If your daily business involves you transporting clients or expensive products from factories to a different part of your city, then you will have an experienced team of drivers who are ready to jump onto the open road to bring your products to your customers. However, maintaining such a large Fleet Team can come with its costs. If you are looking to pull back on spending so much on your drivers, here are the best ways to do this.
Finding the Most Cost-Effective Insurance
Being able to locate reasonable Fleet Insurance without an expensive price tag attached can be quite an arduous task. Each insurer will question you about your drivers and whether or not they can be trusted to maintain your vehicles without getting into an accident. If you are looking to cut down on your costs in regards to your insurers, start by using comparison websites to see which Fleet Insurers have the best deals. This way, you can personalise your insurance and make sure it covers everything on your insurance checklist. This also means that you can get rid of any extensions that you do not need. So, keep your costs down by doing your research!
Keeping your Mileage down
According to a study made by Ford Retail, one of the major concern for any business that uses a Fleet Team is how they utilize their fuel and whether or not they are wasting it on mileage. They estimate that an average fleet of 10 vehicles would use around 156,624 miles a year (15,624 per vehicle) on their average journeys, which could seriously raise fuel expenses and potential fuel waste as a result. Instead, encourage your drivers to research their routes before they go out on the road. If each of your vans are fitted with a GPS unit then this could help track the most efficient route, especially if your drivers are forced to go out in unpleasant weather. Perhaps some fleets could even consider using telematics solutions from Lytx to try and reduce fuel wastage. Their solutions can help companies to track fuel management and it can also help drivers to choose the most efficient routes by offering route optimization services. That could help companies lower their mileage, saving them money.
Choose your Drivers Wisely
Companies like The Mirror have said that insurers “will up your premium based on age, sex, job, postcode and where you park, as well as what you drive.” It is estimated that 2/3 of accidents on the road are caused by people within the age group of 17-25. This is because they have not had the experience that other drivers have had. So, when you go to purchase your Fleet Insurance and want to save some money, make sure that the drivers on your team are not within this age bracket. With a clean record, you have a good chance of having your premium lowered, but be sure that your driver maintains their good behaviour, as the premium will rise if an accident occurs.
Fleet Maintenance
When one of your company’s vehicles breaks down, it means losing money. Whether it’s from time lost on the road or paying for repairs, you need to stay on top of van maintenance. Using data from a Fleet Management Tracking system, prioritize which vehicles need maintenance first based on their routes and mileage. Instead of sticking to a set schedule, use advanced engine diagnostics and real-time mileage reports to know what needs fixing right away. This helps your engineers know exactly what to address.
Maintaining a fleet of vehicles for business operations can be expensive, but there are several strategies to reduce costs. Carefully shopping around for the most affordable fleet insurance by comparing providers and tailoring coverage is crucial. Monitoring fuel usage and mileage through GPS tracking and route optimization can significantly cut fuel expenses. Hiring experienced drivers with clean records beyond the high-risk 17-25 age group can lead to lower insurance premiums. Finally, using data-driven fleet maintenance by prioritizing repairs based on real-time diagnostics rather than set schedules prevents costlier breakdowns. By implementing these cost-saving measures, fleet businesses can rein in their spending while still operating an efficient and reliable fleet of vehicles. With judicious financial management, companies can protect their bottom line without compromising their transportation capabilities.