http://transportsystems.com.au - Some people say trucking businesses do not need fleet management software. In fact, this couldn't be any farther from the truth. A trucking company, or any business that belongs to the logistics and transport sector, needs a program that will enable it to take care of its fleet. Trucking companies in particular, are vulnerable to losses due to poor fleet management.

1. Fleet Management Software:
Preventive Features for Truckers
Some people say trucking businesses do not need fleet
management software. In fact, this couldn't be any farther
from the truth. A trucking company, or any business that
belongs to the logistics and transport sector, needs a
program that will enable it to take care of its fleet. Trucking
companies in particular, are vulnerable to losses due to
poor fleet management. In most cases, it's because drivers
are careless. It's not even because owners aren't willing to
spend for repairs or new acquisitions. In most cases, it's
simply because owners didn't know they were supposed to
do something. It hits them and they can only shake their
heads.

2. That is why a transport software, particularly one for management of
vehicles in the fleet, is crucial. It lets you record data of your operations
and then gives you access to this data, in real-
time, anytime, anywhere. It empowers business owners to take action
even before any situation occurs. The software is therefore more than
just a high-tech ledger; it's a program that lets you take preventive
measures... so you wouldn't have to absorb the losses brought by
otherwise preventable incidents.

3. Take the case of Freight2020 by CMS Transport Systems. This business
solution comes with a module that is essentially a fleet management
software. Among the most interesting features that truckers get from it is
vehicle P&L. This feature is very potent because it lets you see how much
you are actually making because of a particular vehicle in your fleet. For
example, you want to examine Truck X. Because you use the software to
monitor the activities of the truck, you are able to determine how many
transactions were closed using it. You'll know how much deals were done
with Truck X and at the end of the fiscal year, you'll get a vehicle profit
and loss, which you can then use to decide on its fate.

4. Vehicle P&L is of course, no magic. You need to look at the data and
determine the truck's profitability. You will be able to do this through
other features that Freight2020's fleet program possesses. The software
allows you to carry out cost management and analysis. Imagine if you
had a ledger that recorded all the expenses you incurred because of
Truck X. On this date, you spent $100 for some spare parts. On another
date, you spent another $100 for the paint job. The cost management
and analysis tools of the transport software allow you to compute all of
this, and eventually determine the profitability of Truck X.

5. But as mentioned earlier, the program should not just allow you to
manage operations on a daily basis. It must also let you avoid
expenses and losses by preventing them. One way to do this is to
study the data and determine a date for truck maintenance.
Scheduled maintenance tools present in Freight2020 let you know
when Truck X is due for a visit from your mechanic. What better
way to manage your fleet than carrying our preventive repairs.
The fleet management software therefore allows your mechanics
to prioritise trucks that need maintenance the most. When your
fleet is properly maintained, you'll be able to avoid hefty
expenses caused by otherwise preventable repairs.