Running and managing a fleet can be a serious challenge, especially if you lack the resources and expertise. For instance, you must be ready to deal with issues like delays, accidents, higher fuel costs, and other challenges.
Back in the days when fleet management was done manually, most logistics companies had issues with productivity and efficiency per truck.
Logistics services can boost productivity and fleet management with technologies like GPS tracking systems. The secret lies in the various features of these tracking systems. Tracking devices are useful not only for monitoring vehicle movement but also for other needs.
All you have to do is activate all the features to optimize fleet efficiency and productivity.
This article lists four ways GPS tracking improves fleet efficiency.
1. Using GPS Trackers For Route Optimization
Whenever you install a GPS tracker in your fleet, ensure the data collection and storage options are enabled. This feature allows you to collect all truck data, including the route and distance covered to reach the destination.
Next, you need ample cloud storage space to store all this route and truck data. With all this data, you can easily use different logistical data analytics tools to analyze the stored data. What is most important is the report generated by the analytics tools.
You can use the stored data for route optimization. You can use the analytics reports to select the shortest route to reach the truck’s desired destination in time. With that strategy, the trucks can cover more trips since reaching the destination takes a limited time.
You can also use the data to predict routes with higher traffic and delays. Before you dispatch the trucks, you can change the GPS maps to follow other, less-traffic routes. Eventually, the trucks can reach their destination fast since they use shorter routes. As a result of route optimization, you are likely to increase revenue and reduce fleet expenses.
When considering GPS tracking fleet management, consider trackers with data analytics tools to help you make decisions. These trackers are perfect for all fleet operations, including vans, trucks, and taxi services.
2. Improved Fleet Safety Record
Truck accidents can be concerning when running a fleet since you can hardly monitor every truck. Eventually, the accident record may be higher due to a lack of monitoring and evaluation. Therefore, you must consider the various safety features to boost truck safety.
A GPS tracker can boost truck safety records in various ways. First, you can use it as a fleet monitoring system. Once installed, activate the active monitoring and notification features. These features update you whenever the truck overspeeds, overbrakes, or engages in negative activities like swerving.
Secondly, a good fleet management system can help you manage the drivers. First, you can monitor the log-in and log-out times and schedules. This enables you to ensure drivers comply with the normal working hours shift schedule according to traffic and safety regulations.
Another feature is the engine’s on-and-off notification. This feature will help you monitor how long the drivers rest before getting back on the road. For long-distance hauliers, you should ensure your drivers have six to eight hours of sleep before returning to the wheel. Therefore, you can monitor when the drivers go for a rest vs when they resume driving.
Since the drivers rest sufficiently, the cases of human accidents due to exhaustion have declined. Also, the monitoring and live update features can notify you whenever the driver violates traffic. You can advise the driver to slow down and drive safely.
3. Reduce Fleet Management Costs.
You will notice higher fleet expenses when you check financial statements from logistic companies. Fleet expenses are normally too high due to fuel, repair and insurance costs. Sometimes, all the costs can overwhelm the revenue, especially if you have limited clients.
Using a GPS tracking system, you can significantly cut all these costs. First, the route optimization feature can help you cut fuel and repair costs. For instance, you can cover more trips before the fleet reaches the repair and maintenance mileage. The cost-benefit analysis is higher compared to fleets without fleet tracking systems.
Notably, the tracking system is also essential to road and fleet safety. With all the reduced cases of fleet accidents, your insurance costs will likely decline.
With the system, you can cut expenses significantly, hence boosting profitability per fleet. Route optimization allows you to make more trips, increasing return per truck. You will likely attract more clients since the trucks have a higher safety record, reputation, and reliability.
4. Faster Turnaround Per Truck
To boost efficiency, you must ensure every truck has a fast turnaround. A fleet management system enables you to manage the drivers effectively to boost truck usage. For instance, you can use the system to assign a driver for each trip.
Since trucks arrive at the destination fast, truckers can spare the remaining time to offload the goods. Eventually, a round trip takes a short time, maximizing truck usage. A faster turnaround and trip duration are essential for streamlining the company’s logistic services. This makes the fleet essential to your warehousing and product distribution services.
Wrapping up
Using a truck GPS tracking system can greatly boost work productivity and efficiency. A good tracker enables you to optimize routes, improve turnaround times, and reduce the number of accidents.
The greatest benefit of these trackers is the cost implications since they can help you reduce insurance, repair, and fuel costs.
