Fleet Tracking and Dispatching: Get Your Best Driver on the Best Route
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Every delivery company needs to put its best foot forward to knock out the competition. Customers not only want to know when the order will arrive but also at what hour. This puts pressure on dispatchers and drivers, as everyone is always in a rush to meet expectations. However, along the way, drivers can encounter challenges that delay the entire operation.
Let’s look at fleet tracking software and how it can help keep your drivers on the best routes.
In this article, you will:
Get to know what fleet tracking and dispatching is
See the challenges faced by drivers daily
Understand the impact of these challenges on a fleet business
Fleet tracking refers to the use of GPS technology and onboard diagnostics (telematics) to collect data and monitor the real-time location of fleet vehicles and assets at any time.The data collected is then used to make informed decisions on fleet operations. Fleet dispatching, on the other hand, refers to organising and managing the movements of fleet vehicles and the drivers who operate them to ensure timely deliveries and pickups to meet customer expectations.
The role of a dispatcher?
A fleet dispatcher is someone who strategises and then gives drivers or technicians guidance on daily tasks to achieve seamless operations. Fleet dispatchers plan delivery and pick-up schedules or service appointments, map out routes and ensure that drivers comply. They also handle and approve some of the fleet’s expenses, such as fuel and maintenance, and have the power to change job orders as needed.
Once again, this can be very difficult when done manually without the help of vehicle GPS tracking and telematics technology. Fleet vehicles need to be visible so the best driver or technician can be chosen to perform the task based on driver availability, maintenance schedules and job requirements.
Daily delivery challenges faced by drivers
Drivers are often under a lot of pressure to make deliveries on time but encounter obstacles which disrupt the whole process causing delays, here are a few examples:
Traffic congestion: There are certain times of the day when traffic can be predicted, like in the mornings when people go to work, at lunchtime, or when it is time to go back home, what cannot be predicted is traffic that is.
Vehicle breakdown: Imagine a driver on the move going about their day, then suddenly the truck starts overheating. Unfortunately, that happens quite often. Missed service dates prevent drivers from completing the task.
Road Accidents: The pressure they face to make on-time deliveries may be careless driving habits such as speeding. Drivers become less considerate and aware on the road when rushing somewhere, which then leads to road accidents.
Poor communication: Drivers get delayed and are unable to notify customers, causing frustration on both ends. Some are not trained properly to interact with and manage customer expectations.
Fatigue: Drivers need enough breaks between their shifts before the long hours strain their physical and mental health. Fatigue driving leads to accidents and unhappy staff members. Another issue with this is that each fleet business needs to comply with driver hours of service to avoid being penalised.
Heavy packages: Vehicles can only take a certain amount of weight. Drivers often overload the vehicles just to shorten the trips, but that actually damages the vehicle in the long run and also consumes more fuel. Drivers also need to know how to handle heavy goods with care to prevent damage. These kinds of tasks should be assigned to experienced drivers who can also operate bigger vehicles that can handle the weight.
Paperwork: Getting everyone to sign for receiving their parcels and keeping all the documents safe can be quite a time-consuming and tedious process. This is not only time-consuming for the drivers and customers but also for fleet managers, who have to cross-check the records from time to time.
What these challenges mean for the business
A budget overrun is what fleet managers face when there are too many unmonitored issues caused by the following:
High fuel consumption: There are many ways fuel gets drained out of the tank on daily trips. From the idling that comes with being stuck in traffic to drivers using routes that they’re more familiar with, which turn out to be longer. It is hard for fleet managers to pin down the root cause of fuel waste when no software gives a clear indication of where the problem is. Using up a lot of fuel affects not only the pockets but the environment as well. Every transport business in Singapore should strive for sustainability and take pride in making less carbon emissions.
Unplanned downtime: A breakdown means the vehicle needs to be serviced or parts need to be fixed or replaced, which means fewer vehicles are available for tasks. With a fleet management platform, downtime can be planned by scheduling the service dates, so there are fewer surprises.
Inefficiency: This happens when too many things do not go as planned, which causes more money to be spent, yet less productivity and a decrease in profits.
Client dissatisfaction: Delivery delays, lack of customer service training, and bad driving habits lead to unhappy clients. Customer service is the backbone of every business; no matter how good your product is, no one will like it if it’s not served delightfully. Online reviews and ratings may be the final reason why they choose you or not.
What is dispatch and routing software & how can it help you?
A fleet management system that helps you with dispatch and routing can help ensure your deliveries are completed successfully and on time every day.
Routing is based on the following principles aimed at optimising the way your fleet operates:
The right resource: The vehicle used for the job should be suitable and in good condition. For example, you won’t be using a sedan with worn brake pads to deliver heavy equipment.
The right location: Factors like customer location, delivery points, and depot locations are crucial to ensuring you use the most effective routes.
The right time: Make the most of your drivers’ time by utilising schedules to successfully meet deadlines, stay within delivery windows, and beat traffic conditions.
The right cost: Reducing distance travelled, fuel consumption, and driver hours reduces operational costs.
