What Are a Fleet Manager’s Duties – How to Master Your Responsibilities
Those who really know it will tell you, that fleet management isn’t child’s play.
Fleet managers are crucial to a successful fleet, playing a vital role in its running, safety and profitability. If you’re trying to do this all by yourself, it could be quite the challenge. But with a fleet management system, your stormy day-to-day can turn into a smooth-sailing current.
Sound like music to fleet management ears? Well, let’s get you informed and equipped.
What is a fleet manager?
Each fleet has its own unique set of tasks and challenges, which is where fleet managers come in. A fleet manager is an individual who is responsible for managing a company’s fleet, along with all its aspects. Their main purpose is to ensure that the fleet remains safe, reliable, and efficient, and this is done through a range of responsibilities.
What are a fleet manager’s responsibilities?
Fleet managers are responsible for the overall running of the fleet. This may not sound like much but when you dive deeper into those responsibilities, you start to see, that it’s quite a handful of tasks:
1. Vehicle Acquisition:
Vehicle acquisition is a crucial responsibility of a fleet manager. It involves the process of obtaining, managing and maintaining a fleet of vehicles. This responsibility includes multiple stages, including vehicle selection, procurement, and the overseeing of vehicles that are essential for the company’s operations. Fleet managers must create a clear, well-thought-out acquisition plan to ensure the fleet saves time, money, and possible frustration. This crucial process also involves considering factors such as financing options and total cost of ownership.
The benefits of fleet vehicle acquisition include:
- Cost savings
- Environmental sustainability
- Improved brand reputation
- Enhanced productivity
2. Supervising fuel consumption and expenses:
Fuel is one of the most essential expenses in fleet management, with most fleets spending around 24% of their budget on fuel. Fleet managers need to effectively manage and identify effective ways to reduce fuel expenses. They should always be monitoring fuel consumption and looking for ways to decrease fuel expenses. This means they need to keep a close eye on each of their vehicle’s fuel consumption.
The benefits of supervising fuel consumption and expenses include:
- Lowered fuel consumption
- Improved fleet efficiency
- Increased profitability
3. Managing fleet maintenance schedules:
The managing of fleet management schedules involves developing a maintenance plan that outlines when each vehicle requires maintenance. This is based on multiple factors, including vehicle age, mileage and usage patterns. This means that fleet managers need to closely and frequently evaluate fleet vehicles to determine their individual maintenance needs, identify the maintenance tasks that each vehicle requires, and develop a maintenance schedule that clearly outlines when each of these maintenance activities needs to take place.
The benefits of managing fleet maintenance schedules include:
- Fleet and vehicle longevity
- Improved vehicle safety
- Improved driver retention
- Minimised downtime
- Reduced operating expenses
- Increased productivity
4. Tracking the fleet:
Tracking an entire fleet of vehicles is no easy feat. Vehicle tracking, which is crucial for fleet visibility, makes use of advanced technologies such as telematics and GPS to provide real-time monitoring and data-gathering about a vehicle’s location and performance.
The benefits of tracking your fleet include:
- Full and accurate fleet visibility
- Improved route planning
- Improved vehicle utilisation
- Improved driver safety
- Boost operational efficiency
The benefits of tracking your fleet include:
- Full and accurate fleet visibility
- Improved route planning
- Improved vehicle utilisation
- Improved driver safety
- Boost operational efficiency
5. Benchmarking fleet performance:
Fleet managers must regularly compare their fleet’s performance with industry benchmarks to help identify areas for improvement, ranging from fuel efficiency, maintenance costs and safety records, to driver productivity and uptime.
The benefits of benchmarking your fleet’s performance include:
- Identifying areas for improvement
- Improved goal setting
- Simplifying progress tracking
- Staying competitive
6. Networking with other fleet managers:
Fleet managers must be able to share best practices, learn from others’ experiences, and stay up-to-date on industry trends by networking with other fleet professionals. This can be done through industry associations, online forums, trade shows, and networking events.
The benefits of networking with other fleet managers:
- Learn from others’ successes and failures
- Stay up-to-date on industry trends
- Find new solutions to existing problems
- Build relationships with potential partners
7. Partnering with industry experts:
As a fleet manager, partnering with consultants and technology providers who can offer specialised expertise and support can be very helpful for implementing new technologies, improving efficiency, reducing costs, and complying with road and safety regulations.
The benefits of partnering with industry experts:
- Gaining access to specialised forms
- Reduced fleet cost
- Improved fleet efficiency
What makes a highly effective fleet manager?
