space starting in 1978. In 1985, ten more satellites were launched into space. Nearly ten years later in 1994, a total of 24 satellites were launched into space. The 1994 launch made GPS technology fully operational.
From there, fleet management systems began to change and evolve thanks to technology. For instance, GPS also helped establish weather forecast systems that were used to help plan routes. Geofencing technology is used to trigger alerts and responses when vehicles go off course.
Fleet management systems also help with:
- Asset utilization
- Mileage
- Vehicle maintenance
- Vehicle tracking
- Fleet tracking
- Fuel management
- Operational costs
And while fleet management may be more complicated these days, it’s a necessary component of successfully running and maintaining a fleet of vehicles.
Role of Fleet Management in Logistics
Perhaps the biggest change in fleet management is that it has become more logistics-based. In fact, fleet managers should have at least two years of experience in a logistics role, along with experience in the transportation industry. This is because there are so many working parts involved in fleet management; you need to know how to gather, track, and analyze relevant data.
You then need to be able to make decisions based on the fleet management data you’ve gathered. This is often the hardest task and is why experience is important. But the good news is that logistics and fleet management don’t have to be difficult thanks to the development and implementation of technology — much like GPS technology that spurred the initial transformation of this field.
These days, automation makes fleet management easier with smart integrations, automatic notifications, and automated reporting. However, smart and experienced individuals are still needed to ensure the smooth integration and function of these systems.
Fleet Management: Business Benefits
Fleet management provides a whole host of benefits to any business that’s trying to handle routes, maintenance, and expense reporting of multiple vehicles. Here are just a few of the ways that fleet management can help your business run more efficiently and effectively:
Safety
Fleet management improves the safety of your fleet. The road is a notoriously dangerous and unpredictable place, so it’s important to prioritize safety to keep your drivers and equipment as safe as possible during transit.
Fleet management involves the monitoring and recording of driver behavior that effectively holds them accountable for their actions and encourages safe driving behaviors as a result. Specifically, fleet management has the ability to monitor speeding, hard braking, fast acceleration, and idling.
Fleet management also has recording capabilities that come in handy in the event of an incident or accident on the road.
Efficiency
Fleet management improves the efficiency of your fleet. As a business, you know that time is money — so delays on the road are costly in terms of actual dollars as well as client and customer relationships. Routes are tracked and managed in real-time so that you can choose the most efficient route.
Finally, fleet management promotes fuel efficiency that can save money in fuel costs.
Compliance
Fleet management improves the compliance of your fleet. There are countless federal, state, and local regulations involved in the transportation industry that are hard to keep track of.
For instance, federal regulations require the use of electronic logging systems (ELS) and while this transition can be painful at first, it’s actually quite beneficial for everyone involved.
Security
Fleet management improves the safety of your fleet. You need to protect your assets while they’re on the road. Fleet management, tracking capabilities, and communication channels boost the security of your drivers, trucks, and shipments, no matter where they are.
Managing Your Fleet With Fleet Management Software
Clearly, there are benefits to proper fleet management. At the same time, there’s so much involved in this process that it seems overwhelming and confusing. The good news is that there are fleet management tools to make your working day easier.
These tools come with various features. They also come at a wide range of prices to fit your budget. Consider using a software tool if you’re looking to improve the efficiency of your fleet.
The Best Fleet Management Software Options
While fleet management software is incredibly beneficial, it is difficult to choose the right program for your business needs. Here are some of the best fleet management software options for you to consider:
1. Fleetio
Fleetio is a fleet management program helping companies of all sizes manage everything from vehicles to drivers to auto parts. This program is accessed either on the web or on a mobile application. Fleetio includes features allowing you to view vehicle location, manage fleet preventive maintenance, set geofence alerts, and assign work orders.
Fleetio comes with a free 14-day trial after which there are two plans to choose from. The Pro plan is $5 per vehicle that starts at $25 per month for your first five assets. The Advanced plan is $7 per vehicle that starts at $35 per month for your first five assets. Equipment is managed at a beginning cost of $0.50 per piece when billed annually.
2. Momentum IoT
Momentum IoT is a fleet management program helping companies manage and track their assets with an included tracking device. The features of this program include a GPS telematics dashboard, custom assetgroupings, geolocation capabilities, real-time odometer, and fuel level data, and alerts.
Momentum IoT offers a single plan to make it simple. With this tool, you pay $12 per month per asset with no upfront costs or extra fees for GPS tracking.
3. Avrios
Avrios is a fleet management program helping companies integrate all transportation and fleet-related management into a single dashboard with a user-friendly interface that requires little to no training. The features of this program include a vehicle and driver database, fuel card integration, total cost of ownership(TCO) monitoring, and a driver training management program.
Avrios offers three different plans. The Essentials plan is free but has limited features. The Pro plan costs $12 per vehicle per month with more features. The Enterprise plan includes all features.
4. USFleetTracking
USFleetTracking is a fleet management program where companies track and manage their fleets thanks to an in-depth service database and responsive customer support. The features of this program include geofencing, speed notifications, 90-day history playback, live weather radar, route setup, and how-to videos for users. It also provides cellular-based and satellite-based tracking systems.
