Automotive Fleet, November 2020

2020 THE CONNECTED FLEET GUIDE way One way fleets have done that is to use telematics to navigate this unprecedented time From keeping drivers safe to squeezing in more deliveries per day here are five ways telematics are helping fleets get by and even thrive during the pandemic 1 REDUCING COSTS IN THE FACE OF TIGHTER BUDGETS According to an August 2020 Automotive Fleet industry pulse survey a majority of fleets are concerned that fleet budgets would be reduced over the subsequent three months Of those fleets nearly half 49 estimated cuts would be greater than 10 As businesses face the economic impacts of COVID 19 and budgets tighten as a result telematics have been helping fleets reduce costs Rightsizing One way to reduce costs is by rightsizing the fleet Telematics devices allow fleet managers to closely monitor fleet utilization With this data in hand fleets can see which vehicles are being underutilized and determine if the fleet can operate with fewer assets In addition to taking maintenance and operating costs for eliminated vehicles off the books fleets can also add to the bottom line by remarketing underutilized assets And with online remarketing platforms fleets can do so safely even under pandemic conditions Maintenance Costs Telematics can also have an impact on maintenance costs With the ability to alert fleets to maintenance needs before problems arise fleets can avoid expensive repairs and vehicle downtime and make sure that preventive maintenance is being completed on time and according to OEM recommendations Fuel Costs Even though one upside of the pandemic is a low price at the pump fleets can lower fuel usage thus costs further using telematics For one route optimization can shave miles off a drivers route Those miles add up to less fuel consumption and more fuel savings Telematics also allow fleet managers to monitor idle time for every vehicle then coach drivers to lower those times When a vehicle idles it gets zero mph so reducing idle times can go a long way toward reducing fuel consumption and saving money Monitoring driver behavior can reduce fuel costs as well With telematics fleet managers can see which employees are speeding or exhibiting unsafe driving behaviors like rapid acceleration and hard cornering Eliminating or at least reducing these behaviors makes for a more fuel efficient trip Idling also leads to downstream costs on maintenance vehicle and employee productivity so reducing it pays off 2 MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCING Most of us probably hadnt heard the term social distancing prior to COVID 19 but now for many its a way of life and work Fortunately telematics has helped fleets continue to operate while also keeping employees safe The Remote Time Clock Thanks to telematics drivers can clock in and out using a driver app rather than doing so in person Skipping the stop at the office helps maintain social distancing while also providing a more efficient way for employees to log their hours Eliminating Physical Hand Offs Now that telematics technology has been widely adopted in heavy duty vehicles due to the ELD mandate hours of service are recorded electronically That means paper logs dont need to be passed from person to person allowing employees to remain socially distant Telematics have helped fleets go paperless in other ways too like providing delivery confirmations billing and invoicing electronically And routing eliminates the need to print and hand over a drivers routes for the day Replacing Ride Alongs Social distancing makes ride along field testing difficult as there is no good way to stay six feet from a driver in a vehicle while also monitoring their performance Fortunately video telematics provide live streams or DVR functionality of a drivers performance to allow supervisors to monitor drivers Photo GettyImages com svetikd 5 49 More than 10 13 Not sure 37 Varying Percentages HOW MUCH WILL BUDGETS BE CUT ARE YOU CONCERNED YOUR FLEET BUDGET WILL BE REDUCED IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS 43 Yes 36 No 13 Uncertain Source Automotive Fleet Research Dept