As the holiday season approaches, many look forward to the most wonderful time of the year. But for fleet managers, it can bring a distinct set of challenges. Fleet vehicles don’t get the luxury of rest during the holidays - on the contrary, they often clock more miles than usual.
From handling increased demand and navigating harsh winter weather to managing heavier traffic, the holiday period presents a unique strain on fleet operations. To help your fleet stay safe and efficient during this hectic season, we've put together seven essential tips for fleet managers.
Since temperatures are beginning to drop, it's becoming considerably important to perform thorough vehicle checks for your fleet. Cold, wet weather can put added strain on vehicles, so this is the ideal time to address any potential issues that could lead to breakdowns.
After all, the last thing you need is a tyre-related breakdown, a dead battery, or a malfunctioning heater. Although there may be upfront costs associated with preventative maintenance, they pale in comparison to the financial and operational losses caused by vehicle failures.
Winter driving brings more hazardous conditions, especially with increased deliveries and intensified traffic. However, modern fleet management software and hardware enables you to circumvent such problems by identifying and avoiding high-risk zones.
With advanced tools, you can mark hazardous road sections and set geofences around these areas to ensure safer travel. Additionally, embedded GPS technology allows for real-time route optimisation, helping drivers mitigate traffic congestion and reduce job completion times, thereby guaranteeing smoother journeys.
Despite meeting deadlines being important, driver safety must always be your top priority. Even the most cautious drivers may encounter unexpected hazards, such as black ice, where traction is lost. That’s why it’s integral to train your drivers on how to handle such situations. Likewise, encourage them to decrease speed in icy conditions and poor visibility.
Dashcams can further improve safety. Specifically, inward-facing cameras encourage drivers to be mindful of their behaviour in the cab, while outward-facing cameras monitor road positioning and detect dangerous driving. On top of this, camera video monitoring provides drivers with peace of mind, knowing that if an incident does occur and they are not at fault, then the footage will support their case.
The festive period isn’t just busy for fleets; it’s also a prime time for criminals targeting high-value cargo. With more consumer goods in transit than any other time of year, strengthening your security measures against cargo theft is paramount.
This includes training drivers to not leave trailers unattended and making sure they park in secure, pre-approved locations with proper gates, locks, and security systems during rest stops. Aforementioned tools like vehicle tracking can provide extra layers of protection here, enabling you to monitor assets and respond quickly if an issue arises.
With surging deliveries during the holiday period, paperwork can quickly pile up. To keep your fleet organised and reduce stress, digitise it all through smart job management systems for a streamlined workflow.
A cloud-based dashboard, accessible via centralised web and mobile apps, allows fleet managers to carry out administration remotely. As well as this, many systems automate routine tasks like providing accurate ETAs, freeing you to focus on more urgent matters while ensuring customer satisfaction, particularly when unexpected challenges appear.
Staff shortages are a common trouble during the festive season, i.e., when last-mile deliveries should be most efficient. For example, increased absences due to illnesses such as colds and the flu, combined with employees taking holiday leave, can strain your fleet's capacity.
Fortunately, using fleet data management and analysis can help determine whether extra drivers are needed. If so, you can focus on hiring to cover instances where employee and shift shortages are most likely. Though, conduct thorough background checks and proper vetting before hiring new drivers to guarantee regulatory compliance.
As our tips make clear, the holiday season presents numerous obstacles for fleet managers. At MICHELIN Connected Fleet, our fleet management solutions are designed with these busy periods in mind so that your operations remain efficient and adaptable.
Our platform provides comprehensive data across key areas such as driver behaviour, fuel consumption, maintenance schedules, delivery performance, and fleet composition. Moreover, with leading OEM partnerships, we ensure seamless integration, making it easy for you to optimise your fleet's performance and control costs.
If you’re interested in how we can help your fleet effectively navigate the festive period, all while preparing you for future success, then be sure to make an enquiry into how we can support your business today.