How to Future-Proof Your Fleet with the Right Technology‍

Smart commercial fleets are always looking to optimize flexibility in their operations, especially when it comes to planning for the future. Whether it is an economic boom that increases demand for shipping or a slowing flow of goods due to external factors, fleets must be nimble and responsive to preserve their longevity. 

Since commercial carriers operate in a relatively volatile market, managers must be diligent when planning for future operations. Choosing the right technology can play a key role in a fleet’s sustainability.

How Can Commercial Fleets Future-Proof Their Operations?

The commercial trucking industry is undeniably getting “smarter” at a rapid pace. The days of paper logs and tedious pre-route inspections are long gone. Today’s drivers benefit from technologies designed to keep them safer and more efficient, like electronic logging devices (ELDs) that support HOS compliance, digital DVIRs that streamline inspections, and super-responsive truck sensors that alert and advise in real-time.

Back office employees also benefit from emerging technologies that reduce busywork and improve data quality, like streamlined unassigned drive time (UDT) management, optimized route planning, improved communication with drivers, and automated reporting and compliance tasks.

As the possibilities expand, choosing a fleet management system provider becomes a more important decision than ever. Entering into a partnership with a system provider represents a substantial investment in time, money, and resources. In addition to the research and internal alignment required to establish your fleet’s needs and priorities, you must compare prices, services, and other “soft” features, like customer service, training support, and integration with other tools. 

Download the Free Guide: 6 Secrets of Fleet Management Software Buyers

When thinking about the future of your fleet, a key consideration must be how your potential technology provider ensures your fleet’s operations can scale. Ensuring your provider offers options and technologies that support your fleet’s growth lays the groundwork for future success.

4 Ways Fleet Management Tools Help Future-Proof Your Fleet

Some of the most practical ways to future-proof fleet operations is to look for these features and services from your fleet management software, ensuring your fleet can ride the highs and lows of whatever the economy brings your way.

1. Usage-Based Billing

Fleets typically aim for at least an 80% fleet optimization rate, meaning that — even in best-case scenarios — many trucks are sitting idle in the lot or the shop. Bigger fleets may face an even more difficult fleet utilization rate due to increased scheduling issues with maintenance and the sheer number of trucks to keep in working order. 

Other times, the economy may slow demand, or you may simply not need to use all of your trucks at once. In any case, if you’re paying a flat rate on fleet management services, you are wasting money on those trucks that are not in service. Look for a technology provider that charges you only for the active trucks using their services that month, saving you substantial costs while building in flexibility to respond to economic cues.

2. Industry Insights

All fleet management providers are not created equal; the amount of industry thought leadership and involvement varies greatly. But why should fleets care? By choosing a technology provider that is well-connected in the industry and involved in new developments, you can ensure your fleet will be aware of — and prepared for — what’s to come on the horizon. 

Whether it’s new regulations you’ll need to implement or disruptive technologies that can impact operations, your technology provider can offer greater insight and preparation to keep your fleet ahead of the curve. Choose a provider that is committed to active involvement in the industry to benefit your future operations.

3. Ongoing Customization for Emerging Goals and Needs

As your fleet grows, you will undoubtedly come across new challenges or set different goals for your operations. A new customer may require additional monitoring, or perhaps your area of operations shifts and introduces new external factors. You may branch into a completely different area of specialized assets, or face new local regulations. The key is to be operating in a flexible, open environment that grows with your business.

Choosing a technology platform that allows you to add on specialized apps to increase functionality in specific areas can be a game-changer for fleet operations. Just like you can add apps to your smartphone for certain interests or tasks, some fleet management systems allow you to add on third-party apps that deliver increased functionality in specific areas. This may mean improved weather monitoring, more diversified training, increased fuel price monitoring, faster inspections, and much more. Choosing a technology partner with this capability ensures your fleet can evolve as needed in the months and years to come.

Read more: Meet the Virtual Vehicle Marketplace: How to Power Up Your Fleet's Operations

4. Responsiveness to Employee Feedback

The American Trucking Association is projecting the driver shortage to reach almost 160,000 by the end of the decade; fleets must do all they can to attract and retain top drivers to ensure longevity. As more fleets integrate new technologies and standards into their equipment and operations, there must be room for incorporating employee feedback. This input from team members — in both the cab and the back office — can influence the direction of technological advancements for the industry and help fleets readjust when an approach isn’t working.

Choosing a fleet management system that is open and flexible is key to ensuring you not only keep employees happy but that you can incorporate their feedback to improve your operations in real time. Perhaps a new procedure is actually slowing down inspections. Maybe your drivers are feeling overwhelmed by the number of logins or comms in their cab. Your back office may be struggling with overwhelming HOS sorting and correction. 

The good news is that there are already specialized apps available that can integrate seamlessly into your overall system to eliminate these issues should they arise in your fleet. Leaving room for these adjustments and an open line of communication with your employees ensures your organization stays healthy and can course correct when needed. This prepares you to face any new challenges that might emerge in the years to come and builds your reputation as an employee-focused culture that takes feedback seriously.

Keeping an eye to the future is not just smart, it is imperative in a highly competitive market that encounters numerous fluctuations on a regular basis. Choosing the right technology provider can set your fleet up for success for years to come by increasing responsiveness and flexibility in your operations. 

‍Platform Science provides fleets with customized solutions to manage operations, improve efficiencies, stay compliant, and prepare for the future. Contact us today to schedule a demo, or explore our site to learn more about our driver-focused solutions and extensive add-on app ecosystem, the Virtual Vehicle marketplace.