How and why to optimize company fleet routes
8 reasons to optimize car fleet routes
Routes planning is key in order to manage the company fleet at the best. A good route optimization process must take into account a series of factors that contribute to designing the ideal route based on the objectives to be achieved.
Entrusting all these management aspects to human intervention alone may prove insufficient, especially if the company fleet is medium to large in size. In this case, the amount of data to keep under control is too burdensome. Equipping yourself with an automated system that supports the fleet manager in this activity entails a series of advantages, both from an economic and operational point of view. Let’s look at some of them together:
1. saving fuel, time, kilometers by automatically calculating the most economical routes, planning stops and monitoring driving styles
2. protecting the drivers’ safety by optimizing breaks and rest times, as well as reducing stress related to delays and unexpected events
3. prolonging the life of the vehicles by avoiding unnecessary overloads and reducing maintenance costs
4. improving services and increasing competitiveness on the market
5. viewing the positions of moving vehicles and their status on the map in real time
6. automating internal communication to ensure the team is informed of any changes to the routes
7. having the history of the routes of each vehicle available
8. exporting detailed reports to analyze data on the progress and operations of the fleet, in order to identify any unused or underused vehicles and possibly eliminate them in order to make the fleet more efficient
What data to insert into the software to optimize routes
Regardless of the software chosen, the data to be known and inserted into the system in order to optimize the routes are:
• vehicles and their characteristics (plate number, model, measurements, weight, etc.)
• addresses and departure and arrival times
• possible number of distribution centers
• any warehouses or residential areas
• measurements and loads accepted in accordance with current environmental and corporate requirements
The importance of preventive planning
To successfully plan the routes, it is necessary to collect as much information as possible on the route to be taken, such as: traffic conditions and the presence of any congestion, the presence of construction sites, works in progress and road diversions, the forecast of tip and weather forecast.
Another parameter that should not be underestimated, especially in the case of long journeys, is the planning of stops for the driver to rest and refuel, perhaps identifying the cheapest petrol stations in advance.
The time spent pre-planning for all of these aspects translates into time saved in dealing with any future issues and delays.
Would you like to optimize your fleet with a software tailored to your business?
If you have a fleet of dozens of vehicles and you have decided that the time has come to invest in a digital tool to optimize fleet management while saving time and money, Fleet Manager could be the right tool for you. Currently in use by three renowned car manufacturers, one Italian and two German, Fleet Manager has optimized fleet use by 40%, helped reduce fuel costs by 30% and through integration with a smart payment system of fines increased debt collection by 80%.
The software provides a series of features for the all-round management of the company fleet and is capable of managing a number of vehicles in the order of thousands of units easily.
If you want more information and you are interested in a Fleet Manager demo, contact us without obligation. We’ll be happy to help you!