What business fleet managers should be thinking about in 2020

2020 will be  an exciting and challenging year for fleet managers, with government and worldwide pressure to lower emissions, on top of continuous technological changes and pressure to keep costs low.

Here’s what you should be thinking about for your fleet in 2020.

1. Review your travel strategies

Are you using your fleet in the most effective way? Too often businesses get stuck thinking only in terms of their fleet and overlook other options to improve efficiencies and lower costs – such as pooled or shared vehicles, or more mixed mobility solutions – like ride sharing and e-bikes.

Increasingly, businesses require speed and flexibility in travel arrangements. Consider how your fleet vehicles can work harder for you in this new sharing economy age.

2. Consider the sustainability of your fleet

As the NZ government introduces new legislation to encourage the lowering of emissions, businesses need to be aware that their practices are on the line. Many sustainable solutions – such as EVs – offer significant cost savings and will make your company more appealing to eco-conscious consumers. Plus, it’s the right thing to do to ensure we continue to enjoy this beautiful planet of ours.

This might mean including EVs or hybrids as part of your fleet, or looking at ways to minimise trips in fleet vehicles (perhaps via teleconferencing).

3. Tackle compliance in your grey fleet

Grey fleets – vehicles owned by employees and used for business journeys – can be a real battleground for NZ businesses. Too often, companies don’t have accurate data on service history, WOFs, and insurance on these vehicles, and drivers often forget to update the company when they change their vehicle.

Remember that you have the same duty of care for grey fleet vehicles and the safety of drivers as you do for your fleet vehicles. Make sure you’ve got your grey fleet in order.

4. Audit your fleet management processes

There are always things you can do more efficiently. With new technology hitting the market every week, you’ll be able to find ways to remove repetitive, mundane tasks and improve efficiencies in your team. But  to do that, you need to figure out where the bottlenecks are and what needs to be improved.

5. Incentivise drivers for good behaviour

Telematics can give you up-to-the-minute data about driver behavior. One thing you can do with this is find ways to encourage good driving and improvements to safety and efficiency.

Instead of just using telematics to identify bad driving in need of training, identify and celebrate good driving. You may be able to tap into employee’s competitive streaks and encourage improvement across the board. Continue this improvement by offering additional incentives for the most improved drivers.

These are just a few ideas to help fleet managers improve performance and lower costs in 2020. What are you doing this year to improve your fleet?

Driving Insights