CURTAINSIDE TRAILER BLOG

5 Strategies for Fleet Managers to Remain Competitive

[fa icon="calendar"] Feb 9, 2016 9:30:00 AM / by Pete Johnson

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Fleet managers are a special breed.

Like the guy balancing spinning pie plates on a stick, the fleet manager always has something up in the air that requires immediate attention. Keeping a private fleet on the road represents the largest recurrent expense in many companies. Competition is more keen than ever in freight hauling, and the options to distinguish your fleet from one across town or across the country are limited. Today’s fleet manager isn’t “the guy in the garage” anymore. To hold the job, you need expertise in a variety of disciplines that extend beyond the fleet itself, like finance, operations and sales. To stay competitive in the 21st century, you need to remain agile and informed. Here are some suggestions for keeping those plates spinning:

  • Stay up to speed. One of the largest impacts on fleet operation in recent years has been “big data.” Telematics, where vehicle data including real-time location, routing and engine performance information are remotely monitored and analyzed to improve fleet performance and productivity, is here to stay. Telematics is continuously advancing and requires constant vigilance to keep up with the upgrades and stay on the cutting edge.
  • Right-size regularly. Unused trucks and trailers are money-wasters. As a fleet grows larger and/or the freight mix changes, the inventory of equipment sitting idle most of the time has a way of creeping up. That’s bad news for return on investment figures. Track and monitor usage and identify trailers or trucks that can be deployed more effectively or liquidated. Upgrading to curtainside trailers, for example, allows an under-used flatbed to be converted for van shipments on demand, then back to a flat when necessary. This dual-role flexibility facilitates reduction of the overall size of the fleet, which boosts bottom line.
  • Route more efficiently. Always routing for the lowest mileage to deliveries or pick-ups seems like a no-brainer, but it’s not always the most efficient. Effective routing is a moving target that depends on constantly changing variables. Time is usually more expensive than mileage. New routing systems utilize real-time traffic information and provide the optimized route that avoids delays due to congestion and fuel wasted idling in traffic—not necessarily the shortest mileage point to point.
  • Make smarter purchases. When it's time to add new equipment, take advantage of the occasion to transition to more efficient engines. In many cases, new smaller engines provide the same horsepower as old workhorses but deliver superior fuel efficiency and lower emission issues. Also, exploit opportunities to lighten vehicle weight. Advanced, lighter fabrication such as aluminum frames and optimized configurations like curtainside trailers improve competitiveness by lowering weight and costs. Fuel studies show that for every 100 pounds of total vehicle weight you cut, you can improve fuel economy by as much as 2%.
  • Keep connected. Join the important industry trade organizations and make use of their resources. These associations offer seminars, market research, training and updates to keep you abreast of new advancements that are critical to staying competitive. Also network with other fleet managers wherever possible, particularly those with fleets of a similar size and utilizing vehicles of the same class.

 

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Topics: Fleet Managers, Technology

Pete Johnson

Written by Pete Johnson

Vice President, General Manager & Co-founder of Roland Curtains Inc. Pete was the first US employee for Roland International opening the US manufacturing business while creating sales in North, Central, and South America.

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