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With many businesses still trying to recover from Covid while simultaneously navigating through the current economic climate, efficiencies need to be made where possible.
One area where this can be done significantly is with the fleet operations. Whether your business has a whole host of commercial vehicles and specialist machinery or just a couple of company cars, consider the following:
Why Is Efficiency Important?
Environmental impact: An unorganised fleet business can cause an increase in unnecessary journeys, fuel usage, wear and tear, and repairs which can have detrimental effects on carbon footprint.
Logistical efficiencies: Many businesses rely on their fleet to meet deadlines and fulfil orders in a most efficient way. Without proper management, improved driver behaviour, dash cams, vehicle tracking, there can be significant delays which can cause dissatisfaction amongst customers and impact the ability to achieve internal targets.
Financial impact: Without planning, extra or inefficient journeys may be made, which can cause increased fuel costs. If deadlines are missed due to fleet inefficiencies, this may also result in customer fines or refund requests.
Fleet Management
The purpose of fleet managers is to oversee the performance and maintenance of vehicles.
If your business has a medium to large-sized fleet, you should hire someone specifically to manage this. A fleet manager will be able to track safety, cost, and compliance metrics, highlight areas to improve fleet efficiency and implement strategies to increase efficiencies.
In addition, you can also use fleet management software to track all necessary details, including fuel status, routing, real-time location updates, and incident reporting.
Maintenance
Vehicle maintenance is an essential element of fleet management. Regular preventive maintenance will ensure that all vehicles operate as they should and are fit for use.
Performing regular check-ups and staying up to date with all necessary MOT and service requirements is crucial for maintaining reliability and extending the longevity of your fleet.
Reducing Idle And Downtime
Idling is awful for fuel efficiency when a vehicle is not being used. From running the engine while the vehicle isn’t in use or having it frequently breaking down, your fleet’s efficiency could be improved.
Getting run-flat tyres for your vehicles can help to reduce downtime. If a puncture or flat is to be acquired, these tyres will allow the driver to reach their destination, where it can then be dealt with, avoiding breakdown calls or lengthy delays.
It is also a good idea to improve driver performance with sufficient training to avoid issues that can lead to downtime and raise awareness of why being excessively idle is detrimental to operating costs.
Fuel Cards
A fuel card is a cost effective method of payment used by drivers that allows businesses to track spending, fuel consumption, limit usage, and reduce admin and accounting costs to improve fleet efficiency. If you have lots of drivers refuelling regularly, then it is a proactive way to introduce the usage of these.
