Planning routes
Drivers may have favorite routes and roads and can certainly get from point A to point B using them. That doesn’t mean, however, a driver’s choice route is the most efficient path available. GPS and Internet mapping has changed the way many consumers navigate roads. Potential for the convenience is increased in the trucking industry. Internet mapping can be used to find the fastest route to a destination, such as the roadway with little to no construction. Fleet company managers can use online mapping or mapping applications to work out a route for a driver prior to departure, making the trip to and from a customer as efficient as possible. GPS has more of an on-road functionality, allowing drivers to stay on route or find alternative routes in cases of delays along the way, from detours to accidents along the road. When used together, online mapping and GPS prove a formidable force in helping the trucking industry operate as smoothly as possible. In addition to smooth travel, GPS monitoring allows management to see when trucks are in motion, which helps track a driver’s daily hours. By being able to monitor when a driver is “on the clock,” management can make sure drivers don’t run up unnecessary overtime. Tracking via GPS also allows management to make estimations about delivery time. It’s not a pleasant thought, but unexpected delays do sometimes prevent on-time deliveries. When management knows a truck may be late, the client can be contacted to make other arrangements for delivery.
Tracking a fleet
Just because the trucks have left the warehouse doesn’t mean management should or will stop keeping track of the employees and goods that have left the warehouse with them. Fleet management software works with GPS, allowing managers to track trucks along their routes. Few things are more detrimental to a shipping company’s bottom line or its reputation than a truck that doesn’t get where it’s scheduled to be on time. By using the onboard diagnostic systems of trucks in a fleet, a company can ensure individual vehicles are in optimum working condition. Properly maintained trucks get the highest fuel efficiency and have fewer breakdowns, making deliveries easier on trucking personnel and customers alike.
Efficiency doesn’t just happen in trucking. It’s produced day after day by using tech tools to keep track of drivers, trucks and goods. By bringing the latest technology into the fold, a company can make fleet tracking a simpler, more exact process, resulting in better customer service and happier clients.