Running a large vehicle fleet, whether of cars or trucks, is a complex business. There are many elements to think of and control, not least the fundamental one of keeping track of where each vehicle in the fleet is at any one particular time. Other important elements of running a fleet of vehicles include organizing maintenance and invoicing customers for work done.
However, the job of running a large fleet can be made much easier by the use of fleet management software. This article will look at some of the elements that a good fleet management software package should contain and some considerations needed to be taken into account before buying a package.
The main part of a fleet management software package is the tracking of the vehicles while on the road. This is usually performed by a GPS device being fitted into the vehicle, which sends data to a server operated by the provider of the software package. The fleet manager can then access the data on the server by logging into an account via the internet.
Being able to track the exact location of vehicles in the fleet makes it easier to run the fleet since vehicles can be allocated to jobs depending on their physical location, with the job going to the nearest available vehicle. This is especially useful for truck haulage companies which often need a rapid response to a customer request for a consignment to be picked up.
Fleet Management Software
There is always maintenance to be done, and ensuring that it is done on time is one of the big headaches of running a large fleet. A good fleet management software package will ensure that vehicles are maintained on time by setting a schedule for each vehicle and then sending a reminder when the maintenance is due. The software may also contain elements to help mechanics carry out the maintenance and to help in controlling inventory of spare parts. Using software to help with fleet vehicle maintenance is covered in more detail at http://www.systelligence.com
Invoicing customers for work done is much easier with fleet management software, since the software should be able to produce a very detailed invoice, showing the customer where the consignment was picked up and dropped off, and exactly the amount of time to complete the job and the mileage traveled. This cuts down substantially on the number of invoices that might be queried by the customer.
Fleet Management Software
As you can see, fleet management software takes away a lot of the paperwork and time usually needed to run a large fleet of vehicles. By bearing in mind the points mentioned above it should be possible to find a fleet management solution for your needs. But do some research with several providers and only buy a package when you are sure it provides all the elements you need to help run your fleet.
I agree being able to track vehicles should be the main part of fleet management software. This can definitely help with time management by assigning tasks to the nearest vehicle. The invoicing will also help make things easier and more organized. I will keep these in mind as I look for truck fleet management software
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