Tag: Fleet Tracking

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Fleet management tips for businesses

How fleet management software helps with fleet driver behaviour

How fleet management software helps companies with everyday fleet management

Fleet management software provides data, insights, and information to better manage fleets, from optimising routes and improving driver behaviour to tracking vehicle usage and maintenance requirements. In this article about fleet management tips, we will take a closer look at how the data from fleet telematics systems can help business owners to:

  • Improve vehicle and driver performance
  • Help to reduce costs via better vehicle efficiency
  • Reduce the risk of accidents
  • Cut down on paperwork and improve compliance

So, how does it work?

Fleet management systems work by tracking vehicles and drivers, then transmitting data to one system, which can be viewed via a dashboard.

But more than that it can combine what used to be fragmented data stored on different systems all on to one platform, to generate reports for fuel consumption, maintenance history and notifications, vehicle location, and driver behaviour.

AJT Installs’ skilled and experienced technicians have implemented our Tracker 365 fleet management software across a number of different transport sectors, from courier and logistics companies to waste management and the emergency services.

We have seen first hand the improvements business owners have been able to implement by using the data insights provided by fleet management software.

Contact our friendly team to book a demo, so we can show you how your business can benefit from installing Tracker 365 in your fleet.

Fleet Management Tips

Improve vehicle and driver performance

Every business owner knows that streamlining operations to the most efficient they can be means more profit and this includes fleet management.

The data relayed to the office from fleet management software highlights when fleet vehicles are burning more fuel.

These insights can be used to educate and train drivers in order to eliminate costly driving habits such as harsh braking, over revving, and unnecessary or aggressive acceleration.

All these bad habits cost more in fuel, so educating drivers about best practice will reduce fuel costs.

This has been backed up by a 2016 RAC report. Taking data from 1,000 UK companies where fleet management software had been installed, the report stated that 55% of the businesses surveyed claimed to have reduced fuel costs since the installation.

Vehicle efficiency

Another efficiency improvement provided by fleet management software data is by highlighting delays on the road, accident blackspots, or even congestion charges that could cost more fuel, money, and time.

For example, by mapping out the optimum route for each delivery, the cost per drop can be significantly reduced.

Fleet management systems offer businesses the opportunity to view real-time traffic information about delays, so they can advise drivers on the best way to avoid them.

If business owners invest capital into fleet vehicles, whether cars, vans or HGVs, they need to be able to get the maximum life from each asset.

We have already talked about educating drivers on best practice which, as well as bringing down fuel costs, will also reduce the general wear and tear on vehicles, bringing more benefits:

  • More time on the road and less time in the garage
  • Lower maintenance costs
  • More efficient when running
  • Longer life for fleet vehicles
  • Higher return on initial investment

Reduce the risk of accidents

Earlier in the article about fleet management tips, we touched on the subject of driver training.

Of course, if drivers eliminate bad driving habits, it will help to reduce fuel costs, but more importantly, good drivers reduce the risk of collisions.

Accidents can be very costly for businesses:

  • Vehicle repairs
  • Time off the road for vehicle and driver can affect operations
  • Possibility of legal action
  • Higher insurance premiums
  • Cost of administration and form filling!

According to statistics from the Department of Transport, the biggest cause of UK car accidents in 2022 was drivers failing to look properly (37.8% of accidents.)

You can see a table detailing the top ten causes of car accidents at NimbleFins.

Fleet management systems provide data on driver behaviour, especially when combined with on-board camera information.

This data is dual purpose, firstly it enables fleet managers to put together driver risk profiles, which can help to identify good drivers, thus bringing down insurance costs.

Secondly, the information can be used to produce targeted and effective driver training to help to combat any bad driving habits that put the driver, vehicle, other road users and the company’s reputation at risk.

Cut down on paperwork and improve compliance

Believe it or not, there are still some businesses out there who still use spreadsheets for fleet management!

The Tracker 365 client portal makes auditing simple and straight forward.

You can download the data to produce an accurate reports for every vehicle in the fleet without having to retrieve data from a prohibitively large spreadsheet.

