Fleet tracking is a powerful tool for fleet managers to have at their disposal. It allows you to control your fleet's location, time, and speed of travel.
However, fleet tracking does not just happen automatically- fleet managers must constantly work on improving the fleet tracking performance of their business if they want to be truly successful in maximizing efficiency and productivity.
5 Simple and Easy Steps to Improve Your Fleet Tracking
A fleet manager has several duties on his hand. One of these is to manage his fleet better, which means making sure that they are always being tracked and utilized well. Here are some ways you can improve your fleet tracking capabilities:
1) Use GPS Tracking Devices Instead of Proxies
You must already be familiar with proxies when it comes to fleet tracking performance. Proxies refer to the method in which the location data of one vehicle would be shared for all other vehicles--in short, pooling data. This method is more cost-effective as fleet managers can purchase just one fleet tracker device and use it for all vehicles. However, fleet tracking using proxies only provides the location of the fleet tracker itself.
One big advantage of fleet tracking with GPS trackers is that you can pinpoint a specific vehicle's location at any given time without having to pool data from other vehicles. Although this might seem a bit expensive, fleet managers will be able to save money in the long run because they will not have to buy fleet trackers again and again. Moreover, GPS fleet trackers come with additional features such as hourly updates on vehicle locations or alerts when a vehicle has stopped moving for over an hour. These are things that you cannot get from simple proxies.
2) Use Fleet Tracking Performance Management Software
Fleet managers are always busy. With fleet tracking, there are several different things that you need to keep an eye on. A fleet manager might be busy watching out for fleet trackers and fleet vehicles, but he also must make sure that his employees are following the procedures outlined in the fleet management policy manual. This is why fleet tracking performance management software was created.
This type of fleet tracking system enables fleet managers to manage every aspect of their operations without any problem even if they do not have enough manpower under their supervision. A fleet tracker with fleet tracking performance software can help fleet managers perform tasks that would normally take them hours just by simply clicking several buttons or downloading reports from the database. For fleet managers who are always on the go, fleet tracking performance management software is a must-have.
3) Use Fleet Trackers With Web-Based Fleet Tracking Software
As fleet managers become more and more dependent on web-based solutions for fleet tracking and fleet vehicle location data, there has been an increase in demand for fleet trackers which can provide such services. These fleet trackers come with built-in web servers so users will be able to access live reports from anywhere in the world. Using this kind of fleet tracker means that you don't have to waste time setting up proxy servers or forwarding ports just so you can access your fleet's location information online. Just connect to your internet connection and use a browser to log in to your fleet's tracking software.
4) Maintain Fleet Trackers
Just like any other fleet vehicle, fleet tracking devices have batteries that can run out when used regularly or when not maintained well. Fleet managers must always remember to clean the battery contacts of their fleet trackers before plugging them in for charging. This is because a dirty battery contact can reduce the life of a fleet tracker's battery and may also cause electrical problems such as corrosion. You should also regularly inspect your fleet trackers for signs of physical damage--cracks on the shell casing, loose antenna connectors, etc.--since these are signs that you will need to change your fleet tracker's battery soon. In addition, check if the screws holding the unit together are still intact because this might indicate that the fleet tracker's casing might have been tampered with by someone else.
5) Keep Fleet Trackers Updated
Fleet managers must always remember to keep fleet tracking software and fleet tracking performance management software up-to-date as these tools are what make fleet tracking possible. There is a reason why fleet managers rely on such tools: they can help improve fleet tracking as well as provide fleet managers with the necessary information they need about their fleet--location, mileage, fuel consumption, etc. Therefore, you should never ignore updates for your fleet trackers and other fleet tracking devices because this will only cost you more time and money later on.
Conclusion
There you go! Five easy steps to help improve your fleet tracking capabilities. No fleet manager can achieve fleet tracking success if he or she doesn't know how to improve fleet tracking performance and capabilities, so make sure you follow the tips listed above.