Managing a fleet is no easy feat because you have to manage the vehicles and the drivers using them. In this article, we’ll be providing 7 management tips for fleet operators or fleet managers. Some issues that regularly arise are fuel costs, repair costs, and administrative tasks. In Nigeria, the issue of fuel costs most likely holds the most weight. It is difficult to manage the cost of fuel especially when you do not control it. In cases such as that there is little you can do about fuel costs but you can pay special attention to the usage of the vehicles and try to make sure they do not move around unnecessarily. Here are some other tips for fleet operators.
- Vehicle Rotation – One of the easiest ways to extend the lifespan of vehicles and to monitor vehicle health is through vehicle rotation. This is when drivers don’t have one assigned vehicle or the ability to select the vehicle they want to take out. We recommend rotating the vehicles amongst the drivers so that they are used simultaneously. This will reduce the chances of fixing particular vehicles constantly because of the way a driver uses it and it will also distribute wear and tear equally amongst the vehicles.
- Driver Responsibility – It is important that the driver is also responsible for the health of the vehicle. One way to do this is through the use of a checklist the driver has to fill before and after using a vehicle. This will help you monitor the vehicles better and it will improve vehicle health once the drivers realise they are responsible for damages the vehicle may receive.
- The Purchasing Procedure – Purchasing a vehicle to add to the fleet can be a stressful process when it is not optimised. We recommend having someone in charge of purchasing. Having multiple people in charge of purchasing could lead to vehicles of different qualities being in the fleet. When one person is in charge of vehicle purchases, there is a high chance all the vehicles purchased will be of the same quality and will match the needs of the fleet more accurately.
- Maintenance – Due to the amount of work that goes into managing a fleet, it can be quite easy to ignore vehicles until they need major repairs. Having routine maintenance on the vehicles is extremely important to save costs on repairs and it increases their life span.
- Scheduling – It is important to have a schedule for the vehicles in the fleet. This helps to keep track of the vehicles. We also recommend including servicing and repair dates in this schedule so you are able to look at the history of the vehicle without having to search through different records. Scheduling also helps to run more efficiently because you’ll be able to reserve vehicles for booked events and prepare in advance for the services required.
- Rules and Regulations – The rules, regulations, and policies of the fleet company must be clearly stated and well-defined. This will reduce 90 percent of the issues with staff. Some policies you should have, include a driver license policy requiring the driver to always have a valid license, driver checklist policy, maintenance policies, and purchasing policies.
- Technological Innovation – The most effective way to run a fleet is with the help of technology. We recommend using a mobility service that takes care of these tasks and allows you to place focus on the company instead of the logistical tasks. If you’re looking for a mobility service, check out bloxmove.ng for top-tier mobility services that are unmatched.