When
Your Fleet’s Not Moving Smoothly, Your Business Isn’t Either
As
rising fuel costs, increasing competition and a growing freight capacity crunch
put pressure on transportation managers to get more out of their fleets,
there’s a renewed focus on reducing idle time. This isn’t just about drivers
leaving engines on while their tractor-trailers are parked at a rest stop.
Let’s take the notion of idle time up 10,000 feet to consider why vehicles in a
fleet might not be fully utilized for a number of reasons.
Like
many fleet owners/managers, your number one focus is likely on delivering
outstanding customer service. To do so, you may plan your fleet for peak
capacity, so that you can respond when demand spikes. But, keeping your
business rolling by keeping extra trucks on the sidelines isn’t always the best
strategy. In fact, it can be costly, especially when you factor in maintenance,
taxes, insurance and other expenses.
So,
in an age where the “do-more-with-less” mantra is fundamental to success, how
do you minimize idle time and get on the road to a more efficient fleet –
whether it’s private, for-hire or dedicated? There are steps you can take right
now to eliminate waste and unnecessary costs and get more out of your fleet.
ryder
exchange tips to maximize your fleet
10
tips for unlocking efficiency, eliminating waste and reducing fleet idle time
Run
Lean
Need
visibility into the efficiency of your drivers, routes, maintenance and loads?
Want to make better use of capital assets? Take supply chain inefficiencies out
of the equation by optimizing your assets, routes, service levels and operating
costs? Consider a dedicated fleet that incorporates Lean practices to transform
your inbound/outbound transportation network.
Put
empty miles in the rear view mirror
Empty
miles are one of the most expensive aspects of running a fleet. When you send a
vehicle out to deliver goods and it comes back empty, there aren’t any revenues
offsetting the cost of those empty miles. The key is to optimize assets,
routes, service levels and costs to streamline your transportation network.
That might mean partnering with a dedicated provider that can arrange
revenue-generating backhaul opportunities to minimize empty miles.
Rightsize,
rightsize, rightsize
If
you have vehicles sitting on the sidelines, chances are your fleet is too
large. Work with transportation experts to rightsize your fleet, driver
workforce and use of common carriers. Adopt fuel strategies that consolidate
carriers and loads.
Reduce
wait times
One
of the most common causes of fleet idle time is poor planning that leaves
drivers waiting at a dock to load or unload a tractor-trailer. To reduce wait
time, map out processes, detailing how material and information flows from
production to customers. Look for ways to eliminate excess moving, handling and
inventory and keep goods and processes flowing smoothly.
Sideline
engine idle time
Ok,
here it is. After labor, fuel is probably your biggest fleet expense. Why waste
precious fuel – and dollars – at a roadside rest stop because your drivers
leave the engine running? Filling up the tank of an average 18-wheeler costs
upwards of $1000. By making a few modest adjustments in driver behaviors, you
can save a great deal of money on fuel over the long haul.
Maintain
a state of perfect flow
When
people, materials, equipment and processes flow smoothly, you’re better able to
get quality products to customers when and where they want them. What’s more,
eliminating unnecessary movements and delays results in shorter lead times and
less fleet idle time.
Get
connected
Advances
in onboard navigation technology can help you make the most of your drivers and
vehicles. With real-time data about vehicles, drivers, and traffic conditions,
you can keep your drivers and trucks on route or ease them through traffic
snarls to reach their destinations faster. Accident gumming up the works on one
route? Divert the load to another to avoid delays.
Track
driver behavior
Telematics
doesn’t just tell you about vehicle locations, fuel usage and DOT log
requirements. It also tracks idle time, so you know if drivers are leaving
their engines on to keep the cab warm or cool (depending on the season) while
they take a break to eat lunch.
Look
at the big picture
With
the latest on-board technology, you know what’s happening across your fleet. By
aggregating data across the fleet, you can balance loads, boost driver
productivity, and fine-tune trade cycles.
Keep
small problems from turning into big ones
Regulator
preventive maintenance and inspections (including at fuel stops) are essential
to keeping your fleet on the road – and keeping small issues from turning into
big ones. Preventive maintenance includes everything from vehicle inspection,
lubrication and adjustment to cleaning, testing, repair and/or parts
replacement.
Are
you employing every weapon in your transportation arsenal to keep your fleet on
the road? Is your dedicated provider up to date on the route, driver and load
optimization strategies? Idle time reduction steps?
http://blog.ryder.com/2014/03/10-tips-keeping-fleet-road-serving-customers/