When you operate a business with a fleet of vehicles, efficiency is key. Of course, efficiency can sometimes come at the cost of safety or security. Poorly designed, one-off attempts at efficiency can even be inefficient if you do not know what you are measuring or how to achieve the goals you want to see. Technology can provide the solution. By optimising the use of tracking metrics, you can implement a successful programme to increase safety and efficiency within your fleet team.
Use Updated Technology
You may be accustomed to tracking drivers’ speed and time to destination, but the technology offers many more features now. Specifically, telematics can track drivers’ efficiency and safety, providing valuable data that can feed training programmes. Through tools like bus tracking software, these metrics can track the following:
- Driver speed
- Rate of harsh breaking or sharp cornering
- Noncompliance with hours of service
- Load and vehicle security
- Fuel consumption
- Equipment condition
- Maintenance diagnostics
Diversity of data collection is essential. Telematics provides the most value when it helps you assess equipment condition, driver behaviour, and system efficiency. A diverse collection of data provides multiple points that can combine to identify problems, such as distracted or fatigued driving.
Process Data Collection
Collecting the data is not enough. Too many fleet managers install software to track speed and other metrics without a plan to process or use the data. This inefficiency can lead to a lower return on investment for the software if it costs money to implement but does not yield measurable improvements.
Data analysis becomes a critical step in helping fleet teams find inefficiencies in route choice, driver behaviour, and equipment maintenance. Artificial intelligence tools can process large quantities of data quickly and provide solutions in the form of organised data insights. Managers can then assess the data collections, review highlights and data points that fall outside preferred norms, and identify causes of problems that they can solve.
Create Benchmarks
Improvement happens when you evaluate the data you collect from telematics systems and design benchmarks for growth. Drivers who habitually work beyond their designated hours may be trying to make up for an inefficient route, refuelling due to aggressive driving, or simply forgetting the time. Benchmarks to increase compliance with hours-of-service rules might start by reducing the percentage of noncompliance, then eventually eliminating compliance failures.
You should consider using similar benchmarking strategies to create goals for improvement in other ways. If your equipment is constantly breaking down or unexpectedly requiring maintenance, use tracking software to determine when you are most likely to need it. Then you can set a schedule to stay on top of upkeep, with benchmarks to measure your success.
Deploy Structured Plans
Creating benchmarks and other metrics will only lead to improvement if the plan is implemented effectively. Structured plans must be practical, useful, and helpful to the team; otherwise, you may struggle to persuade drivers to comply. If you have issues with drivers speeding or accelerating too rapidly, utilise a system that provides alerts and reminders to them to follow safe driving guidelines. Offer incentives for decreasing the frequency or number of these events, such as rewards or recognition.
Use the data to customise the programme for each member of the fleet. Few people learn from instructions that are so vague as to be inapplicable. Instead of telling a driver impersonally that they need to drive more safely, point to data showing they need to slow down or take corners more carefully.
These days, managing a successful fleet requires data. You can rely on data to help you find the most efficient route, cut down on your fuel expenses, and improve driver safety. With a robust programme to maximise efficiency in your management, you can create benchmarks to address your fleet’s pressing issues and personalise plans to improve individual driver behaviour.
