Fundamentals of fleet management

Fleets don’t run themselves. Commercial motor carriers, construction and utility companies, state and city agencies, public transit, school bus transportation—fleets come in all shapes, sizes, purposes and industries. Whatever your fleet looks like, making the most efficient, effective use of each vehicle and asset requires seeing it from a high level down to the details for each vehicle. And that requires smart fleet management technology.

Understand what fleet management is—and what fleet managers do.

Fleet management is the administrative process of overseeing fleet operations. Fleet managers monitor and manage the fleet, and are responsible for its overall performance, efficiency, productivity, utilization, route planning, and driver and operator performance.

Organize drivers, routes and vehicles.
Manage fuel consumption, efficiency habits and costs.
Reduce risk to the company, staff, drivers, operators and public.
Design and manage maintenance programs.
Coordinate maintenance and repairs.
Comply with applicable state and federal regulations.
Track fleet metrics and vehicle diagnostics.
Research and champion new fleet management technologies.

Simply put, fleet managers are tasked with keeping operations safe, while making the most of every resource to get the job done and keep the bottom line healthy. All while minimizing operating costs. For that, they need reliable, flexible fleet management technology.

What about fleet telematics?

Fleet telematics is a core component of fleet management. Telematics technology captures detailed vehicle data and uploads it to a secure, online portal. Using reliable fleet telematics to track vehicle location and usage enables fleet managers to make meaningful decisions based on objective, real-world data. Construction fleets in particular can make more efficient asset utilization decisions by using telematics data to track mixed fleets of assets and their usage multiple locations. Read more about what to look for in a telematics provider. Then contact us with questions.

Ensure fleet drivers and operators perform safely.

Safer drivers, fewer accidents, safer fleet. A quality fleet management solution supports fleet managers’ efforts to promote safe performance and measure their safety program’s effectiveness. Today’s fleet management are led by managers who prioritize safety as part of their fleet’s culture.

Understand why safety’s important.
Identify top unsafe driving behaviors.
Calculate how much reducing fleet accidents can save.
Include driving training technology as part of your fleet management solution.

Safety-minded fleet managers also take the time to look for a driver training solution that features a forward-facing dashcam. And that issues alerts so drivers can self-correct before they cause an accident.

Retain quality fleet drivers.

Fleet managers in every industry struggle with driver retention. Good drivers don’t like being ignored so fleet managers can focus on poor-performing drivers. Level the playing field so every driver is treated fairly, and you’ll have a fleet staffed with safe, reliable drivers.

Show a commitment to driver safety.
Provide well-maintained vehicles.
Empower drivers to take control of their own performance.
Implement a fleet gamification program to foster healthy competition.

As part of a modern fleet management approach, forward-thinking fleet managers also make drivers’ jobs easier by providing a flexible mobile platform. Contact us to learn what a mobile ecosystem for fleet management should look like for your fleet.

Comply with federal regulations.

ELD mandate for HoS

Certain fleets are subject to the ELD mandate, which requires drivers to use an electronic logging device (ELD) to record their hours of service (HoS). Soon, the Canadian ELD mandate will be in effect, and drivers who carry loads across that border will need to comply with both. For these carriers, their fleet management solution needs to include a tested, validated, FMCSA-approved ELD solution.

Make it easy for drivers to record and edit their hours of service.
Enable fleet managers to view and manage driver availability remotely, online.

Reach out to our dedicated Safety and Compliance team for help navigating the complexities of the ELD mandate. Your first consultation is complimentary.

PTASP Final Rule for public transit fleets

Public transit fleets need to incorporate safety plans into their fleet management processes. Effective July 19, 2019, the FTA requires certain public transit agencies and all rail transit operators to develop safety plans. Known as the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) Final Rule, this rule requires these safety plans to include processes, procedures and performance targets for a safety management system (SMS). Again, reach out to our dedicated Safety and Compliance team for expert guidance.

Choose the right smart fleet management solution.

Fleet management is a challenge. And basic solutions will help you get only so far. A leading smart fleet management solution is worth making a smart investment.

Flexible enough to fit your fleet.
Easy to use for authorized personnel from fleet manager to the back off to drivers and operators.
Able to paint you an accurate picture of fleet so you can make the most of every asset.

Technology alone won’t save the day. You need an established, leading smart fleet management company that understands your unique challenges and stands by its solutions to support you. If your current fleet management technology isn’t working to your standards, or your fleet has simply outgrown it, talk to a professional about filling in the gaps. About Zonar Founded in 2001, Zonar has pioneered smart fleet management solutions throughout vocational, pupil, mass transit and commercial trucking industries. Zonar’s mission is to enhance the safety, performance and success of our customers by transforming the delivery of innovative insights for commercial fleets around the world. Zonar achieves this by helping fleets of all sizes maximize the use of their assets with solutions dedicated to improving compliance, efficiency, maintenance, ridership visibility, safety and tracking. Cloud-based services with open APIs drive Zonar’s smart fleet solutions by making it easy for fleet owners and managers to stay connected to their fleets and drivers and operators to dispatch. Headquartered in Seattle and part of the Continental family, Zonar also has a Technology Development Center in downtown Seattle, a regional office in Cincinnati, and a distribution center outside of Atlanta. For more information about Zonar, go to www.zonarsystems.com