MANAGING 10-50 COMPANY VEHICLES
With a delivery window of a mere 15 minutes, Toronto-based Marigolds & Onions uses fleet routing and scheduling software to manage details such as driving time between routes, details of each stop and time spent, and even food type.
Over the years, I have known many competent fleet managers. But, like salmons swimming upstream, not every promising fleet manager survives the challenges and rigors of day-to-day fleet management. It is understandable when fleet managers are fired for making expensive mistakes or when caught engaging in ethical transgressions, but, sadly, many more are terminated for circumstances that are entirely avoidable.
In the long run, technology will exert inexorable downward pressure on overall fleet size and will eliminate altogether the need for some fleet vehicles. Despite this, fleet management will survive, albeit in a smaller capacity, and, most likely, in a completely different form than what we know today.
The best way to answer the question of what is the future of fleet is to look outside the fleet industry.Here are six technology trends happening outside of fleet that will have a major impact on the future direction of our industry.
Fleet management will increase in complexity with the pervasive use of technology and emphasis on data analytics. This will attract new employees with different skillsets. Despite what cynics may say, now is the best time to get into fleet management. It is at the corporate crossroads of technology, sustainability, supply chain management, and safety. Fleet will be very attractive to managers because of the exposure to these cross-functional groups and the opportunity for advancement.
A telematics system, digital inventory control and pipe cameras have helped this small plumbing fleet create a more efficient working process — while improving and speeding up its customer service.
Two of the most significant changes in fleet management were the result of military breakthroughs – namely the opening of GPS to civilian use and the creation of the Internet, both of which will be critical to operating autonomous vehicles. While extremely difficult to do, technology will not be the issue with the implementation of autonomous vehicles. Other broader non-fleet issues may slow or inhibit widespread implementation of autonomous vehicles.
In changing and expanding Green Fleet Conference to the Fleet Technology Expo, group publisher of Automotive Fleet and Green Fleet Sherb Brown, explains how the concept of being “green” has evolved since launching the event about 8 years ago.
The greatest factor contributing to driver distraction has been the growing use of technology — in particular smartphones — while driving; however, a new concern will soon be confronting fleet managers in the form of wearable computers.
Before "reaching for the clouds," fleet managers should understand how this evolving technology can reduce costs and increase productivity.