Using fleet management software based on these routing principles and effective dispatch management tools allows you to optimise a safe delivery process that enhances productivity, job efficiency, and boosts savings. Here’s how:
Efficient route planning and optimisation: This reduces travel time as the quickest and most efficient routes are chosen, improving on-time deliveries and pick-ups and leaving the customer happy.
Real-time visibility: With the power of GPS technology, businesses can track each vehicle's real-time location and status using a digital map that gives accurate information about its whereabouts. This simplifies coordination and limits the number of times a dispatcher will have to call the driver while on the road.
Scheduled maintenance: Fleet managers or dispatchers will know and get reminders of the maintenance dates for each vehicle so they can plan the work, knowing exactly which vehicles will be available on that specific day.
Accountability: Drivers are encouraged to drive responsibly through the monitoring of harsh behaviours such as speeding. The real-time visibility will lower the deviation rate as drivers will have to account for them. This also reduces time wastage and increases productivity.
Data-driven insights: Telematics data will tell you where money is being wasted and how. This is done by looking at reports that show things such as mileage and the quantity being delivered.
Lower fuel costs: Fleet managers or dispatchers can use fleet software to strategically avoid traffic-congested routes, monitor fuel levels and monitor deviations, reducing delays and fuel consumption.
Enhances safety and compliance: Driver working hours will be monitored, ensuring that no drivers are overbooked and that they have enough breaks between schedules.
The impact Cartrack has on logistics companies in South East Asia
Have a look at the following scenario displaying how powerful our fleet tracking technology can be:
Case study: How Cartrack came to the rescue for RichLand Logistics
RichLand is a leading logistics solutions provider that serves a wide range of sectors in the Southeast Asia region, including technology, petrochemicals, consumer goods, manufacturing, oil and gas and freight forwarding. It makes more than 40,000 deliveries monthly.
Their main challenge was that they did not have a system that could provide them with fleet and driver information updates so that their deliveries remained on track and made it on time. They also wanted to minimise operational costs and enhance efficiency and productivity.
How Cartrack helped them:
Using our geofence feature, RichLand has created virtual boundaries around dispatch and delivery zones so they could see if drivers reached the delivery locations on time. Managers are immediately notified of delays so they can contact drivers to find out why. This also helps with managing customer expectations.
Our driver reports feature has allowed RichLands to pinpoint problematic driver behaviour that could cause late deliveries, such as idling and reflecting poorly on the company’s image, such as speeding. These reports have also helped drivers take accountability for their actions, increasing productivity and improving customer relationships.
Richland uses Cartrack’s onboard fuel sensors to detect fuel consumption levels and receive fuel level updates. Fleet managers use this data to see which drivers and vehicles are more efficient and why. By finding the root cause of fuel drainage, they had the ability to decrease overall costs.
Through our advanced fleet tracking software, the RichLand logistics dispatch process is now simplified for fleet managers and drivers to be more productive since they get less interruptions when going about their day.
Make intelligent business decisions with Cartrack
Cartrack’s fleet management system gives you the power to increase your fleet’s visibility and boost efficiency with the following smart features:
Real-time location tracking Gain full visibility of your fleet through the live GPS tracking of your fleet vehicles. This will improve your decision-making process and boost operational efficiency. You can locate your nearest driver and dispatch jobs for faster deliveries. Live tracking also enhances the safety of your fleet and cargo.
Delivery This platform allows you to create driver schedules in advance, allocate jobs to your drivers, optimise them based on the quickest, shortest route, and see job progress. You also get an electronic proof of delivery through signatures and photos, limiting all the tedious paperwork. Our delivery tool also improves customer communication as they’ll receive automated notifications once the driver is on the way, with a link to live-track the delivery.
Preventative maintenance scheduling Receive real-time alerts of worn brake pads, engine faults and other diagnostics. Using real-time and historical vehicle data, we can suggest optimal service intervals that can help prevent breakdowns. This keeps your vehicle in good health and your drivers safe and reduces the overall costs of repairs and unnecessary downtime.
SmartCabin camera solutions Drivers will receive real-time audible alerts whenever our AI-powered cameras detect distracted driving behaviours such as smoking, fatigue, and cellphone use. This allows them to quickly correct their actions and avoid accidents. As a fleet manager, you also get 24-hour visual access to your fleet both internally and externally.
Turn dispatch woes into victories with Cartrack’s superior fleet tracking and management solutions
Cartrack specialises in fleet management solutions that will help elevate your business to greater heights. We are industry leaders in affordable and user-friendly vehicle technology.
Let’s answer some of your frequently asked questions
What are the benefits of GPS fleet tracking? It improves safety, lowers operational costs, and increases customer satisfaction and productivity.
What do you mean by fleet tracking? Fleet tracking is a management system that uses GPS technology to monitor fleet vehicles, workers, and equipment to improve safety and increase profits.
What is key to run a successful fleet? The key to a successful fleet business is investing in an all-in-one fleet management system such as Cartrack’s, which will give you all the information you need to boost profits.
What is the best software for fleet tracking? Cartrack’s advanced yet easy-to-use fleet management software is the best software for fleet tracking, which streamlines your entire fleet's operations.
Contact us today to transform your business with advanced fleet tracking and telematics solutions.
Discover how you can simplify your dispatch process, keep drivers on the best routes, and ensure streamlined fleet operations.
