A driver and fleet monitoring system at your fingertips

Using a driver and fleet monitoring system to improve driving behavior

It goes without saying, safe driving behavior can make a world of difference in the viability and success of a fleet company. Even a small distraction on the road may have a negative impact, resulting in repair costs, driver injuries, poor reputation; and, eventually, business decline.

For this reason, a driver and fleet monitoring system automatically records daily driving behavioral data — directly associated with vehicle condition — helping fleet managers with a fleet performance overview. That goes to say, through alerts, reports, and driver scorecard analytics, fleet managers know every single incident of unsafe driving, negligence, and other unwanted behavioral patterns in their fleet; for example:

• Sudden acceleration
• Speeding
• Hard braking
• Sharp turns
• Idling
• Nonoptimal routing
• Using vehicle out of working hours
• Fuel-theft

Analyzing the data collected from the driver monitoring system, fleet managers can identify areas for improvement; and take corrective action towards rectifying them.

From monitoring to training

With this in-depth data, assessing driving patterns is easier than ever; and, in the hands of fleet managers, can lead to more informed business decisions. Not to mention that steering focus towards resolving driving behavior issues, managers can also protect their employees; and other road users.

For instance, a good practice would be to provide training that will help employees become conscious drivers; and improve their behavior behind the wheel. There are plenty of defensive driving courses to choose from; many of which are state-certified.

In conjunction with the training, it’s important for managers to be clear on the company’s safety policies too; by that token, explaining to employees that implementing both (policies and training) promotes the company’s overall safety culture.

In this context, a driver monitoring system can serve as the backbone of an all-encompassing employee support system; one that helps drivers enhance their driving skills. At the same time, it helps recognize continued efforts and good performance, while offering incentives and rewards.

The three fundamental benefits of a fleet monitoring system

Using a driver and fleet monitoring system comes with a host of benefits that can have multiple applications in a fleet’s operations — depending on their implementation. However, there are three fundamental aspects in vehicle management that are distinctly more ‘exposed’ to unanticipated — and unnecessary — expenses. To elaborate, these are fuel usage, maintenance and repairs, and driver behavior.

Under this perspective, a fleet manager can make the most of an intuitive vehicle management system. That is, to immediately assess — and address — any issues deriving from the aforementioned fronts; to ensure, eventually, that the fleet is operating in a cost-effective manner.

1. Optimizing fuel management

With a fleet tracking system up and running, fleet managers can monitor the fuel costs of the entire fleet. That is, for each vehicle and trip, separately. This immediately opens up a window into how fuel is being used among fleet vehicles. For example, drivers who let their vehicles’ engines idling more than expected, will cause a spike in fuel costs. Having all the required data available, fleet managers are able to optimize fuel expenses, once and for all.

2. Improving maintenance and repair scheduling

Thanks to analytics collected from the fleet monitoring system, managers can schedule predictive maintenance — or preventative maintenance — for their fleet. This way, potential vehicle health complications are identified and resolved, before they become costly problems. Vehicle breakdowns and expensive repairs are promptly reduced and even eliminated. By extension, when vehicles are properly maintained, the probability of accidents is immediately decreased — fleet expenses too; while the lifespan of fleet vehicles increases.

3. Promoting safe driving behavior

Fleet drivers who often display unsafe driving behavior, like speeding, hard braking, and accelerating aggressively are not only wearing down the vehicle and wasting fuel, but also putting themselves and other road users in great danger. Thankfully, Telematics and vehicle management software provide data on how drivers typically use their vehicles every day; hence, allowing fleet managers to delve into their drivers’ behavior patterns, and train them accordingly.