Transportation is the backbone of American industry. Truck fleets ship our goods across the country, bus fleets transport people to their destinations, and courier fleets deliver packages to our front doors. Although transportation fleet operations are a profitable industry, their operational costs are exceptionally high. Transportation and logistics managers are always looking for a way to lower these costs. We have found three strategies that fleets can implement to reduce transportation operating costs.

Routine Maintenance

Performing routine maintenance is arguably the single most important way to lower operating costs. Breakdowns and mechanical wear are two of the most significant contributors to high operating costs. Having a routine maintenance schedule can make a world of difference. Regular oil changes, tire changes, coolant flushes and multipoint inspections can go along way to keeping your vehicles on the road. Other maintenance tips, such as performing OBD-II scans and keeping a regular log of the diagnostic data, can help prevent breakdowns. Furthermore, teaching drivers to identify mechanical-trouble symptoms, such as engine knock, overheating and other common signs of breakdowns, can prevent significant catastrophes from happening.

Improving MPG

Improving MPG is a handy way to save on fleet operating costs. MPG improvements can be made through the use of fuel-saving driving techniques. Teaching your drivers proper techniques through practice can lead to a hefty amount of savings. The best teaching method is to use driving simulators. Driving simulators provide automatic feedback on MPG performance, which can lead to practical habits that translate to sustained improvement fleetwide. Frequent practice of proper driving technique means that drivers can drive longer distances and spend less time at the pump.

Improving Dispatching

Many large transportation fleets rely on dispatching to send drivers to new locations. Conventional dispatching relies on calling individual drivers for location updates and simply telling them of the new location they must visit. Modern high-tech dispatching solutions use real-time data to keep track of each driver in the fleet. Modern solutions also use secure two-way messaging for real-time communication. Real-time data allows dispatchers to send drivers the quickest and most fuel-efficient routes to reach their destinations. Dispatching is the backbone of the transportation industry, and modern solutions can allow transportation fleets to operate more efficiently.

When you’re calculating operating costs, it’s important to figure out ways to make them lower. Implementing one or all these strategies can improve the efficiency of your transportation fleet. Efficiency means vehicles will arrive at their destinations quicker and lead to savings in operating costs.

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