In our fleet management tips we thought we would highlight some of the advantages of using fleet management software over spreadsheets:

  • Historical documents vs live information
  • Human error inputting vs 100% accuracy
  • Resources required for inputting vs no resource requirement
  • Technical issues and data storage vs cloud storage
  • Clunky inputting and retrieval of data vs data retrieval at the touch of a button
  • Fragmented data on different systems vs data all in one place
  • Time, resource and storage for insurance claims vs accurate information on one platform

Business owners can save resources that were previously spent on administrative tasks such as route planning, checking logbooks and tachographs, maintenance scheduling, producing reports, and keeping driver information up to date.

Compliance

Compliance is the bane of every fleet manager’s existence, and penalties for non-compliance can have a serious impact on a company’s ability to carry on trading, and its reputation.

However, using fleet management software provides access to comprehensive and accurate data about drivers, vehicles, journeys, load information, maintenance schedules, insurance, MOT/vehicle tax, whenever it is required to comply with company policies or procedures and legal requirements.

In addition the data is useful when it comes to revising and improving safety procedures, risk assessments and management systems.

 

We hope that these fleet management tips have given you food for thought and if you would like a demo of the AJT Installs fleet management software, call our expert team and they will show you how Tracker 365 can help your business with fleet management. What’s more, you have the extra peace of mind that we a three year warranty on every product bought and installed by our technicians.

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What are the benefits of vehicle trackers?

Following on from our in-depth guide to immobilisers in the last AJT Installs blog, we thought we would examine the benefits of vehicle trackers for fleet management in a bit more detail.

In this article, we will address what vehicle tracking is, the different kinds available and how the advantages of installing vehicle trackers in fleet vehicles are about much more than improvements for theft prevention and vehicle recovery after the event.

So, keep reading to discover more about how the benefits of vehicle trackers can help fleet managers with many aspects of their job from insurance and saving money to improvements in safety and customer service.

How does GPS vehicle tracking work?

GPS technology has been a game changer for professional fleet management.

The technology in tracker systems enables communication between each vehicle and the office, providing information such as:

  • Vehicle location
  • Direction of travel
  • Length of journey
  • Hold-ups/route obstruction
  • Live traffic information

There are two basic systems available.

Passive tracking collects and saves information and data that can be downloaded later, whereas active tracking sends information in real time.

Some systems offer both options.

More sophisticated functions available include:

  • Maintenance reminders
  • Historical journey information
  • Driver behaviour analysis
  • Fuel consumption
  • Electronic tachographs/timesheets
  • Theft prevention/immobiliser
  • Geofencing, so an alert is transmitted when a vehicle moves out of a designated area
  • Compliance
  • And in some cases, asset tracking

If you would like to talk to us about how the benefits of the Tracker 365 from AJT Installs – our own fleet management system – for your fleet, please contact us and one of our knowledgeable technicians will talk you through the features and benefits of having real-time data at your fingertips.

So, how does this technology help a fleet manager on a day-to-day basis?

The benefits of vehicle trackers

The advantage of instant access to information about where their vehicles are, how they are being driven, the mechanical health of vehicles, and where there may be possible delays to journeys bring many insights and benefits to fleet management.

Cut down on paperwork!

Paperwork is the bane of every fleet manager’s life!

But this is no longer the case.

Making everything digital saves time and reduces the possibility of inputting errors.

Time consuming reports are a thing of the past when the click of a button produces reports using up to the minute and accurate data.

Journey time, fuel calculations and customer expectations can be handled proactively.

The time previously used to input manually and generate reports can now be spent on proactive tasks.

Timesheets or driver hours are accurate as there is no chance of errors through manual completion and inputting/correction.

Data and information can also be more easily shared with other departments, and in a timely manner as and when necessary. 

Where fleet management systems really excel is in helping fleet managers with compliance, which you can read more about in an earlier blog.

Route efficiency

Productivity is increased while downtime is reduced when fleet managers can plot accurate and efficient journeys by taking any accident blackspots or hold-ups into consideration.

Monitoring vehicles in real time and noting where time is wasted can be used to cut the number of minutes the engine is idling.

Vehicle efficiency is optimised by avoiding known obstructions or selecting quieter routes, whilst some routes can be combined to maximise the number of drops/calls per journey.

This reduces vehicle wear and tear and fuel consumption while making more effective use of driver hours.

