How Behavior-Based Telematics Affects Fleets
Behavior-based telematics involves the incorporation of telecommunications, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and similar devices to help those companies dependent on fleet delivery services to better understand and monitor behavior. The data provided by telematics devices installed in fleet cars and vans can help a fleet company manager better understanding routing, driver location and the movement of goods and materials from point A to point B. The information can also help smaller fleet transportation companies improve driver safety, reduce accidents and lower ins- urance costs. If you as the owner of a smaller fleet company are looking ways to improve your driver’s performance and efficiency, you need to consider how behavior-based telematics may help. Understanding the important role that behavior-based telematics plays and how the use of this technology can improve your bottom-line can lead to more delivery jobs and growth opportunities for your company.
The Important Role of Behavior-Based Telematics for Smaller Fleet Companies
As an owner of a smaller fleet company, you are involved in delivering products, goods, materials and equipment to a client or customer’s site. Your drivers may be delivery professionals or salespeople looking to meet contract requirements and find additional business opportunities for your company. Your need for reliable fleet delivery vehicles may not be the same as that for larger fleet companies that purchase 10 or more vehicles, which places you at a significant competitive disadvantage from a cost standpoint. If you lease less than 10 vehicles and do not qualify for the incentives provided to recognized commercial fleet buyers, you really need to understand the behavior of your drivers in order to keep costs under control. If you lease a vehicle or provide your drivers with an allowance for their own leases, you can see your costs skyrocket when drivers deviate from their scheduled routes, add unnecessary miles to the lease, take too much time to complete a scheduled delivery or are involved in driving infractions (e.g., speeding and other moving violations). This is where behavior-based telematics can help your small fleet company.
How Behavior-Based Telematics Improves the Bottom-line
Employing behavior-based telematics in your smaller fleet vehicles provides you with the valuable data you need to properly manage your business. The data provided from an installed telematics device can help you determine when a driver in a leased fleet vehicle is nearing their 12,000 to 15,000 miles limit for the lease. It can provide you with analytics regarding common routes taken by your drivers, the time it takes to complete and assigned delivery and the amount of fuel used to move between destinations. This information not only helps you control your transportation costs but it can also provide you with an impetus to changing driver behavior in order to keep costs down and improve your fleet management profitability.