Fleet management is everything to do with managing a fleet. Tracking the vehicles, managing assets, maintaining compliance-- all of this falls under the fleet manager’s umbrella. It is a very demanding job and has a lot of moving parts. Luckily, many technologies today make a fleet manager’s job easier, including fleet management software, so a fleet manager doesn’t have to keep track of everything themselves. We will go over all of the parts of fleet management here.
Fleet tracking is an essential part of fleet management. Knowing where the fleet is at all times is vital to operations. Real-time GPS fleet trackers that connect with a manager’s fleet management software make this easy to do. These GPS trackers are easy to install onto vehicles, assets, and equipment and allow fleet managers to see on a map where everything is. They can even set up dispatching and assign technicians or workers to specific jobs right from their computers, without having to make a phone call or disturb a driver on the road. Fleet managers want to avoid micromanaging and distracting their workers, so fleet tracking software is a must-have so they can do their jobs without having to be in constant contact with their workforce.
Keeping track of assets is one challenging part of fleet management. This process used to be done with pen and paper, but now fleet managers often utilize asset trackers to track their assets. This technology not only prevents assets from getting stolen but it keeps them from sitting unused in a warehouse when they’re unneeded. It also prevents accidental double-purchasing of equipment or items. Staying on top of assets saves money for the company and is a vital part of fleet management.
Making sure the fleet is safe is a significant part of a fleet manager’s job. Fleet safety may involve implementing safety features such as telematics and dash cams. Whenever one of these systems alerts the manager of an issue with a driver, such as distracted or erratic driving, they must then follow up with the driver to ensure that they are fit to continue on their route or provide in-cab coaching. Accidents can cost companies thousands of dollars, so fleet managers must do all they can to prevent them from happening.
There are many federal regulations that fleets must observe. The fleet manager must ensure that their vehicles and drivers stay ahead of these regulations. One way is by ensuring they have telematics installed on all of their vehicles. Another way is by having drivers complete pre- and post-trip inspections. Keeping the fleet compliant will save the company thousands in fines or lost revenue by being placed out of service
A fleet manager needs to have robust fleet management software. Azuga’s fleet management software is a state-of-the-art resource that connects telematics, dash cams, and more to create a comprehensive view of your fleet at any time. Reach out to Azuga today to speak with an expert to find out what we can do for you and your fleet.
Dispatch software is a lifesaver when it comes to organizing your dispatch process and keeping operations streamlined. It offers a variety of features that make daily procedures so much easier, from fleet tracking to reports that help businesses make decisions. What features does dispatch software offer, and how do these features benefit fleets? We will break this down for you.
It is easy to assign and monitor jobs with dispatch software because it uses fleet tracking. Fleet tracking allows you to assign jobs to crews in the field. If you need a lead technician for a job, it’s simple to attach that lead tech to any job you need. You can even sort jobs based on their status, whether they’re one-time, recurring, or multi-day, or based on urgency.
When workers finish jobs, they can mark the job as complete on their end. This way, you can know when each job concludes and when your technician moves on to their next task.
Back and forth calls between technicians and managers are no longer a problem. With dispatch software, you simply input the job you want your technicians to address. Your technicians access it from their phones and know what to do from there. When they’re done, they can mark it complete and view their next job right away. They can track their time, update their schedules, and input notes all while on the go. Everything you need to know will be on your screen when you need to know it, no need to track the information down.
Dispatch software can improve your business’s customer service reputation in a variety of ways. Firstly, GPS tracking allows for route optimization software, which gets your technicians to their destinations quickly and efficiently. No more late technicians making your customers wait. Furthermore, dispatch software allows you to assign technicians to customers they already know, building an improved relationship with your business. And with all of your customer information in one place, it’s easy to respond to disputes and issues in a timely and personal manner.
All of your client and order information is available in a field service CRM that details everything you need to know about your customers and the jobs you’ve done for them.
Azuga offers state-of-the-art dispatch software that your business is sure to benefit from every single day. These benefits will improve your fleet’s daily operations, boost customer service, and maximize productivity among your workers. These features and more bring your fleet to its maximum potential, allowing you to focus on making important decisions to help the business grow and thrive. Find out everything you can do with dispatch software by trying out a free demo today. You’re certain to be impressed with the improvements.
A multi-drop route planner is a process that plans a route for a driver to make more than two deliveries in multiple locations. It uses vehicle routing software to collect and analyze thousands of data points and determine the best delivery route. This route planning software can plan, re-route, and reschedule without causing any danger to the driver, environment, or business. It considers many factors, such as the number of distribution centers, warehouses, or residential areas a driver has to visit, resource availability, and driver safety.
The route optimization software tracks the vehicle while factoring in when deliveries need to arrive. Of course, a human being should ensure that everything has been planned out properly, but the process should be automatic. Both this person and the system should look at distances, travel time, and fuel consumption.
Once a route is set, the route optimization software compiles data to choose the best vehicle and driver depending on the delivery. It uses data based on the route and the client’s needs. At this point, it also considers the driver’s hours and weather conditions to determine how much time is needed. These systems need to work in real-time to ensure that managers and clients can connect with up-to-date information.
There are various benefits to multi-drop route planning. It maximizes productivity, keeps fuel costs low, promotes driver safety, and helps businesses stay compliant with federal driver hour regulations. Your business will save money by using its drivers effectively and not using as much fuel.
If you’re looking for this software, you don’t need to search any further! Azuga’s route optimization software allows for multiple stops. It provides the best routes based on historical data, traffic conditions, weather conditions, and machine learning that helps it create the best routes for you in real-time. See what you can do with route planning software by trying out a demo today!
If you manage a fleet, you probably already understand the delicate dance that is fleet dispatching. If not, you may not realize just how crucial this process is to the success of any fleet-based business.
Simply put, fleet dispatching is the process by which commercial fleet drivers are sent out into the field to make deliveries, service customers, and handle other business-related tasks. But it involves so much more than simply telling drivers, “you go there.” Good fleet dispatching may also involve considerations for traffic conditions, road hazards, driver skill sets, customer preferences, and onboard equipment. When done correctly, it’s a skillful juggling act that helps a business reach its daily goals. When poorly handled, it can be a disaster for all concerned.
A fleet dispatcher is a person in charge of scheduling and arranging dispatch for a commercial fleet. Small fleets may have a single dispatcher to manage all calls, while larger enterprise fleets may employ an entire team.
A fleet dispatcher must clearly understand schedules and routes, job proficiencies, fuel management, fleet maintenance, and regulations related to hours of service and other fleet compliance issues. A good fleet dispatcher knows the drivers in the fleet well and can anticipate their scheduling needs and which jobs they are most suited to handle. Fleet dispatchers must be masters of communication and have elite organizational skills.
Fleet dispatching is as much an art as a science, and it can be overwhelming at times. The best way to support the fleet dispatchers on your team is to give them tools and technology that make the job easier. Fortunately, Azuga offers the answers to all of your fleet dispatching conundrums.
Our GPS Fleet Tracking software can keep track of all the vehicles in your fleet along with large equipment and other assets. Dispatchers can use this information to see which vehicles are nearby when a job pops up. What’s more, we offer top-notch route optimization tools to help guide drivers around road construction, accidents, and other hazards that might prevent them from getting to their destination on time. We can even help you schedule routine maintenance, promote road safety, and automatically deliver dispatch notifications to drivers in the field.
Learn about all the ways Azuga Fleet can help your commercial fleet stay productive and efficient while simplifying maintenance schedules and creating a culture of safety on the road. Schedule an Azuga demo today!