All these benefits result in better vehicle lifecycle management, a critical part of any fleet manager’s role.

For emergency vehicles responding to a collision, response times can be reduced through efficient route planning, and the time saved has the potential to save lives.

Vehicle Maintenance

Installing trackers in fleet vehicles will allows managers to set up reminders for routine maintenance that will take a vehicle off the road.

Having the ability to plan general maintenance and servicing minimises downtime and reduces unforeseen and costly repairs, while causing the minimum disruption to driver rotas and customer service levels.

Driver behaviour

This was a somewhat contentious issue at first, but fleet tracking software has been recognised as critical to improve safety of both drivers and the general public, as well as contributing to the reduction of vehicle wear and tear and fuel consumption.

On-board data reveals bad driving habits such as over revving, harsh braking, speeding, or swerving.

It is useful information to have from a corporate perspective to demonstrate that drivers are following the correct procedures and not breaking the law, and that they are careful and considerate road users, something that can enhance a business’s reputation.

Although some drivers may not like the idea, if they are shown how vehicle trackers work and the benefits they bring to the job of driving, rather than the negative connotation of ‘big brother is watching what you do’, it will be easier for fleet managers to win them over:

  • Working hours can be tracked more easily
  • In the case of an emergency, help can reach them quicker
  • If they are falsely accused of wrongdoing while behind the wheel, they can be exonerated
  • Routes can be optimised, removing the anxiety and frustration of traffic jams
  • Improvements in driver training

Downloaded information for each journey/driver can be used proactively for driver education and incentivisation, rather than accusation.

When a tracking system such as Tracker 365 is combined with dashcams, it can provide powerful evidence in the case of a collision or accusation of bad driving, which can save time and money on insurance claims or police/court proceedings.

The information can also be used to

  • Improve written safety policies
  • Develop better driver training programmes
  • Generate accurate driver risk profiles
  • Demonstrate a good safety record
  • Reduce insurance premiums

Theft prevention and vehicle recovery

Real-time vehicle and plant tracking means they can be retrieved easily when lost or stolen.

Again, this brings risk down for insurers and can lead to a reduction in insurance premiums.

Immobilisers can be activated remotely to prevent a vehicle being driven away by thieves and then reactivated when the recovery vehicle arrives to collect it.

Reduced costs and better service levels

All of the above when taken together helps fleet managers to optimised drivers and vehicles, reducing costs for:

  • Fuel
  • Maintenance
  • Wear and tear
  • Time idling
  • Route inefficiencies
  • Insurance
  • Unplanned maintenance resulting from bad driving/collisions

Moreover, increased productivity and the streamlining of journeys result in a better customer experience through improved service levels and an increase in profits.

AJT Installs’ skilled technicians have completed Tracker 365 installations across a number of different transport sectors.

We have demonstrated the benefits of vehicle trackers to many fleet managers looking for ways to optimise vehicle and route efficiency while reducing costs and paperwork.

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How fleet management software helps with compliance

How fleet management software helps with fleet driver behaviour

In this article, we are going to take a closer look at how fleet management software helps with compliance.

At AJT Installs, we know that one of the biggest headaches for a fleet manager is managing compliance.

The penalties for non-compliance can be very serious and could have a major impact on a company’s ability to continue trading as normal.

The amount of paperwork involved plus staying on top of amendments or changes in legislation can be daunting, especially for a large fleet.

When you add into the mix the need to ensure that legal changes are communicated throughout the business, it is clear that data needs to be managed efficiently.

Fleet management software like Tracker 365 from AJT Installs, provides fleet managers with instant access to vehicle and driver information so they can better manage the process of complying with industry regulations and legislation.

Talk to our expert team to arrange a demo, so you can see the benefits of Tracker 365 for yourself and how its reporting capabilities can help with fleet compliance.

What is fleet compliance?

Although the rules may differ according to vehicle class, the main aim of fleet compliance is to make sure that vehicles, drivers, and the general public are safe.

In order to do this and to maintain the operator’s licence, fleet managers need to manage the following areas to demonstrate compliance with safety standards:

Management systems should be established for safety and risk, operations/journeys, driver behaviour and vehicle maintenance.

