2023 in Review: Keep Your Fleet Moving with MICHELIN Connected Fleet

The end of a year is a time of contemplation and evaluation. Often, it’s when businesses assess the performance of the last 12 months and set new goals for the year ahead. This exercise of reflection helps identify what worked well and areas that can be improved for 2024. It’s an essential task.

As a fleet owner or manager, maybe you’re wondering where to start in your end-of-year business assessment. In this blog, MICHELIN Connected Fleet lists out some initial questions you should be asking as you reflect on 2023 and discusses key strategies and solutions that your business can adopt in 2024. These suggestions will provide clarity into your fleet performance and help uncover best practices for your business to grow in the new year.

HOW DID YOU MANAGE COST SAVINGS?

In 2023, the transportation industry experienced rising costs due to higher maintenance and fuel costs, with one report stating the national average of fuel costs is up to $3.14 as of December 2023. When considering ways to reduce your spending in 2024, think about how you managed your fuel usage and how often your operations were paused due to vehicle maintenance and downtime.

When your drivers exhibit poor driving behaviors like speeding or idling, which wastes nearly six billion gallons of fuel, you end up with wasted fuel and increased expenses. However, with connected fleet technology like fuel management and monitoring solutions, you gain full visibility into how much fuel you are using and can identify where and when it is being wasted.

Similar to increased fuel consumption, poor driving behavior can result in unplanned maintenance and vehicle downtime. The more wear and tear a driver inflicts on their vehicle, the more time is needed for maintenance work, which puts a hold on operations, wastes resources and results in a potential daily loss in revenue. To keep your fleets moving forward and limit your spending, consider implementing a preventative maintenance strategy. This connected fleet strategy utilizes data and telematics technology to identify when it is time for vehicle checkups or what parts need to be replaced.

HOW DID YOU PRIORITIZE SAFETY ON THE ROAD?

Next, evaluate your drivers’ performance on the road over the last 12 months. We know poor driving behavior can result in costly repairs and increased fuel usage, but it also puts the driver, vehicle and the general public at risk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported a total of 19,515 traffic fatalities in the first half of 2023, showcasing the significant impact driving behavior carries.

To better protect your drivers and those sharing the road, consider implementing real-time data monitoring with connected fleet technology. You can have a more holistic view of your drivers’ locations through tracking solutions and geolocation tools and identify any potential safety hazards. Moreover, consider enhancing your driver training and safety courses with vehicle telematics. By pinpointing areas of improvement and tracking and assessing your driver’s performance, you can uncover growth areas for 2024 to better protect all on the road.

WHO DID YOU RELY ON FOR FLEET EXPERTISE?

And finally, consider whether you worked better alone or would have benefitted from the help of a connected fleet partner. Determining the best fleet management solution for your business can feel daunting when there are so many to choose from, and you are unsure what fits best with your current infrastructure. Partnering with an outside vendor is often a smart solution as they can analyze your business needs with fresh eyes and use their industry knowledge and resources to help you set and reach your goals in 2024.

At the start of every year, it is best practice to determine your business goals and identify areas needing optimization. A connected fleet partner can help assess your operational pain points and challenges and then develop tailored solutions that meet and address your individual needs.

Additionally, partners with advanced data analytics capabilities and expertise in fleet management best practices can provide expert knowledge on what matters the most to you, from driver safety and real-time tracking to predictive maintenance and fuel consumption analysis. Consider a partner like MICHELIN Connected Fleet that takes a consultative and collaborative approach to your fleet, providing check-ins and tailoring their strategies and recommendations to fit your evolving needs and goals.

KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR WITH MICHELIN CONNECTED FLEET

Reflecting on these questions can you help you understand and determine how your fleet performed in 2023 and what your best course of action will be in 2024. If your new year goal is to optimize all aspects of fleet management, MICHELIN Connected Fleet is ready to help. Call the MICHELIN Connected Fleet team today at 800-358-6187 or contact us online.