Fleet monitoring can involve tons of work and goes far beyond simply understanding where your fleet vehicles go and who is behind the wheel during a shift. Fleet managers are tasked with keeping track of driver performance, work quality, whether or not they’re meeting deadlines, and even if they’re coming to work on time. Not only that, but fleet managers are responsible for goods, vehicles, and driver safety. If it sounds like a tall order, it certainly can be.
But there’s good news. Today’s fleet monitoring solutions make fleet management simpler than ever before and provide fleet managers with 24/7 access to what’s going on with their vehicles and drivers. Maybe most importantly, fleet monitoring solutions provide you with valuable video evidence of critical driving moments, which can help you monitor and coach drivers, as well as smoothly navigate insurance processes.
What is fleet monitoring?
What exactly is fleet monitoring, and why is it so revolutionary for fleet managers? Fleet monitoring is a technical solution for fleet management using a fleet management system (or FMS). This next-generation software tracks individual vehicles and gives you tons of information about your vehicles and drivers, all in one easy-to-use dashboard. The data that is tracked by each FMS differs depending on what system you’re using.
One of the central aspects of fleet monitoring systems is live GPS tracking, which provides many benefits to fleet managers and the overall business. Live GPS tracking allows fleet managers to remotely view the location of any vehicle on a live virtual map, meaning that fleet managers can know exactly where their drivers are at any time. Another key element of fleet monitoring is that it provides you with critical video evidence of key driving moments. When a driving incident or collision is detected, crisp video footage is automatically uploaded to the cloud. This video evidence can be used for insurance companies, law enforcement, and for coaching drivers on their performance.
Not all fleet monitoring systems are created equal. Here are some of the most useful features you should look for when considering an FMS.
- Live GPS tracking. An essential fleet monitoring feature gives you the exact locations of all vehicles, drivers, and equipment in real-time, no matter where you’re located
- Robust driver & vehicle history. The leading fleet monitoring systems allow you to effortlessly track individual vehicles and drivers, so you can see exactly where your vehicles have been. You can also closely monitor driving incidents or collisions and provide coaching.
- Valuable incident insights. Instead of simply knowing when an incident occurs, fleet monitoring systems give you incident-derived insights in terms of the type of incidents and collisions that are occurring.
- Closely track driver activity. What exactly are your drivers doing when you’re not watching? With fleet monitoring systems, you can get ride-derived insights, such as the number of rides, the number of drivers/active drivers, and the number of hours spent on the road.
- Video collision reconstruction. When driving incidents or collisions do occur, fleet monitoring systems give you valuable video evidence you need, and you can easily view and download collision reconstruction reports with just one click. Plus, save time, stress, and money by sharing required proof (such as video and sensor data) seamlessly with drivers, insurers, and law enforcement.
Excellent fleet monitoring requires a lot of different types of data. A good fleet monitoring system includes data for:
- 24/7 vehicle location, based on live GPS location.
- Maintenance metrics, including sensor alerts, fuel consumption, and engine problems.
- Driver performance, including speed, quick turns, sharp acceleration, harsh braking, and idling.
- A simple dashboard & live map displaying the live location and movements of all vehicles, drivers, and cargo.
Here are some of the top benefits of using fleet monitoring solutions.
- Easy-to-use. Since driver and vehicle performance data are app-based, there is no need to install bulky hardware in any of your vehicles.
- Coaching. Managers can coach drivers based on real-time data, driving incidents, and accidents, to improve safety and performance.
- Fuel efficiency. By monitoring vehicle journeys, managers can easily detect detours, unplanned stops, or idling, which can all impact a company’s bottom line.
- Live location. Easily access the live location of vehicles 24/7, as well as a vehicle's route history.
- Productivity. Managers can monitor how much time drivers spend at locations and delivery sites, giving key insight into driver productivity.
- Safer Driving. Catch distracted driving and road incidents, and alert drivers to stay focused on the road.
Fleet management solutions aren’t just great for fleet managers and companies: they can also help improve customer satisfaction. With fleet monitoring solutions, managers can keep customers updated and informed with real-time delivery updates. This information can also be used to manage expectations and prevent any delivery surprises.
Fleet monitoring can greatly impact driver behavior and safety because diagnostics that come from this software are accessible in real time. This objective data includes information about speeding, harsh braking, and other potentially risky driving behavior, so it can be addressed and improved. With this information, managers can effectively coach their drivers using a data-backed approach.
Powerful businesses need powerful fleet management solutions. When fleet managers use Nexar Fleets, they don’t only get the easy-to-use Nexar dashboard: they also get the power of Nexar’s leading dash cam, Nexar One, which provides you with the powerful video evidence you need to handle collisions or driving incidents and manage your drivers with ease. Nexar One records in crisp, 4K resolution at a 140-degree angle, and records the road ahead clearly enough to capture license plate numbers and road signage. This dash cam is on 24/7, so nothing is missed. Fleet managers can use crystal-clear video footage as evidence to easily create insurance reports and instantly send them to insurance carriers with the click of a button in order to exonerate drivers. Nexar One is a two-camera system and includes a front-facing camera and an interior add-on. