Fleet Management Blog

What is fleet visibility? Fleet visibility allows management to track and observe a fleet of vehicles from the moment they depart a distribution center to the time of delivery. Learn more about fleet visibility and how it can help you make data-driven decisions to improve fleet performance.

It's not always easy to navigate the fleet management world, even if you manage one yourself. With so many factors to consider, knowing the most common fleet management questions and their answers can help you prioritize tasks and better understand various administrative strategies.

The total cost of ownership (TCO) is the estimate of all of the costs associated with a product. When it comes to TCO for a fleet, these costs come from the initial investment in setting up each vehicle, the ongoing costs of owning them, and the amount of money you expect to receive from disposing of them. Learn more about TCO for fleets with Rand McNally Fleet.

Trucking isn’t a new industry, but learning truck navigation best practices and how to navigate the roads and highways of the world hasn’t always been easy. Luckily, newer GPS technology has made it easier than ever to get to your destination safely.

By recording valuable information about their vehicles and assets, businesses with fleets can improve their in-house operations. How do successful companies keep track of their data? They prioritize the use of fleet management software like the Rand Platform. Learn how fleet management software improves visibility by making vital information accessible to team members, and how Rand McNally can help you manage your business.

If you own and manage a fleet of vehicles, it's vital to know where they are at all times. Unauthorized trips are a huge risk for your business, but there are security measures you can put into place to ensure employees are following directions.

Whether you have a delivery fleet, and oil and gas fleet, or a construction fleet, dash cams offer a number of advantages to your daily operations. In addition to improving safety and offering valuble driver insight and vehicle analytics, they can also exonerate a driver in the event of any accident.Read our 5 tips for using fleet dash cams and find a video telematics solution for your business with Rand McNally Fleet.

Fleet managers have to juggle many responsibilities in their day-to-day business, including regulations, costs, and time. The process of balancing all of these facets can be challenging. However, while managing a fleet can be a tough task, using fleet management software can make them easier.Read more about the top five challenges fleet managers face and see how fleet management software from Rand McNally Fleet can help you grow and improve your business.

If you're a fleet manager, you know countless factors affect your fleet's readiness. You can prepare for disruptions and changes by building a resilient fleet.

Risk management is one of the most important roles a fleet manager fills. The possibility of an accident is a part of the job, but any manager can take steps to minimize the frequency with which they occur. Learn more about the preventive measures you can take to stop accidents in your fleet.

If you manage a fleet of commercial motor vehicles, you must comply with the FMCSA's ELD mandate. This mandate marks the change of paper driving logs to electronic logging devices (ELDs) to track your vehicles and their hours of service. The United States Department of Transportation (DoT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) work together to instate mandates that decrease the number of accidents on American roads every day.

The 3G Sunset is the phasing-out of the 3G network from big providers like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile in favor of 4G and 5G networks. Learn more about the 3G Sunset and how it will affect your operations with Rand McNally Fleet.

Another year is coming with opportunities for fleet managers to achieve new goals. The industry's current trends have many fleets aiming to improve aspects like safety, sustainability and savings. Read our fleet tips for 2023 to prepare your fleet for the new year.

Encouraging and acting on driver feedback is one of the best ways fleet managers can enhance their business. Drivers are directly involved in daily operations, and they can pinpoint which processes work well and potential improvements. Collecting actionable feedback from drivers enables fleet managers to mitigate known risks and decrease the likelihood of unexpected issues.

Fleet management is a complex job that involves a number of variables and responsibilities. Without a comprehensive guide to fleet preventative maintenance to help them reduce costs and increase productivity, some fleet managers feel lost.

When it comes to your fleet, growth and declines are normal fluctuations as the economy and your internal operations oscillate. As these fluctuations occur, right-sizing your fleet can help you deal with different factors that affect your overall strategy.

Pre-trip inspections are an essential and regular part of your fleet's operation. Inspections play a huge role in the safety of your drivers and vehicles as well as your overall efficiency. Learn more about why you should make an effort to improve daily vehicle checks and how you can adopt pre-trip inspection best practices today.

The advantages of a fleet dash cam are wide-reaching and can affect training practices, costs, fleet safety, and much more. But there are a lot of options on the market. How do you choose the right one for your operation? Let's go over these powerful tools, what you should consider when buying one, and how to select a dash cam for your fleet.

Having visibility on all the vehicles in your fleet can be a challenge, especially if a diverse range of units supports various company needs. Choosing the right fleet tracking solution can change your entire operation in the best way possible. At Rand McNally Fleet, we'll help you understand how to choose the best fleet tracking solution for your business.

