Using Fleet Data to Improve Your Shop’s Performance

By Mary Gerard, Content Marketing Manager

Data. D.A.T.A.

Whether you love using data and analytics in your fleet operation, or you’re resistant to it, it’s here to stay. These metrics are essential to make well-informed decisions about your shop. 

As a successful fleet manager, you need to know how to get data, and most importantly – how to use it. 

Here are some pointers to help you collect the right metrics for your fleet operation to make informed decisions. 

Define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Determine the specific metrics that are critical to measuring your fleet’s performance. This could include fuel efficiency, vehicle utilization, maintenance costs, driver safety, on-time delivery, customer satisfaction, and other key metrics you need to keep your shop running efficiently. 

 Collect Relevant Data

After defining KPIs, you then need to identify how you will collect the needed data to provide the metrics you need to track your fleet’s performance. Some methods of obtaining this information include telematics systems, driver logs, and fleet management software. In an FMIS, you can track vehicle usage, maintenance records, warranty information, parts inventory, labor, work orders, and other relevant information.

 Analyze Data

Once the data is collected, you must analyze it to identify patterns and trends in your fleet. This can help you make decisions about how many vehicles you need in your fleet, how to make maintenance more efficient, how many technicians to schedule, when to replace vehicles, and more. 

Listen: Benefits of Hiring a Fleet Data Analyst

 How to Use Fleet Data

Once you have collected and analyzed the data, you can use it to make key decisions around your fleet operation. Some of the ways you can use this information in your shop include:

• Improve Fuel Efficiency: Using fuel consumption data and driver behavior metrics can identify opportunities for improving fuel efficiency. From the data, you can create driver training programs to address fuel-saving techniques, including limiting idling and quick acceleration. The data can also be used to educate drivers on where to purchase fuel and help technicians identify ways to optimize vehicle maintenance to reduce fuel consumption and costs.
• Enhance Maintenance Practices: Fleet managers can use maintenance data and predictive analytics to optimize preventive maintenance schedules, reduce downtime, and proactively address potential vehicle issues. Implementing a PM program based on data-driven insights can minimize unexpected breakdowns and increase fleet reliability.
• Monitor Driver Performance and Safety: Data on driver performance can be used to assess driver behavior, such as speeding, harsh braking, or distracted driving. Identifying high-risk drivers and providing training programs can improve safety, reduce accidents, and lower insurance costs.
• Optimize Fleet Vehicles: Analyzing data on vehicle utilization, maintenance costs, and fuel efficiency can help fleets determine the right number of assets for their fleet – and the types of vehicles they need. This data can help evaluate whether downsizing or expanding the fleet is necessary, if incorporating different types of vehicles is needed, and start conversations around how to obtain the assets. 
• Continuously Monitor the Fleet’s Status: Having access to real-time data in an FMIS can help fleet managers keep a pulse on their fleet operation at all times. They can set up dashboards to quickly reveal if there are problems that need to be addressed. This shows immediate concerns, as well as long-term trends that can be used to make strategic decisions.

By leveraging data effectively, you can optimize various aspects of your fleet operation, reduce costs, enhance safety, improve overall fleet performance, and quickly identify problems.

To learn how RTA’s fleet management software solution can benefit your fleet operation, schedule a free demo today.