Back in the day, businesses managed their vehicle fleets by phone. Dispatchers did their best to manually map routes and follow up by telephone. Yes, there was a time before pagers, walkie-talkies, and CB radios, let alone cell phones and global positioning systems (GPS).

But, without revisiting that history, you find yourself in a world full of technology tools able to locate and communicate in real time with widespread fleets of cars, truck, construction equipment, and more.

The role of fleet management

You might consider a business that has fleet vehicles all over a large state’s highways. Rather than depend on local road service providers, the business wants to control the care and maintenance of its fleet when and where they need it.

Their vehicles are sophisticated, and the business wants them in the hands of their certified mechanics. So, they have a support fleet of service vehicles that they dispatch to fix their primary vehicles where they need it.

Now, the fleet manager has responsibility for tracking, diagnostics, fuel management, and personnel assignments. The manager must update the owners on vehicle location and condition.

The fleet manager must assure the reliability and availability of a cost-effective transportation system. The position will also record and confirm compliance with agency rules and regulations.

Ian Linton, writing for Chron.com, describes the job as managing and maintaining the right vehicles “so that the company can meet its distribution objectives efficiently and cost-effectively. They have considerable operational experience in logistics and vehicle maintenance, and use fleet management software to track and monitor the various aspects of fleet and driver operations.”

 

The benefit of GPS software

Needless to say, fleet managers need software to collect, store, and sort their various tasks. There are a score or more software programs to do their administrative work, and some work better than others.

But, GPS satellite tracking ups the performance standards. Systems GPSTrackit uses its global satellite capability to track and communicate vehicle position 24/7 anywhere between 75° N to 75° S even where cell phone reception is unreliable.

Using laptops, tablets, or smartphones, managers can monitor vehicles in real time from remote locations throughout 80% of the earth’s surface.

 

The values in comprehensive fleet management software

If you want the best for your business, fleet, and your own accountability as Fleet Manager, you should look for key features.

Cloud-based technology will improve your work, expand your storage, and update with growth, and you can make its contents accessible to any authorized user.

Access across platforms increases its use and value to more participants, an easy way to increase the return-on-investment.

Global positioning and cloud-technology assures you constant connection and coverage. Customizable and selective reports give you and your owners the needed analytics on historical vehicle performance and on future needs.

Two way communication by voice and text is vital, especially in cases of emergency. And, you need training for drivers and managers.

 

The future of fleet management

As Mary Searl Bell says in LocalGovernmentMag.com, “Technology has a huge role to play in future fleet management. From the traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, to electric vehicles and driverless cars, to GPS fleet management solutions, there are many options in the mix.”

In any business dependent on its logistics, fleet managers play key roles. They select and maintain the vehicles needed to deliver product and service within corporate budget. They have long had to excel in people management, vehicle mechanics, operational logistics, and now the GPS tracking technology that makes a difference.

• Technology