Fleet managers are under constant pressure to achieve higher levels of efficiency. Fleet utilization metrics provide invaluable information on drivers and vehicles so that fleet management teams can make objective decisions, improve performance, and increase productivity and profitability.
What are Fleet Utilization Metrics?
Fleet utilization metrics track how well your staff and vehicles are doing and can help you gauge progress towards goals. Having clear and concise data on fleet performance is key to making operational improvements and keeping your team working efficiently.
Driver and vehicle utilization reports allow fleet managers to monitor and control several variables, including:
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Safety
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Productivity
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Compliance
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Cost-Efficiency
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Customer Service
Types of Fleet Metrics
Almost any variable can be used to assess fleet utilization, meaning managers can measure driver and asset performance in terms of distance, time, cost, volume, or even weight and size. There are several specific metrics you can track. Here are some examples.
Maintenance Metrics
- Preventive Maintenance – Relying on memory or paper records is a surefire way to lose efficiency. With preventative maintenance software, fleet managers can access daily inspection reports, receive regular odometer updates, and get automated notifications for maintenance tasks like servicing, tire rotations, oil changes, and brake inspections.
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Diagnostics – Not all maintenance issues are obvious. By integrating diagnostic trouble code software, drivers and fleet managers are made aware of mechanical problems faster. This enables them to fix minor issues quickly before they turn into larger and costlier problems.
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Repairs – Tracking downtime is an integral part of measuring vehicle and trailer utilization. After all, the longer a truck is off the road, the more your fleet performance suffers. Key metrics include how often a vehicle is off the road and for how long.
Cost Metrics
- Mileage – Fleet management systems use a vehicle utilization formula to determine revenue and cost per truck, per mile. Reports provide information on each vehicle and its route, including daily driving limits and any unauthorized mileage.
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Fuel – Managing fuel costs is a big challenge. With Engine control module (ECM) software, managers can accurately track idle time, miles per gallon, and driver inefficiencies like speeding and hard acceleration or braking.
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Asset Management – Asset tracking software provides essential information on where assets are at all times, how often they are used, and when they are replaced.
Driver Metrics
- Hours of Service – Tracking driving hours, rest periods, and the number of consecutive days spent on the road is essential for legal compliance and reducing fatigue that leads to accidents and collisions.
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Safe Driving Practices – Video telematics allow fleet managers to proactively monitor driver behavior and identify unsafe practices that could harm the driver or other road users.
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Route Optimization – Route optimization software allows fleet managers to define the optimum journey for each job and identify idle time spent either on the road and at pick-up/delivery sites.
Why It’s Important to Track Fleet Utilization Metrics
In modern-day trucking, competition is fierce. Rising operational costs like salaries and insurance mean fleet managers need a solid knowledge of how to calculate truck utilization if they are to reduce inefficiencies and drive the business forward.
Detailed driver and vehicle utilization metrics provide answers to three main questions:
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What are we doing?
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How well are we doing it?
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How can we improve?
Without knowing the answers, it’s impossible to make objective decisions or activate targeted plans to optimize performance.
Benefits of Tracking Fleet Utilization Metrics
Depending on the size of your business, accurate fleet utilization metrics could save you hundreds, thousands, or even millions of dollars.
Benefits for Your Business
- Comprehensive data allows you to determine when to maintain, replace, or reallocate assets.
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Clearly defining rules for acceptable vehicle usage minimizes risk and compliance breaches.
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The ability to pinpoint common problems and outline processes for resolution results in a more comprehensive set of standard operating procedures.
Benefits for Your Drivers
- Driver-centric tools can help prevent collisions by detecting and alerting drivers to self-correct unsafe behaviors.
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Digital recording allows drivers to keep their logs and recap sheets in one place without worrying about loss or damage.
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Video telematics provides peace of mind and protects drivers with video evidence in accident disputes.
Which Fleet KPIs/Metrics Should You Track?
What you choose to track will vary depending on the size and type of your business. For example, the metrics you’d monitor for a city-based delivery driver would be different for long-haul and interstate drivers. The key thing to remember is that targets should be specific, measurable, and realistic.
Need help with your fleet utilization metrics? The most efficient way is to utilize technology like Lytx. With an array of products, including the Lytx Fleet Tracking Service, Lytx Driver Safety Program, and our unique machine vision and artificial intelligence (MV+AI) technology, you’ll have all the data you need to optimize your fleet. Our devices capture an estimated 1 billion miles of driving data every 10 days.
Contact our sales team today for more information.