Creating an Effective Fleet Strategy in Any Economic Climate

As your fleet takes a comprehensive view of the future, keeping a close watch on your competitors and the industry as a whole is important. The pressure to maintain your edge on the rest of your competitors can lead to poorly timed decisions and uncertainty. It’s important to look at every aspect of your fleet operations and establish a few priorities first.

Operating a successful truck fleet requires an examination of cost, willingness to adapt and an unerring focus on customer service. Your fleet can stay focused on strategic growth and succeed in any economic condition, but consider these three factors when taking the next step:

Your Drivers

What will always be your most vital commodity? Your drivers. Ensuring the safety of your drivers and examining their daily challenges on the road – idle time, parking issues, etc. – can keep them happy. Balancing their goals with deadlines, hours of service (HOS regulations) and contracts is difficult.

Fleets need to become more focused on certain key issues in order to compete and retain drivers. Especially for smaller fleets, the recruitment process can be a challenge. Giving them added benefits beyond a salary and job security can increase loyalty and keep them invested in your fleet.

New technology services available on the market have improved the drivers’ ability to get the job done right the first time. With FleetDocs, our drivers have been able to use their smartphones to take images of their paperwork and documentation, and transmit them without the need for a scanner or other office equipment. That can save a great deal of time – and money – for both drivers and accounting.

Trucks and Equipment

Usually, one of the first signs of difficulty for a fleet is the inability to keep up with maintenance of your trucks. Maintaining your trucks and equipment is essential to your strategy. You need to have maintenance plans based on the number and the types of trucks you own, with an outline how trucks will be repaired or replaced. Failing to have a timetable may put you in the situation of using a truck with reduced safety or efficiency.

Many fleet owners are gauging their drivers’ time on the road through the use of telematics. WEX Telematics, for example, gives you the opportunity to monitor driver behavior and develop better route planning. That, in turn, leads to less time on the road – a significantly lesser burden for both your drivers and your trucks.

The Environment

Even as fuel costs have stabilized after a huge spike in 2008, fleets continue to emphasize efficiency in order to trim their budgets. Planning for your fleet must include long-term strategies for improving fuel economy and lowering emissions throughout your fleet. Many fleets are using or are considering the use of alternative fuel or electric vehicles. That trend will continue into the future.

Now, some tips to put this plan in place:

• Create a timeline with both short- and long-term goals. The trucking industry changes quickly – government standards, technology, etc. – and you need the opportunity to adjust and move in a different direction if necessary.
• Seek input. Ask your drivers, fellow industry professionals and others who may be able to provide insight into your fleet management strategies.
• Get everyone involved. From drivers to management to back-office staff, make sure that your entire fleet feels empowered to share their ideas for the benefit of the team. Also: Collaboration with trucking industry leaders can help you to learn new opportunities and improve efficiency.

Ultimately, your fleet should rely on core values of safety, integrity and dependability. Creating a fleet-management strategy built on these values coupled with a focus on cost, adaptability and customer service will benefit both drivers and customers alike.

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