Now that we’ve covered the responsibilities, what truly sets a fleet manager apart from the crowd? The answer is their effectiveness, and this is achieved by doing the following:
1. They embrace technological advancements:
As a fleet manager, it is important to understand that the purpose of technological advancements is to simplify and streamline your processes. Embracing technological advancements enhances the effectiveness of fleet managers. It provides them with the tools and capabilities to reduce costs and adapt to evolving industry trends. By leveraging advanced technology such as telematics, GPS technology, and fleet management software, fleet managers can gain real-time insights into the functioning of their fleet, grab a competitive edge, improve overall fleet performance, and drive business success.
2. They focus on fleet safety:
Prioritising safety ensures the well-being of your drivers, passengers, and other road users, fostering a culture of safety and responsibility within the organisation. This can be done by implementing a comprehensive fleet safety program, which encompasses various elements, including vehicle maintenance, fleet monitoring systems, and driver training programs designed to enhance the safety and efficiency of your drivers. When these measures are integrated with technology, fleet managers can obtain data-driven insights, helping them integrate safety into every facet of their fleet operations. By placing a strong emphasis on fleet safety, fleet managers can minimise accidents and protect drivers. According to the National Safety Council, drivers who have undergone training can reduce crashes by a staggering 50%.
3. They simplify vehicle maintenance
Simplifying vehicle maintenance is a hallmark of effective fleet management, as it leads to improved operational efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced safety. This process encompasses a range of crucial aspects that help fleet managers ensure that their fleet operates as smoothly as possible. By leveraging technological solutions such as cloud-based fleet management software, fleet managers can streamline the entire vehicle maintenance process, making it more efficient. This subsequently boosts a fleet’s fuel economy, reduces downtime, and extends vehicle lifespan. This means fleet managers can now focus on strategic planning and vehicle optimisation instead of dealing with constant vehicle issues.
4. They work to improve and simplify communication
We’ve all heard that “communication is key”, and this statement applies to fleet industries too. Clear communication not only ensures that team members understand their roles, responsibilities, and objectives, but it also helps in addressing issues promptly, whether it’s scheduling maintenance, or dispatching a second vehicle to ensure deliveries aren’t delayed. By maintaining convenient open lines of communication, fleet managers can quickly address challenges, provide support, and gather valuable feedback to make informed decisions and drive continuous improvement. Not only that, but effective communication within a fleet ensures that the fleet can easily adapt to new technologies. The byproduct of effective communication is streamlined operations, reduced costs, and fleet sustainability.
5. They are focused on data and insights
Focusing on data and insights empowers fleet managers to make informed decisions regarding vehicle usage, maintenance, and optimisation, enhance operational efficiency, and prioritise safety. By analysing data on various fleet metrics, including fuel consumption, mileage, and driver behaviours, fleet managers can quickly identify inefficiencies and implement strategies to improve overall fleet performance. Insights derived from this data enable proactive decision-making, such as implementing predictive maintenance strategies which can help reduce unplanned downtime and prevent costly breakdowns.
What are the benefits of investing in your fleet?
These responsibilities may seem like a lot for a fleet manager to have on their plate but when taken seriously, they can have a massive and direct impact on your fleet’s success, here are some rewards you can reap:
1. Reduced fleet costs
Reduce fuel consumption and maintenance expenses by investing in technologies that optimise vehicle utilisation (such as telematics and route optimisation software) and lower overall fleet costs. By coaching and training drivers on safe driving techniques, you can reduce the risk of car accidents. This also means you can eliminate fuel-wasting driving behaviour, lowering the amount of money your fleet has to spend on fuel. It has been found that drivers who are trained in fuel-efficient driving techniques can save their company up to 20% on fuel costs.
2. Increased productivity
Increase fleet productivity by investing in technologies that help reduce idle time, improve dispatching, optimise routes, and improve dispatching. This enhanced productivity leads to improved response times, better customer service, and an increase in profits. By leveraging data from this tech, informed decision-making is enabled, positively impacting fleet productivity.
3. Reduced turnover
Investing in your fleet through the implementation of fleet management solutions can significantly reduce drivers’ stress levels and improve job satisfaction. When employees see that their managers are investing in their safety, productivity, and mental well-being, loyalty to the company is fostered, resulting in driver retention.
