Data is a valuable tool for fleets. According to Robin Kinsey, leasing development manager at Geotab, “Tapping into data can help provide a holistic view of a truck’s journey—from preparing for the trip, safety while in transit, knowing the condition of trailer goods, and even knowing about obstacles on the road.”
Speaking at a recent NationaLease meeting, she said that using both vehicle and driver data can help fleets make targeted changes in their operation “not just from a management level, but on the front lines as well.” Fleets should be leveraging data from many sources, including telematics, cameras, TMS, dispatch, and routing.
Benchmarking is a good way for fleets to leverage the data they have. For benchmarking to be effective, fleets must look at data over time to see if their performance improved or deteriorated. They also need to compare vehicles in their own fleet and then compare vehicles in their fleet with those from other fleets. This information can be used to pinpoint areas that need improvement or to spot new trends.
Kinsey said that benchmarking is supposed to answer the following questions:
- How is my fleet risk metrics vs. the benchmark?
- Which vehicles are exposed to risks factors in hazardous areas, speeding, rain, snow, traffic, etc.?
- How can we improve driver safety?
- What factors greatly impact my total cost of risk?
- How can I amplify my driver scoring prowess? (insurance cost)
Artificial Intelligence is another technology that can be helpful to fleets when it comes to data collection and is becoming more prevalent, Kinsey said.
AI can be used in the following ways:
- Inventory management. (ensuring that inbound pallets are loaded into the optimal trailer with the right timing to increase efficiency during delivery)
- Predictive tractor and trailer maintenance.
- Driver behavior management.
- Analyzing dash-cam data to improve safety.
- Finding the most efficient ways to load trailers.
While having data is important, fleets need to leverage it to gain insights into their operation. For example, putting safety in context means asking: is the vehicle safe, is the driver behavior safe, and is the environment safe (i.e., what are driving conditions).
When data is collected, analyzed, and put in context, it can give fleet managers great insights into their operation and help them make better decisions on how to improve all aspects of their operation.
Jane Clark focuses on managing the member services operation at NationaLease as vice president of member services. She works to strengthen member relationships, reduce member costs, and improve collaboration within the NationaLease supporting groups.
