If you are in the logistics and transportation industry, you already know the importance of fleet management. It involves supervising, maintaining, and optimising a company’s fleet to ensure it operates at peak efficiency. In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of fleet management cannot be overemphasised, as it allows organisations to better manage their resources, reduce costs, and improve productivity.

This includes driver management as well. Drivers are an essential asset for fleets, and it is vital for any fleet organisation that their drivers should perform efficiently. They are responsible for delivering goods and services to customers, managing schedules, and ensuring the safe operation of the vehicles.

However, remotely managing drivers can be challenging as admins don’t know how their drivers perform on roads. Fleet managers are often faced with the task of ensuring that their drivers are performing efficiently while at the same time dealing with other aspects of fleet management, such as maintenance, fuel management, and compliance.

According to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), companies have to deal with multiple driver issues–the top being driver compensation, followed by fuel prices, HOS rules, driver training standards, and much more.

However, fleet tracking solutions address these challenges and help fleet managers with abundant data, that too in real-time. Fleet trackers use GPS technology to monitor the location and movement of vehicles in real-time. This technology gives fleet managers a comprehensive view of their fleet, allowing them to make informed decisions about their drivers.

Here’s how fleet trackers can improve drivers’ productivity and overall business operations.

Monitor Driving Behaviour

Drivers’ safety is directly related to their productivity. If they are always safe and sound, they perform with the highest efficiency. For example, if they overspeed, they can get into accidents and hamper their productivity. However, with the help of fleet tracking software, managers can monitor driving behaviour like speeding, hard braking, cornering, etc., in real-time.

Fleet trackers send real-time alerts to fleet managers on such driving behaviours and fix any issue instantly. Moreover, fleet tracking solutions provide all the information drivers need, such as navigation, customer details, data on engine and fuel, etc., to avoid distraction and simply focus on driving. Fleet managers can focus on drivers and provide extra training to improve their driving skills. Ensuring a safe fleet is one of the ways to enhance drivers’ productivity and retain them.

Vehicle Maintenance

Having a safe fleet depends on two aspects–proper driving practices and well-maintained vehicles. The latter can affect drivers’ performance and efficiency, as even one breakdown can affect the entire day’s operations. Drivers have to waste a lot of time on the road until the problem is solved, causing delays. And if vehicles are not serviced regularly, it can lead to accidents and put drivers at risk.

Vehicle tracking systems help fleet managers with preventive maintenance schedules to ensure fleet managers never miss a maintenance appointment. Fleet trackers monitor vehicle health and alert fleet managers of even a minor malfunction, helping them put vehicles in repair, alleviate risks, and maintain drivers’ efficacy. This ensures drivers have access to reliable vehicles and reduces waiting time for repairs.

HOS Compliance

When employees work hourly, calculating and managing their service hours is critical. And when we talk about the long-haul fleet, Hours of Service (HOS) compliance is indispensable. Perhaps, it could be pretty strenuous for drivers to manually comply with the newly updated HOS regulations.

Thanks to fleet trackers, drivers no longer have to worry about HOS issues as these systems automatically track on and off-duty hours. It also automates the entire process of complying with the FMCSA requirements required for pre and post-trip inspections.

Even the geofence feature can tell you when the driver left the premises for work, which vehicles are used, and by whom. That way, you can compare the HOS and geofence reports for more accuracy.

Better Communication

Earlier, communicating with drivers during trips was daunting– drivers would have to call managers, but talking while driving is risky, too. However, the fleet tracker’s real-time location can help fleet managers know the drivers’ exact whereabouts and assign work accordingly.

By monitoring the location of vehicles in real-time, fleet managers can identify opportunities to optimise driver schedules. For example, if a driver has completed their deliveries for the day and is close to a pickup location, fleet managers can send the driver to pick up additional items. This can improve the driver’s efficiency and reduce the required trips.

Likewise, optimised routes ensure drivers don’t have to wait in traffic and congestion and reach their destination at the earliest, improving their productivity.

No more calling managers for routes or issues; vehicle tracking systems provide all information at your fingertips. Also, the two-way communication feature enables drivers to contact administrators immediately in emergencies and problems.

Wrapping Up

Your drivers are your biggest asset, and fleet operations will go smoothly if they perform with the highest efficiency. Fleet tracking software makes monitoring drivers’ productivity easy and provides data that can improve overall operations.