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For UK logistics companies, it’s important to stay competitive. Considering an efficient fleet is the backbone of an operator’s business, how can fleet managers in the UK logistics industry further improve their strategy to get the optimum efficiency from their fleet? Here are some fleet management tips.
Implement Preventative Maintenance
Unscheduled vehicle maintenance can cause delays and be costly. By setting up a maintenance schedule based on mileage and condition data, managers can work to quickly address potential problems before they get out of hand. This helps improve driver safety and reduces downtime, eventually increasing the working life of each vehicle and leading to a more efficient running of the business.
Optimise Route Planning and Scheduling
Planning ahead before your driver sets out on their trip is an effective way to save fuel. By tracking your vehicle in real-time, managers can help their drivers avoid congestion and traffic jams, especially in the UK’s large cities. In addition, staggered trip scheduling can also help avoid peak-hour traffic, leading to less driver stress.
Prioritise Driver Training and Safety
Zoning out regular training for your drivers is important in ensuring safety and compliance with UK laws. Driver training can also help to avoid accidents and improve your overall business efficiency. By educating drivers on best practices and safe driving, managers can increase company compliance and build a comprehensive company culture.
Use Real-Time Tracking for Visibility
With telematics and GPS, managers have a ton of data at their disposal. Real-time visibility of your fleet allows you to check on your vehicle location and condition and follow the trip assigned to each vehicle. This data can provide key insights into areas for improvement while also allowing businesses to avoid delays for their clients.
Manage Compliance and Documentation
The fleet management industry is well regulated and non-compliance can have a severe financial impact. With a compliance tracker, fleet managers can keep track of the status of their vehicles e.g. vehicle checks, driver hours, etc. and all relevant accompanying documentation. By managing compliance, fleet managers can quickly become aware of when vehicles are not compliant and avoid putting the business at risk of costly repercussions. In addition, automating and streamlining documentation systems can help save time and boost operational productivity.
Measure Success with Clear KPIs
Predefined KPIs will help managers track fleet success and adapt strategies for better results. Measuring the cost of fuel or vehicle maintenance will make for a useful comparison and will allow managers to quickly click in when a particular value deviates. Managers can make more informed decisions and focus their attention on areas that will deliver results that benefit the business’s overall performance.
Enhancing Efficiency and Driving Success
Strategic fleet management is key to the success of any business in the UK looking to operate in a competitive sector. By implementing the tools to build an agile and robust fleet, such as data analysis, route planning and driver training, you’re on track to the compressive delivery of your vehicles. With reputable companies like Radius Limited on hand to help buy fleet software, you can deliver a reliable fleet operation that will keep up with client expectations as well as have room for continued growth.
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