Time is of the essence for fleet vehicles. They have huge logistical undertakings and only so many hours to get to all the places they need to be.
Laws need to be followed too. Drivers must take care not to be on the roads longer than necessary, with rules changing depending on the vehicles being used. Hurried schedules can also lead to stressed drivers taking liberties on the road. Therefore, time management for a fleet is more than delivering goods on time – it’s also about road users’ safety.
Of course, saving a few seconds here and there can make a difference in making a fleet driver’s schedule more efficient. Here are some ways their time management techniques can be improved.
Utilise Tachograph Analysis Software
As has been mentioned, complete compliance is required regarding driver’s hours. There’s no room for oversights on this.
Limited awareness around driver’s hours can be overcome with tachograph analysis software available in the UK. For instance, this tachograph tool from FleetGO can help you avoid penalties, optimise your planning, and improve your drivers’ safety. It can be accessed with either standalone or integrated versions and help you keep a secure legal archive of .ddd files to detect working hours infringements easily.
There’s no reason to delay implementing these technological tools in your processes. After all, his tachograph analysis software can be trialled for free for 30 days. Try it and encourage others to do the same, debate and discuss findings with your drivers and fleet managers, and collaborate on utilising this software to its utmost potential.
Re-Evaluate Maintenance Logistics
Vehicles can depreciate rather rapidly, mostly because they develop problems as they age. While casual road users can get away with meeting these problems as they come, businesses overseeing a fleet must get ahead of them wherever they can.
Compliance also matters around maintaining your fleet. Maintenance technicians should be scheduled in advance. Have all your warranty information close to hand. If vehicle faults appear out of the blue, the experts can be notified immediately.
Gauge how fast the technicians respond. It’s also a good idea to double-check that the maintenance technicians have fixed whatever issue was present in your vehicle before sending it back out on the road. Don’t suffer delays and look for a better service if you’re not satisfied.
Revisit Route Planning
Many drivers pre-plan their routes, but the factors they use to do so aren’t always wholly legitimate. Some may plan a route that’s faster on paper but doesn’t account for unique circumstances like traffic jams and roadworks.
Due to mounting costs, some fleet drivers may only be authorised to refuel at certain stations. As the Prime Minister was going to expose stations not passing the duty cuts, it may be worth further investigating to see which ones have. That way, fleet drivers don’t need to try and chaotically find somewhere more affordable at the eleventh hour.
Context is king when planning a route. Many drivers even had to consider pandemic restrictions when lockdowns were underway. Your drivers should have many different variables in mind when pre-planning their travel; where they can pull over for sleep (if required), ways they can avoid the latest traffic disruptions, and what the weather is like before or during their driving.