Drivers are the most important assets for your business. Without an experienced team, it's impossible to get deliveries and supplies from point A to point B. Recruiting the right people for your trucking company makes a world of difference, but driver shortages make the hiring and scheduling process complex. Learn more about the current truck driver shortage and what it means for your business moving forward.

Depending on the extent of your operations, you may have dozens of drivers working for your business. With employees traveling all over the region, it's important to have a strong line of communication for travel updates, questions, and instructions.

Ensuring your drivers pass Department of Transportation roadside inspections is crucial to your company's success. By knowing what to expect in DOT roadside inspections and how to pass them, you can train your drivers and put rules in place to avoid violations. Regularly passing inspections can increase your company's productivity and profitability, as you'll avoid having your drivers or vehicles placed out of service.

When your priority is reducing accidents, safety isn't merely a box to tick off - it's a mindset. Shift the concept of "safety" from its association with extra training and checklists to something your workers feel motivated to strive for every day. This will improve their chances of avoiding injury while minimizing the many costs associated with safety incidents.

An electronic logging device (ELD) allows you to gain maximum insight into what drivers and vehicles do. Fleet management professionals can use ELDs to streamline processes, but there are other ways you can use the technology to set new goals and keep your business running efficiently.

An electronic logging device, or ELD, is crucial to most companies that manage fleets of commercial vehicles. Without these devices, it would be much more challenging for businesses to meet federal regulations and keep track of their drivers' performance out on the road. Due to the importance of ELD solutions, many fleet managers are always looking to gain an edge by picking the best ELD solution possible for their fleet.

Every year, roughly 4 million commercial motor vehicles in North America will go through a roadside inspection process. The objective of such inspections is to ensure that commercial trucks and buses are operating safely on highways and roads across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. With the help of this guide, you'll get a better understanding of what to expect during a roadside inspection.

Fleet managers are always looking for ways to save money. Integrating new technology in fleet vehicles can make operations more efficient and help businesses qualify for tax benefits. One technology getting a great deal of attention during tax season is GPS tracking equipment.

Your fleet is most likely in full operation all year. Working year-round means that, based on your location, you'll probably have drivers moving through snow, slush, and ice. Planning for bad driving conditions before the holiday season will help you get ahead of the competition and stay on top of deliveries.

Fleet navigation systems are designed to help drivers make it from one destination to another in the fastest and safest way possible. The essential parts of a navigation system include GPS technology, portable devices that display directions, and software that connect drivers to managers. Knowing how to choose a fleet navigation system often comes down to being aware of the primary advantages a high-quality system can provide and some of the features you'll want to look for in a navigation solution.

Having insurance for drivers and vehicles is a large part of being a fleet manager. As with any regular expense for your business, however, it's important to seek out insurance price reductions applicable to your operations. If you're curious about how to reduce fleet insurance premiums, consider the tips below to keep your costs to a minimum.

If you manage a commercial fleet, you rely on your drivers to complete tasks safely according to a deadline. Your staff is responsible for making sure supplies, products, and other assets get to where they need to be, so it's important that you can trust your employees to do their jobs correctly. Here's how to keep your fleet drivers accountable using fleet management technology.

Manually determining commercial trucking routes is a thing of the past that is inefficient and time-consuming. Even if you're using a web-based mapping system to schedule routes, it's not the same as integrating route optimization into your operations. Navigation apps give you simple point A to point B directions. Rout optimization solutions, however, give you efficient directions from point A to point Z, including stops, deliveries, and a multitude of other factors.

Fleet metrics are the key to running a successful business. With today's advancements in digital technology, collecting fleet data is easier and more intuitive than ever before. The latest fleet data management hardware and software have provided businesses with new ways to use fleet data. You can use these exciting advancements to learn more about your fleet and how you can improve your operation. This can help you reach your business goals and serve more clients along the way.

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of road accidents. Whether a driver is texting or checking emails on their phone, distracted driving poses many safety and financial risks to businesses that operate fleets.

Your company makes many investments, but none may be as important and ongoing as your investment in your fleet. From delivering packages to moving materials and even transporting people, your fleet is the cornerstone of your business. You want your fleet to be as profitable as possible with a strong return on investment (ROI), but how can you be sure the money you're making is justifying your costs? Measuring your fleet ROI can give you the numbers and information you need to check if you're on track to meet your business goals.

