In a recent survey the company Service Management asked fleet management personnel to take a survey regarding the use of vehicle tracking devices. There are many reasons one might consider using fleet management, especially in light of recent events. Fleets always need to monitor their trucks and drivers to be more efficient. This summer fuel prices increased to such a degree that any way found to lower the cost of fuel usage was very important to many companies. It is these fuel costs that have increased the need for fleet management options, and many companies have already started to use them. There is also a lot of talk that companies will have more hybrid vehicles in their fleet and driveways in order to reduce fuel costs.
70 percent of the individuals interviewed for the survey stated they already have switched the vehicles they have. 42.9 percent stated they are trying to retrain their staff to use more economical methods for driving and saving gas. The survey was released after the AA report showing an increase in fuel costs across the board. In fact in August of 2007 to August 2008 there was a one third increase in the cost of fuel. This increase meant individuals were paying 113.2 pence per litre at the pumps, where last year it was 96.2 pence a litre. Further information states this was about an 18 percent increase just in one year.
Diesel is even higher than the fuel cost jumping about 30 percent from August 2007 to 2008. At the pump most were paying 126 pence per litre when it had been at 97 pence a litre. To fill a 50 litre tank as most trucks have it would take 14.30 pounds. This means if a fleet company is filling up trucks every day they are spending thousands of pounds just on diesel fuel and that increases the overall running costs of the fleet. Most have calculated that diesel this year is costing about 4,000 pounds.
Several of the individuals interviewed stated a fleet tracking system would help to track how an individual driver uses fuel and how they drive. This would allow the company to stop those speeding or taking trips that are longer than they should be. About 45.5 percent use a remote engine and fuel programme to monitor usage.
Tracking Vehicles
In the survey 54.5 percent of those interviewed already have a GPS navigation system to help their drivers. This cuts down on drivers taking a wrong road or getting lost. It also cuts down on running the engine while looking at maps or other devices for navigation. 69 percent also stated they use the equipment to review where their vehicles are and where they’ve gone.
Vehicle tracking has been implemented in companies without any flack from the employees. In fact about 80 percent of those using the devices said their employees were not concerned about the tracking devices. Some news and articles have created a “fear” that by using the vehicle tracking devices the employees will not be happy and no longer want to work for the company. It has been said it is an invasion of privacy. However, the companies who use the systems have not found this “fear” among their employees.
A few companies even started a trial in order to see how their employees would take the system. Those using a device that allows the tracking device to be switched off in the truck responded well. It allows them to signal when they are not working, and therefore the company doesn’t have the ability to track them.
Companies trying the vehicle tracking devices stated it was best to get the entire system at once then try to add other parts later on. For example if a company didn’t want remote monitoring because they feared the reaction of employees, it was not as simple to add it after the fact. Part of having the system is to get employee acceptance and therefore offering a system both parties can be satisfied with.
Urgent priority
Some of those who responded to the survey stated that they’ve been using older technology. These paper systems were not enough, and they felt it necessary to step up to remote monitoring of their vehicles. Doing their research they found it would take about 12 months in order to get the system up and running, then saving money would be easier.
Many of the service managers felt it necessary to get some type of programme to monitor their fleet as well as help save money on fuel. There was just 32 percent that felt proper recording of hours worked was extremely important. Among the tracking of their drivers for proper work hours they also wanted to implement a 48 hour work week as a maximum for their drivers to help increase safety.
Responders to the survey said that it is not easy to find qualified drivers, but once they have them it is easy to keep them on staff. This has led to the thought that the supply and demand is about even.
Long-term employment
There is certainly concern over the recession even with a nice balance in supply and demand. If costs are not cut there can definitely be reductions or closures for some fleets. It is best that companies offer some type of benefits and this also helps reduce the loss of employees in any one company. If they fear moving on or losing their job they are more likely to stick with the company they are at and offer the best work they can.
Many of the fleet companies do offer long term benefits for their employees. It is one of the reasons it is harder to recruit new drivers, but also why the drivers once found will stay on. They enjoy the benefits they have and it makes it worthwhile to stick around.
There were several different companies that were part of the survey. They were not just one industry. About 14 percent of those who responded have cars or vans in their fleets. About half stated they have 50 vehicles, while 11 percent have up to 100. 21 percent of the fleets carry between 100 and 500 in their fleet, with about 18 percent with over 500 vehicles. With that many cars in their fleet it’s important to have savings in any area and especially fuel.
