How Fleet Management Technologies Help Increase Profits

Managing a fleet of delivery trucks can be quite challenging, especially in the context of rapid growth. Haulage companies that fully embrace the challenges by proactively applying the right fleet management technologies are taking full advantage of the opportunities. The following are just a few.

Use Telecommunication Technologies to Maximize Control and Coordination

Running a fleet of lorries delivering cargo all over Europe can be tricky and fraught with risk, especially if you don’t know where your trucks are at any given moment of the day’s operations. That's why haulage companies that do not make full use of the latest telecommunication technologies are, in effect, operating blindly. To stay on top of the game, hauliers can use global positioning system (GPS) enabled truck dispatch systems to enable managers to keep appraised of any vehicle’s location, and other factors such as speed and physical condition. This total control solidly translates to having a better handle on things; road accidents are minimised, if not totally eliminated, and you can also be completely sure of the conduct of all drivers, with the ability to monitor if they are observing legal speeds on certain highways etc. Such sophisticated fleet management systems also reduce on-the-job crimes, as well as keeping maintenance costs down.

Improve Vehicles’ Fuel Mileage

There are fuel additives on the market that can be used not only in increasing your trucks’ mileage (you can travel longer distances while using up less fuel), but also in improving the efficiency of the lorries’ engines. The overall effect of using the right fuel additives, depending on the type of vehicles you use, can mean a significant reduction in operational costs, thereby increasing profitability. But this is not all about the money: certain fuel additives are also cleaner than natural gas, which could also enable haulage companies to greatly reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to the industry’s efforts in maintaining environmental sustainability.

Consider Green Technology

In recent years, devices based on green technology have become more common, mainly because they're becoming more affordable. For haulage companies, the use of equipment based on green technology—hybrid electric engines for their lorries and solar power to supply energy requirements—can result in higher productivity at less cost. For example, some companies make use of wind-generated power as their source of electricity in the office, driving down their operational costs and enhancing efficiency. Green technologies for vehicles can also greatly improve their overall effectiveness and contribute to an increase in profits.

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry in the UK and Europe. It provides services for matching haulage companies with jobs in road transport and haulage work in the domestic and international markets. Over 4,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.