It is a fleet manager who made it happen to safely deliver an item on time. A fleet manager is a logistic expert who works in the transportation field and is managing every detail regarding company vehicles and their drivers. They play an important role in a trucking and logistics company's performance.
What are their duties, responsibilities, and challenges? Executing the company's function well begins with the correct understanding of what the role entails. A fleet manager oversees all commercial vehicles, drivers, and related assets, including their operations, conditions, external and internal policy compliance, and overall performance.
Fleet managers also help in ensuring that vehicles and drivers are being utilized to their fullest potential safely and cost-effectively. The duty of a fleet manager may vary by industry and size of the fleet, but they are responsible for the company's fleet. Let's go through the fleet manager's duties and responsibilities.
1: Setting maintenance schedules
Fleet managers are responsible for scheduling vehicle maintenance. They must make sure that vehicles are in excellent shape for performing their various functions. Fleet managers set up a maintenance schedule to ensure the vehicles in their fleets are properly maintained. Vehicle maintenance is usually performed by a service department. Also, an auto service center can be a source for supplying spare parts when needed.
2: Designing and managing fuel programs
Fuel is one of the three greatest expenses in a fleet budget. Managing a preferred fuel network, fleet card program and on-site fueling with suppliers directly impacts the fleet's cost per mile. Various tools, including telematics, fuel reporting, and gamification are used to influence drivers to purchase fuel according to their policy.
3: Improving operational efficiency
Fleet management also has to look after and analyze operations that aim to improve processes and ultimately increase the overall efficiency of the fleet. The fleet manager reviews driver records to see if they're properly following routes, prepares procedures for common issues, and utilizes tools such as fleet management software to systematize or automatic daily workflows.
4: Effective communication
Fleet managers put a premium on effective communication. Effective communication means drivers fully understand what fleet managers' expectations are, flip managers, keep their clients and industry partners updated and establish a friendly work environment and encourage the staff to express their observations.
5: Purchase of vehicle
A fleet manager must ensure that the company has the right number of vehicles and also that vehicles work properly and safely. Flip managers purchase or lease vehicles based on specific transportation requirements and schedule regular maintenance throughout the life cycle of the vehicle.
For keeping a flat running at maximum capacity, it is essential to hire the right fleet manager, there's only so much a human can do manually.