Cartrack Namibia: The ideal no-brainer investment for your fleet
Cartrack Namibia brings you a wide range of solutions that are designed to simplify fleet management. Let’s explore these solutions, and how they can help make you a better fleet manager:
1. Cost management system (MiFleet)
No more guessing games when it comes to fleet costs. Know exactly how much money your fleet needs to run with Cartrack’s MiFleet software. This vehicle cost management software helps fleet managers keep track of all fleet expenses, including finance, fuel costs, and taxes. This means you can eliminate manual admin, spot cost leakages and stop human error.
2. Fuel monitoring:
Accurately track exactly how much fuel your fleet vehicles are consuming with Cartrack’s fuel monitoring system. By making use of a fuel sensor that is installed in your vehicle’s tank, you can keep a close eye on your vehicle’s fuel consumption. However, our fuel monitoring system goes beyond real-time visibility into fuel usage, it also matches fuel transactions, which is crucial in helping you spot potential fuel theft.
3. AI cameras:
Always keep a close eye on driver behaviour with Cartrack’s Live Vision AI cameras. We offer you cloud-connected video management software that gives you access to real-time driver behaviour alerts by making use of in-cabin cameras and AI analysis. This next-level technology can identify dangerous driving behaviours such as cell phone use, yawning, speeding, and smoking. When these behaviours are detected, in-cabin audible alerts immediately notify your drivers, allowing them to correct their behaviour in real time.
4. GPS Tracking:
Know exactly where your entire fleet is at all times with Cartrack’s live GPS tracking. By giving you real-time location updates, our solution gives you total fleet control, letting you know exactly when, where, and how your vehicles were used. It also provides you with key performance metrics such as total idle time and the distance travelled, giving you full insight into your fleet’s trips. This helps you improve fleet efficiency, promote driver safety, and optimise vehicle performance.
5. Preventative vehicle maintenance:
Say goodbye to unplanned downtime and costly breakdowns with Cartrack’s preventative vehicle maintenance. Our preventative maintenance software makes use of a combination of artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to spot potential vehicle maintenance issues before they become costly and dangerous. By analysing vehicle performance, our software can send you alerts about maintenance-related issues, such as low water and oil levels, engine faults, and worn-out brake pads. This helps you avoid costly future repairs, keep your vehicles healthy for longer, and save money.
6. Delivery app
Improve your fleet’s delivery task efficiency with Cartrack Delivery. This feature-rich solution is designed to optimise and streamline delivery operations for both managers and drivers. This app gives you access to a wide range of fleet benefits, including delivery route optimisation, real-time view of all deliveries, and eliminating excess paperwork. This leads to faster task and delivery completion, improved productivity, and happier customers.
Space for fleet manager tips
Top 8 tips to help you be the best fleet manager
Here are our top 8 tips you can implement to elevate your fleet management:
- Use a telematics system: Streamline the monitoring of your vehicle’s location, performance, and driver behaviour in real-time, and provide real-time alerts for vehicle diagnostics.
- Prioritise driver safety: Promote fleet safety by tracking driver behaviour such as speeding, harsh braking, and distracted driving, and use this data to provide comprehensive driver training.
- Optimise your routes: Keep your routes as short and deviation-free as possible, which minimises fuel consumption and ensures on-time deliveries. Use a system that considers factors such as real-time traffic and weather conditions.
- Keep your vehicles well-maintained: Implement an effective maintenance plan that helps you pre-empt repairs and gives you real-time alerts of any vehicle faults.
- Leverage data analytics: Make use of data analytics on fuel consumption, maintenance costs, and driver performance to identify fleet trends, optimise your operations, and most importantly, make data-driven decisions.
- Keep team morale and stability high: Retaining a stable team is important for effective fleet management, as it improves job satisfaction, overall productivity and efficiency. Putting your driver’s safety and well-being first will improve your fleet’s driver retention.
- Think of your entire business when making decisions: The decisions you make can impact your drivers, customers, and those outside your business. For example, choosing to keep your vehicles maintained, safe and roadworthy can protect your drivers, other motorists and your business’s brand image.
- Always communicate with your team: Good communication puts all team members on the same page. Keeping your team in the loop with new schedules, route updates and job changes, all in real time, can help you drastically improve productivity and avoid delays.
Who better to help you implement these tips than Cartrack?
Master your fleet management duties and responsibilities with Cartrack’s solutions
While being a fleet manager is no child’s play, it doesn’t have to be a struggle. As seen above, our solutions are just the trick you need up your sleeve to turn your fleet management expectations into expertise.
Contact Cartrack Namibia today to get a free quote.
