Fleet Management
Tips For Fleet Maintenance Management Best Practices
For 28 years, Vehicle Licensing Consultants (VLC) have been working hard to help shipping operations of all sizes improve their efficiency and productivity. We are fleet maintenance management specialists, with a range of consulting services and software packages that make your life easier while improving your bottom line.
So, what are the most important elements of fleet maintenance management in the 2020s? These are the areas we often suggest our customers focus on.
Four Critical Areas of Fleet Maintenance Management
1 – Establish clear, measurable, achievable goals
This is the foundation of all good fleet maintenance and good business growth in general. You should set clear goals and metrics for operations, and then measure progress towards those metrics over time. They should always be expressed in well-defined terms, preferably with hard numbers attached, so there’s no ambiguity about expectations.
This can include elements such as:
- Reducing accidents or traffic violations
- Optimizing fuel use
- Reducing delivery times
- Improving vehicle value / reducing depreciation
- Customer satisfaction levels
A company that doesn’t have clear-cut goals will struggle to improve in a reasonable fashion.
2 – Constant monitoring and data-tracking of vehicles
We’re not just talking about on-the-road monitoring here. Every possible aspect of your vehicles should be monitored and recorded for data analysis. Repairs, part lifespans, mileage, standards compliance, warranty terms, fuel efficiency… Every aspect of your fleet can potentially be analyzed looking for new opportunities for cost-cutting or improved profitability – but only if you’re tracking the data.
3 – Driver management
It’s every bit as important to monitor your drivers with the same level of detail as your vehicles. This can include overall route drive times, adherence to safety regulations, accidents, fuel-conservation strategies, and more. These can be tied back to your operational goals so that you can encourage driving behavior that best aligns with those goals. For example, are you more concerned with speed or fuel efficiency? Either could be the right answer, but you should be able to give your drivers clear guidance on which you’re optimizing for.
4 – Have robust fleet management software
Fleet management software is the backbone of every good trucking operation. It should be able to handle basic routing, hold data on your vehicles and drivers, and hopefully integrate your customer relationship management database as well. Having all information at your fingertips makes day-to-day operations so much easier.
VLC consulting and software can help your fleet achieve maximum efficiency! Click here to learn more.
IRP
Properly Following the IRP Registration Process Is Critical for Interstate Shippers
Are you staying current on your International Registration Plan (IRP) registrations? If not, it could cause huge problems for your shipping operation. That might be a great reason to call on IRP registration services to help get you properly registered!
The IRP is a set of regulations that allow shipping companies to be registered and operate in all 48 continental states, along with DC and most of Canada, without having to individually register in every state and territory. This is obviously necessary for robust shipping across the continent, but it requires every shipping operation to remain current on their IRP registration.
If you are setting up a new shipping operation, or aren’t sure if you’re current on your registration, here are the most important things to know!
Filing in your base jurisdiction
Wherever your company is headquartered is considered its base jurisdiction, and that is where you need to handle your IRP registration process. You might have satellite offices in ten states, but if your HQ is here in California, you’ll be following California’s rules and regulations for IRP registration. This will then cover all your operation, across the continent.
The amount of registration costs will vary wildly, depending on how many vehicles you operate, how far they travel, and what percentage of that travel time is spent in which IRP districts. In general, the annual fees per vehicle will likely be in the thousands of dollars.
The difficulty is that every state has its own process and fees, which is why professional IRP registration services can be so useful in overcoming bureaucratic hurdles.
Qualifying for IRP
There are three primary qualifications needed to register with IRP.
First, you must have at least one established place of business.
Second, you must operate in at least two separate jurisdictions covered by IRP. Which is to say, if you only ship within your home state, you don’t need IRP registration.
Third, you must have one or more qualifying commercial vehicles. This means that either they are two-axled, but with a gross weight over 26,000 pounds, or else they have three or more axles at any weight.
Make IRP Registration Easy With VLC!
Vehicle Licensing Consultants specializes in simplifying the regulations and bureaucracy surrounding the shipping industry. VLC is an authorized partner of the California DMV, so we make it easy to get your registration in order and pay your fees.
Click here to learn more about our IRP registration services.
NATSA Conference
After a long and unexpected break from their normal gatherings, the NATSA board has announced its 2021 Conference. As with all of their get togethers, the NATSA Conference offers a fun yet educational opportunity for collaboration and networking among our transportation professionals. This year’s conference will be held in Omaha, Nebraska from September 27-29. The theme for 2021 is “Power of Partnerships and Building from Within” with a focus on working from home.
What is NATSA?
With members in nearly every state and province, North American Transportation Services Association professionals serve the motor carrier industry in the United States, Canada and Mexico. NATSA offers a network of agents that provide expertise in fleet licensing, registration, permits, insurance, safety compliance, tax reporting, vehicle technology and much more. NATSA’s primary membership consists of nearly 600 trained transportation specialists who provide services to thousands of Carriers and influence well over 2,000,000 trucks on the road today.
VLC is a proud member of NATSA and is looking forward to seeing friends and collaborating with colleagues.
Vehicle Licensing Consultants
A Virtual Projects, LLC Company
Fleet & Driver Compliance…Fleet Tracking Software
530-384-3884
