Dive Brief:

• A recent Fleet Advantage survey of more than 500 fleet executives and managers assessed how private fleets use data-gathering technologies (and what they know of these supports) intended to help them run efficiently and to make informed business decisions. The survey revealed that many industry professionals have no tools to analyze the abundance of data available to them, and 45% of respondents are not sure if such technologies have even resulted in operational savings.
• Respondents were most interested in tools to enhance fuel efficiency; 81% spec their powertrain for fuel economy rather than performance, and 86% spec their axle/gear ratio for fuel economy. Respondents were least interested in applications to help prevent collisions (9.7% considered them a priority) though they were interested in other safety technologies such as tire pressure monitors, back-up alarms, and roll-over stability.
• Other key findings are the majority of respondents said they’ve implemented performance enhancers like aerodynamic roof fairings, however about one-third of respondents had not used low-rolling resistance tires, aerodynamic mirrors, or aerodynamic cab extenders.

Dive Insight:

As fleet industry technologies continue to spin out, tools have been enabling companies to manage tasks from creating checklists to ensuring environmental compliance. Specifically in the solid waste management arena there are applications for managers to schedule fleet trash collections. And cameras for monitoring drivers on their routes to determine if they are speeding or otherwise not operating safely.

"Ever since the recession ended, the [fleet management] industry has gone full-speed ahead in adopting newer technologies to their trucks that in turn provide access to a wealth of data and intelligence," Mike Spence, senior vice president of fleet services at Fleet Advantage told Fleet Owner.

Speaking specifically of the data-generating features, he said not everyone knows how to best use them for guidance in making sound fleet operations business decisions. Spence said fleet operators should determine the information that would best serve their company and chose a provider who can economically deliver that information in a way that’s a fairly easy and quick read.

"Don’t try to create a situation where everything is corrected overnight. Start at what’s most important to your business in that moment. Identify steps, then you can start gathering information...Acknowledge how that information can help your organization and where the leaks are in your system...From there, the sky is the limit," said Spence to Fleet Owner.