Implementing a fleet safety program, whether you manage a nationwide operation or local business, can foster safer operations while improving driver protection and reducing monetary losses. Vehicle accidents are among the most costly injury claims for businesses that manage a fleet, which is why a fleet safety management program is crucial in keeping your drivers safe and eliminating preventable accidents.

Businesses that operate fleets need efficient ways to track them. Fleet management software, or vehicle telematics, allows you to manage dispatch, routes, maintenance schedules, fuel economy, drivers, health and safety compliance, and other essential aspects of your fleet, improving your operations and bottom line. If you're dealing with any of the following scenarios, these are signs you need telematics.

On June 12, 2021, the new Canadian ELD Rule went into effect. The rule, similar to the one that went into effect in the U.S. in December 2017, requires all motor carriers to have a certified electronic logging device on board. 

Fleet management, like many parts of the shipping industry, is equal parts art and science. It’s a delicate balancing act between keeping everything moving forward efficiently and networking, while ensuring you’re in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.

Let’s take a look at some fleet management best practices that you should include as part of your standard operating procedures if you don’t already.

If you operate a trucking company in the United States or Canada, you're probably familiar with the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA). The IFTA is a cooperative arrangement between the 48 contiguous American states and 10 Canadian provinces that enables inter-jurisdictional carriers to pay fuel consumption taxes under a single license.

In today's highly competitive trucking environment, providing exceptional customer service is paramount. Even one late or damaged shipment can be enough for a customer to seek another carrier.

The cost of diesel fuel has traditionally been one of the largest expenses for trucking and transportation businesses. As a company owner or fleet manager, finding ways to utilize fuel more efficiently can reduce your operating costs and boost productivity. For most companies, a multipronged approach consisting of monitoring and improving driver behavior, instituting stringent vehicle maintenance practices, implementing telematics, and taking the time to "spec" trucks delivers the best results.

Fleet management trends change rapidly as technology develops and common procedures evolve. Following and tracking fleet industry trends over time presents a perfect example of how new technology can change the future of fleet management.

Truck driver turnover is a challenge faced by many businesses in the commercial transportation industry. In 2018, driver turnover rates reached 94% in the first quarter. Though this number is discouraging for fleet managers, there are effective ways to reduce truck and fleet driver turnover.

All U.S. commercial vehicle operators are subject to federal safety regulations by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT's mission is for the United States to be globally recognized as the world's leading transportation system. A robust national transportation system bolsters our country's economic opportunities while connecting communities coast to coast.

Fleet managers need a way to organize their fleet information and data. An established system stores data in a way that is useful for reference or analysis to improve your business. One of the best solutions available is a fleet management system, which tracks and monitors your vehicles, storing data in a central place. These systems make it easier to manage and update your fleet so you can be more efficient and reduce your operational costs.

A fleet management system tracks and monitors vehicles at all times. This level of supervision is needed in the industry since your fleet can be involved in many different scenarios, from different driving habits to vehicle wear and tear. The system stores fleet data, including vehicle specifications, service schedules, and insurance documents. It makes fleet management easier and gives you easy access to up-to-date information.

Telematics involves gathering data from various sensors and gauges, recording it on a device, and then using telecommunication or cellular networks to transmit that data to a server or computer. From there, the information can be used in a wide variety of applications.

Choosing the best software to manage your fleet requires some research to identify options that meet your company's needs. With an understanding of how to choose fleet management software, such as key features that will make your job easier, you can quickly find a software solution to improve the efficiency of handling your fleet.

To tackle the many aspects of fleet management, you need a clear-cut guide that outlines your responsibilities as a fleet manager and helps you optimize your role. Here is everything you need to know to maximize your company's fleet management benefits. 

In an ongoing effort to provide flexibility for truck drivers, the U.S. Department of Transportation is altering some hours of service (HOS) rules. The DOT's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published final rules June 1, 2020 and the new hours of service regulations go into effect September 29, 2020. 

Reducing a CSA score takes time, but the more inspections a driver has that are violation free, the better (lower) the score becomes. Use the tips below to improve scores and the FMCSA help center for more information and printable handouts for over-the-road support.

What is the number one way to maximize a truck driver’s hours of service? There are many ways, but reducing dwell time at the loading dock is a great place to start. This article will show the best strategies to avoid reductions in drive time, HOS violations, detention fines, and much more by reducing the amount of time a truck driver has to wait for his or her truck to be loaded or unloaded.

The aim of this article is here to show everyone – car drivers, truck drivers, safety managers, and warehouse attendants – can do their part to ensure that the roadways are safe this winter.