Usage Based Insurance
Introduction
Usage-based insurance (UBI) is an insurance policy that varies its costs based on driver behavior. The insurer inspects data collected by the vehicle and determines what discounts a driver can receive. The more safe behaviors and safety measures a fleet has in place, the better deals they can obtain on their insurance.
What Do Insurers Measure?
Insurers obtain their information from a vehicle’s telematics system. The data they are looking for concerns how many miles the car has driven, where it goes, and hard driving behaviors such as rapid acceleration, hard braking, hard cornering, and airbag deployment. This behavioral aspect allows fleets to implement safety measures such as dash cams, GPS tracking, and in-cab coaching to show their insurers that they encourage safe driving.
Types of Policies
With the growing popularity of UBI, different variations have come out of the woodwork. One of these variations is the Pay As You Drive (PAYD) model, or distance-based insurance, which charges based on how many miles a driver travels. Such a program is not ideal for fleets as they travel many miles every day. However, many people find it perfect for their personal use. Pay As You Go insurance is similar, except drivers pay a fixed rate at the beginning of the year and then a smaller amount based on how many miles they travel.
Pay How You Drive (PHYD) is a better model for fleets, as it charges based on how safely drivers get from Point A to Point B. Implementing safety features and coaching drivers to engage in safe behaviors is critical.
Advantages of UBI
The number one advantage of usage-based insurance is that insurers can price premiums more accurately based on what they will be paying out for a driver’s risks. Furthermore, it incentivizes drivers to drive more safely and implement telematics systems for their vehicles. The more cars driving carefully out on the road, the fewer accidents there will be. Both the customer and the insurer will save money.
When accidents occur, insurers can use a vehicle’s telematics to determine what truly happened at the time of the accident. This data can prevent fraud and help accurately calculate fault and damages to the car or truck. Telematics data is a significant asset to both the insurer and the customer.
Technologies to Implement
Telematics
Telematics is the critical component in calculating usage-based insurance. It is how a vehicle communicates data to an outside source. All kinds of information can be tracked, including speed, location, fuel efficiency, HoS, and maintenance requirements. Telematics is beneficial for any fleet and is required to remain compliant with federal and state regulations.
GPS Tracking
GPS Tracking is a part of telematics, but it is crucial to have if a fleet wants usage-based insurance. Knowing a vehicle’s location reveals a lot to an insurer. It shows whether the driver frequents areas of high theft or crime. It also reassures the provider that the vehicle may be recovered if it is stolen.
Dash Cams
Dash cams are growing in popularity and for a good reason. Not only can they report if a driver is engaging in safe driving behaviors, but they can also serve as an irrefutable eye witness in the event of an accident. Insurers often offer discounts for dash cams since they can exonerate drivers in accidents and save both providers and fleets thousands of dollars every year.
Conclusion
UBI is an excellent choice for fleets, as long as they are willing to make the investment in equipment that makes their drivers safer. Many fleets have this equipment already, making the transition even more effortless. If you don’t or would like to upgrade, reach out to Azuga. We have the best in telematics and dash cam technology on the market today. As far as your insurance options, most major insurance carriers have some form of UBI, so reach out to your preferred carrier today to discuss your next steps.
Fleet Dispatching
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.
Assign and Monitor Jobs
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.
Easier Communication
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.
Improve Customer Service
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.
How to Get Dispatch Software
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.
Multi-Drop Route Planning
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.
How Does Multi-Drop Route Planning Work?
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.
Benefits of Multi-Drop Route Planning
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.
Where to Get Multi-Drop Route Planning Software
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!
Fleet Dispatching
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.
What Is Fleet Dispatching?
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.
What Is a Fleet Dispatcher?
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 Dispatch Software from Azuga
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!