Fleet management and precautions Coronavirus

2020-03-22T23:00:00.000Z

The global spread of the coronavirus is a tragic event with uncertainty and many complications. The economic impact of this pandemic is now being felt through multiple channels and affecting several sectors of activity, including the logistics and transportation sector.

As we continue to serve and support our clients, in this article we will explore some of these implications and how preparation can mitigate the downside.

The implications of coronavirus on fleet management

Today, the majority of transportation companies are facing a decline in demand, this global pandemic has created uncertainty, which has led government and public health authorities to act to mitigate its spread.

Due to the wide spread of viruses and the lack of containment, its strong evolution has disrupted our daily functioning. It has slowed down production, limited gatherings and shaken the world economy.*

The economic downturn can be felt by companies almost immediately. When it comes to COVID-19 and fleet management, being preventive rather than reactive will reduce compounding problems and provide the desired peace of mind.

For fleet managers, this is a time of concern that requires solutions to clarify transportation operations, prudent safety measures and a detailed understanding of expenses.

With a globally connected economy, the coronavirus has impacted the supply chain. The supply of goods has contracted significantly due to the shutdown of production, which logically means that trucking capacity to ship and deliver goods will decrease, so freight rates may vary with the current increased demand for certain goods. However, this change will be beneficial for fleets whose services are running very well despite the virus.

Indeed, concerns persist in the fleet industry about a decline in work. Construction jobs could slow as potential customer budgets tighten, and service fleets could potentially experience downtime due to demand.

There are also drawbacks to the supply chain constraint for many fleets. The importance of maintaining appropriate inventory levels is magnified. Necessary parts and tools may experience shipping delays. At the same time, you need to ensure that you are stocked with adequate parts to withstand a potential delivery delay.

To prevent the risk of stock outs, an inventory management software is the most reliable and efficient solution. You will have an overview of all your inventory levels and associated costs. You can create custom alerts to notify you when critical inventory levels are approaching to combat stock-outs. This can be automated and managed from anywhere and from any device.

Take a proactive approach to addressing downtime

During this troubling time, business demand may temporarily slow down, regardless of the sector your fleet operates in.

To make the most of this current crisis, seize the opportunity to focus on the efficiency of your business. Regardless of the impact of COVID-19, your assets are the lifeblood of your organization.

Your approach to fleet management should always be proactive, not reactive. This goes beyond maintenance and expense control and includes your preparations for your team during a crisis.

Any slowdown or interruption in daily operations allows you to assess maintenance needs and possibly perform preventive maintenance ahead of schedule. When we return to a somewhat normal situation, you'll be ready to send your fleet out knowing the assets are operating at full capacity.

Prepare and protect employees

Safety and hazard prevention are top priorities for any business. Driving a vehicle in this current situation is a dangerous task and the existential threat of COVID-19 only supports it.

Sanitation and cleanliness are two safety measures that lead to sustainability and reduce unnecessary risk.

Work environments should always minimize hazards and provide sanitary facilities to meet all workers' needs.

If your operations teams meet with a customer or supplier, make sure they have the necessary equipment, such as gloves, masks, hygienic wipes and other protective clothing.

Encourage good hygiene and ensure that "operators have the necessary sanitary supplies to disinfect their vehicles before and after use. This includes touch points such as dashboards, controls, steering wheels and handles. This should be included in their daily vehicle inspection reports. Standardizing these measures will help combat the spread of any virus, now or in the future. Remember, the best defense is a good offense.

It's more important than ever for your customers to trust you and your brand. Your service must be reliable, timely and fully delivered. DIGIPARC provides you with the tools you need to optimize the use of your assets and deal with the circumstances we face today. Of course, our cloud-based system only requires login credentials, so you are not tied to a desktop computer and can access your fleet dashboard from anywhere, or even work from home.