How Poor Route Planning is Wasting Your Fleet's Resources and How Tracking Can Fix It

If you have a fleet to manage, you understand that every choice has an effect on your bottom line. One of the most costly inefficiencies within your fleet is poor route planning. Whether it's wasted fuel, late deliveries, or excessive vehicle wear-and-tear, incorrect planning costs money and time. Fortunately, cutting-edge fleet management software, including electric vehicle tracking systems, can correct these issues and turn your business around.

The Effect of Inefficient Route Planning

If routes are not planned effectively, fleets end up wasting precious resources. Vehicles traveling unnecessary distances burn more fuel, raising the cost of operations and the carbon footprint. The inefficiency also results in increased maintenance costs as constant stops and detours subject the vehicles to extra stress.

Further, poor planning hurts your customer service. Missed deadlines or late deliveries make customers unhappy, and might even damage your reputation. When routes are not optimized, fleet managers no longer have control over delivery time, resulting in lost opportunities and added costs.

The Fuel Waste Problem

Fuel is also among the most significant costs for fleet operators. When routes are not optimized, cars will tend to travel longer distances or sit in traffic. These detours mean wasted fuel. A car stalled in traffic, or traveling a longer route to circumvent congestion, consumes more fuel than a straightforward, well-planned route. This does not only cost more in fuel but also produces unnecessary emissions, which pollute the environment.

Wear and Tear on Your Vehicles

Another expense of bad route planning is additional wear and tear on your fleet. More-stop, sharp-corner, or extended-drive routes decrease the life expectancy of your fleet. Brakes, tires, and engines all experience additional stress on less efficient routes, requiring more repairs and replacements. It has an impact over time on the overall reliability of your fleet and causes downtime.

How Tracking Can Cure It

Fortunately, tools such as electric vehicle tracking systems can prevent such problems from occurring by giving you real-time information that enhances route planning. With precise tracking information, fleet managers can monitor exactly where the vehicles are, how they're being operated, and where changes can be made.

Route Optimization

The most evident advantage of an electric vehicle tracking system is real-time route planning. The systems give information on traffic, weather, and road conditions, enabling fleet managers to make appropriate route adjustments. Rather than guessing, tracking systems give exact information that enables drivers to steer clear of congestion, road blocks, or unwanted detours. Consequently, the vehicles drive the most efficient routes, conserving time, fuel, and lowering emissions.

Decreasing Idle Time

Tracking systems also assist in minimizing idle time, which is a primary cause of fuel wastage. Electric vehicle tracking systems can detect when a car is idling excessively. Fleet managers can configure alerts to inform drivers when they're idling for too long, enabling them to respond promptly and put forth the vehicle. Through minimizing idling, your fleet operates more efficiently and consumes less fuel.

Monitoring Driver Behavior

Another characteristic of tracking systems is that they can observe driver behavior. If the drivers are speeding or driving aggressively, these actions can be alerted. Feedback and training can be provided by managers to make sure drivers are using the most efficient methods, maximizing fuel consumption and minimizing wear on vehicles.

Data-Driven Decisions

Fleet tracking systems offer more than just directions. They collect detailed information on fuel usage, when and how to maintain vehicles, and overall vehicle operation. This data enables fleet managers to make informed decisions on how to increase efficiency. Maintenance, for instance, can be planned according to actual vehicle use, avoiding expensive breakdowns and maintaining vehicles in their best working order.

Implementing Fleet Document Management Systems

A frequently underappreciated aspect of fleet management is the paperwork. From vehicle registrations to maintenance records, handling documents can be a chore. Fleet document management Canada solutions assist in digitizing paperwork so that it is more accessible for fleet managers to access records and track important dates such as registration renewals or service schedules. When integrated with tracking systems, it forms a more streamlined fleet management experience.

For instance, Geotab Document Management enables companies to store all documents of their entire fleet digitally. This makes it simple to search for service histories, driver logs, and vehicle reports in one secure environment. With everything in one place, fleet managers can easily monitor maintenance schedules and ensure trucks are running at maximum efficiency.