Fleet vehicles have to be maintained, undergo regular inspections, including one by the driver before every shift. They must also be properly equipped.

Drivers have to be medically fit to drive, possess a current licence and have the required certification and relevant driver training for the vehicle. They must comply with the regulations governing driving hours.

How fleet management software helps with compliance

Fleet management software provides a system to electronically record data while vehicles are out on the road, providing a number of benefits:

  • Facilitates vehicle inspection/maintenance schedules
  • Monitors and analyses driver behaviour
  • Cuts down on the paperwork and time required to maintain compliance
  • Ensures data is accurate, avoiding human errors

Having the relevant data at their fingertips means fleet managers have all the information they need to maintain compliance.

Management systems

Fleet management software monitors and stores data about vehicles, journeys, loads, drivers, maintenance, insurance, in fact all the information required to produce accurate reports to support, maintain and amend company policies and procedures.

  • Information can be used to produce risk management policies and ensure compliance with current health and safety regulations.
  • The data downloaded from fleet management software for accidents and incidents can be analysed to compile driver risk profiles and to demonstrate the company’s track record of accidents, how they were handled, insurance claims etc.
  • Reports can be properly documented for both compliance and insurance.
  • The data can be used to review, revise and improve safety procedures and policies and risk management can be reassessed according to new data.

Vehicles

Fleet management software provides comprehensive data for every vehicle at the push of a button, enabling:

  • Effective maintenance scheduling, reducing downtime.
  • Preventative maintenance.
  • Inspection data can be used to highlight mechanical problems earlier, preventing costly repairs and unscheduled time off the road.
  • The production of a report history of faults and how they were resolved for each vehicle.
  • More accurate and timely safety inspections from the data recorded during daily driver inspections, reducing paperwork.
  • Mechanical problems to be identified before they become major issues, which allows operators to demonstrate how they have reduced risk to their own drivers and the general public.
  • Accurate mileage tracking across the whole fleet to ensure even vehicle usage and accurate vehicle replacement forecasting.
  • Route planning to avoid congestion, green charges, accident blackspots etc.

Drivers

Fleet telematics and software monitor and analyse driver behaviour, and the data gathered can be used to:

  • Develop driver training programmes.
  • Demonstrate their fitness to drive.
  • Analyse driving ability in varying road and weather conditions.
  • Produce risk profiles for each driver.
  • Eradicate bad and aggressive driving habits.
  • Reduce the risk of accidents.
  • Accurately record driving hours.
  • Improve accident investigation.
  • Improve safety for drivers and the general public.

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)

We thought it may be useful to talk a little about DVSA fleet compliance and the recognition scheme.

Compliance covers the areas we have explained above, with particular emphasis on:

  • Accident risk/safety management
  • Vehicle maintenance
  • Driver behaviour/training

In April 2018, the DVSA launched an ‘earned recognition’ scheme for operators of:

  • Heavy goods vehicles
  • Public service vehicles

The idea of the scheme is to help fleet operators in these sectors to show that they meet the safety standards required for drivers and vehicles.

Every four weeks, companies upload detailed reports of drivers’ working hours and vehicle maintenance data to a DVSA system.

The data is then monitored against a set of key performance indicators (KPIs.)

What happens if a KPI is missed for any reason?

The company will be contacted by the DVSA with a plan for how the issue can be resolved.

There are several benefits for fleet operators joining the scheme including:

  • Displaying the logo to show earned recognition scheme accreditation
  • To be included on the gov.uk website as having recognition status
  • To prove legal compliance to new and existing clients and demonstrate that the company maintains high standards of safety
  • Reduce the chance of a DVSA visit
  • Reduce the chance of having a vehicle stopped in transit

The DVSA has published a guide to maintaining roadworthiness for commercial good and public service vehicles, which is packed full of useful information, procedures, inspections, record storage systems, regulations, best practices etc.

You can discover more about the DVSA earned recognition scheme on the gov.uk website.

If you would like to find out how the automated process and data recording abilities of Tracker 365  from AJT Installs works and how fleet management software helps with compliance, call us now to book a demonstration so you can see for yourself.

Not only will you benefit from streamlined processes and paperwork, you will also gain peace of mind from our three year warranty on any product bought from us and installed by AJT Installs expert technicians.