There are always challenges in a management role, and it can feel a lot like spinning plates. This is particularly true when it comes to commercial fleet managers that have many important aspects that they need to manage in order to excel in their role and hit their targets. There are a lot of different areas that need careful attention as a commercial fleet manager, and it is important to be aware of what a few of the key challenges are and how they can be managed. With this in mind, here are a few of the key challenges that a commercial fleet manager faces.
1. Driver Safety
Driver safety is something that will always worry or concern commercial fleet managers. However, you can greatly reduce this with commercial driver training designed to prevent distracted driving. There are many causes of distracted driving, from visual to manual, and the impact can be devastating. The good news is that training courses can improve your driver’s abilities and make sure that they are smart, safe, and sensible drivers at all times. Learn everything about how you prevent distracted driving here today.
2. Driver Shortages
There has been a mass shortage of truck drivers for many years now. This is difficult because demand is so high in terms of shipping, which means that you have to really get the most out of your existing team and this, unfortunately, has led to many truck drivers being overworked. This is a vicious cycle, as it then becomes a less desirable role when you hear stories of drivers being worked to the point of extreme. This is why you need to make truck driver positions as appealing as possible and always make sure that people have flexibility.
3. Fuel Costs
Rising fuel costs are another major challenge for commercial fleet owners. There is not much that can be done about the price of fuel, but you can keep your costs down by opting for fuel-efficient vehicles and by using route planning to make sure that consumption is kept to a minimum.
4. Vehicle Maintenance
You also need to stay on top of vehicle maintenance, which can be a challenge when you have multiple vehicles heading out each day. You need to keep a maintenance schedule for each vehicle, make sure that staff conduct daily walk-around checks, and encourage them to report when there is any kind of problem with the vehicle.
5. Compliance
Legislation is constantly changing in this industry, which is another headache for fleet managers to handle. You will always want to make sure that you are compliant, but this is not always easy when your drivers are out and about each day, and you are not able to supervise. You need to make an effort to stay current with any changes in legislation, provide staff training and keep relevant documentation readily available.
As you can see, there are all kinds of challenges that a fleet manager has, and it can be a stressful role. It is important to be aware of what these challenges are and how they can be managed so that you can thrive in your role, take the business forward and keep your team happy, safe and engaged.
