Fuel prices are climbing, supply chains are inconsistent, labor populations are shifting, and environmental standards are changing—a turbulent mix of variables making fleet management more difficult. For owners and operators, large and small, cost-effective operations are a fundamental matter of business sustainability.
The dynamic is creating a great deal of interest in centralized business services platforms. Companies such as Radius, for instance, are playing in the space by connecting businesses with fuel, telematics, vehicle, telecom, and other services, (note that Radius only offers telematics in the US). The concentration of resources under a single banner can help organizations significantly improve their operational stance without having to manage a handful of siloed providers. And as you may say, this is where the rubber meets the road—not in terms of shiny innovation, but a stabilized course that lets businesses avoid the time-consuming minutiae of administration!
Why Telematics Is Now a Business Necessity
One of the most prominent boons of this drive is the swelling popularity of telematics. These sophisticated systems are not just for major trucking fleets out West anymore. Smaller operators in the Southeast, service fleets across the continent, and even independent businesses with only a few vehicles in their fleet are all enjoying the competitive traction that telematics can bring.
Preparing for an EV, Emissions Revamp
But burgeoning interest is not the only major curve shaping North American fleet trends. The shift toward electric vehicles and government-sought emissions reductions is another major trend. In both the U.S. and Canada, officials are starting to incentivize and regulate cleaner transportation. Dedicated information and guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Natural Resources Canada
We are helping fleets gain their bearings on the road to cleaner operation.
Yet businesses in the transportation space cannot lose sight of current and pending safety, hours-of-service, and compliance considerations. The dedicated guidance from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration continues to inform decisions related to vehicle and driver operation across state and division lines.
Plus, another component to influence decisions about the direction of fleet operations that is gaining traction is the “human angle.” Driver retention, driver safety, and driver satisfaction are now as much a part of the conversation as miles per gallon and whether or not the operation is in compliance. Drivers are experiencing workdays that are still too long, with delivery time windows continuing to shrink while stress levels are climbing. They are looking for a “safety net” to either relieve that pressure or have systems in place that can deflect it.
A Robust Fleet Plan for Long-Term Operation
In the end, successful fleet management in North America today is about adaptability. Organizations that invest in the wonders of technology, clean reporting, and interchangeable asset plans stand in a better position against change, in general. And so, by putting substantive effort toward efficiency, safety, and future-oriented planning, vehicle-using companies can go the distance, regardless of what bumps they might hit along the way!