USFleetTracking offers four different plans. The Most Popular plan offers cellular GPS tracking for $29.95 per tracker per month for updates every 10 seconds. The Blazing Fast plan offers cellular GPS tracking for $39.95 per tracker per month for updates every five seconds. The Standard plan offers satellite GPS tracking for $24.95 per tracker per month for three updates every 48 hours. The Premium plan offers satellite GPS trackingfor $79.95 per tracker per month for updates every five minutes.
5. HQ Rental Software
HQ Rental Software is a fleet management program for rental car companies to manage their fleets by combining fleet management, online reservations, and telematics into a single platform.
The features of this program include website plugins for online reservations, a customer relationship management program, vehicle documentation, and maintenance tracking, automatic fuel, and odometer tracking, and auto-generated customer confirmation emails.
HQ Rental Software offers five different plans. The Startup plan costs $50 per month for 10 vehicles, one rental location, and online payments. The Basic plan costs $75 per month for 25 vehicles, one rental location, and digital signatures. The Standard plan costs $125 per month for 50 vehicles, one rental location, and bookkeeping integration. The Professional plan costs $175 per month for 100 vehicles, two rental locations, and API access.
Finally, the Enterprise plan is designed for companies with over 100 vehicles and up to three rental locations with prices varying depending on the number of vehicles.
Additionally, HQ Rental Software offers telematics plans with additional tracking features that will cost between $7 to $8 per vehicle per month. In addition to this monthly cost, you have to pay a one-time fee for each tracking device that can cost between $70 to $95.
However, you will gain features like GPS and live maps, trip history reports, driver behavior notifications, geofencing capabilities, and phone-as-a-key options.
6. Onfleet
Onfleet is a fleet management program that helps companies with route optimization and is one of the best choices for delivery companies thanks to its delivery-focused design. The features of this program include end-to-end route planning, automated dispatch, real-time ETAs, live traffic views, proof of delivery options, and customer feedback collection tools.
Onfleet offers four different plans: Starter, Basic, Premium, and Professional. The Starter plan costs $149 per month for 1,000 tasks, vehicle management, Zapier integration, and 30-day history. The Basic plan costs $349 per month for 2,500 tasks, route optimization, driver scheduling, predictive ETA, and 90-day history. The Premium plan costs $799 per month for 5,000 tasks, barcode scanning, age verification, and one-year history. Finally, the Professional plan costs $1,999 per month for 12,500 tasks, multi-brand support, and unlimited history.
7. Samsara
Samsara is a fleet management program that improves safety programs, oversees all assets, and maintains fleet compliance by tracking HOS and DVIRs. The features of this program include dashcams, geofencing, automated alerts, driver logs, two-way messaging, temperature monitoring, driver safety scores, proof of delivery integrations, distracted driving detection, and in-cab Wi-Fi.
Samsara offers custom pricing solutions and plans based on the number of vehicles you have and the features you’re looking for.
8. AUTOsist
AUTOsist is a fleet management program that tracks information related to multiple types of vehicles. This program comes with a feature-rich user interface that’s easy to launch and use. However, a major weakness of this program is that it does not offer a map view of vehicles currently on the road.
AUTOsist offers three different plans: Basic, Personal, and Fleet. The Basic plan is free of cost but it only includes one vehicle and one user. The Personal plan comes with a one-time fee of $19.99 and includes up to five vehicles. The cost of the Fleet plan starts at $50 a month to support five or more vehicles while also allowing unlimited users, devices, records, and storage space. The price of the Fleet plan increases as you add more vehicles.
9. Chevin FleetWave
Chevin FleetWave is a fleet management program that keeps track of all fleet vehicles and drivers. The features of this program include fuel cost tracking, maintenance tracking, and accident history that automatically synchronizes with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data. Thanks to these features, managers make better decisions regarding the use and future of their fleet vehicles.
However, the pricing system for Chevin FleetWave is difficult to decipher. Instead of using a set price, you work with a representative to come up with a personalized plan based on your fleet size and the features you’re looking for.
That being said, the CORE package is the basic package that will likely work well for small and midsize businesses.
10. Zubie
Zubie is a fleet management program that monitors and tracks important information about their drivers and vehicles through a device that is connected to the vehicle’s diagnostic port. The features of this program allow you to track vehicle location, average speed, sudden accelerations, hard braking, and idling time. It comes with an easy-to-use mobile application that provides you quick access to relevant information about your fleet.
Zubie’s unique diagnostic port attachment comes at a cost. Its only pricing option comes in at $179.95 per device per year. However, this single pricing plan provides you access to all the tool’s features that you can then use to boost the efficiency of your fleet.
RPM Fleet Management Services
RPM Freight understands that fleet management is difficult. We are a top logistics provider in vehicle transportation with a network of over 30,000 carriers. All of our carriers are vetted and monitored to provide speedy and safe transport. For peace of mind, we also offer responsive damage claim services.
Whether you’re transporting multiple vehicles within a full truckload or a single vehicle — we help. We also transport inoperable vehicles for repair.
Conclusion
Fleet management is difficult — but it doesn’t have to be. With the right fleet management software and partner, you effectively and efficiently manage your fleet. For all your fleet transportation needs, contact RPM for more information and a quote.
Sources:
The Evolution of Fleet Managers | Verizon Connect
10 Benefits of Fleet Management | Mix Telematics
The BestFleet Management Softwarefor 2021 | Investopedia
