Fleet managers certainly have a lot of responsibilities to fulfill within their company. These responsibilities include managing drivers, fuel, fleet maintenance, delivery schedules and more. However, a vehicle tracking system offers several benefits and also performs many critical tasks that will help fleet managers increase fleet profitability, reduce costs and improve driver safety.
Methods by which vehicle tracking reduces fuel costs
Speeding
In fleet management, one of the biggest expenses is the cost of fuel. Vehicles whose speed increases from 90 Km/H to 120 Km/H per hour can cost a 39% increase in fuel consumption.
With GPS trackers, your fleet managers have full access to the activities of each vehicle. They are able to monitor which of your drivers regularly exceed speed limits when arriving at their respective destinations. By regularly monitoring and communicating with your drivers via phone calls, text messages and email alerts, your fleet manager will be able to regulate your drivers' behavior. They can also improve overall performance by implementing disciplinary measures whenever an infraction occurs.
Mapping
Driving a vehicle to and from a destination can become a very repetitive job due to the long driving hours and the familiarity of the roads and streets. To cope with repetition, some drivers manipulate their route plans by taking other routes. Driving on these roads sometimes makes the journey longer, causing the vehicle to use more fuel. Additionally, it causes unnecessary delays which negatively impact the quality of service.
With a vehicle tracking system, fleet managers are able to monitor the exact location of drivers in real time. They will be able to plan an efficient route while ensuring the driver stays on the road.
Slow motion
Idling is another activity that can cost your fleet in terms of fuel consumption. For those new to the practice, idling is the activity when drivers stop at a truck stop and leave their vehicle in neutral. With GPS tracking systems, fleet managers can easily spot vehicles that have stopped en route. They can also detect if the vehicle's engine has been left running and can easily contact the driver to take necessary action.
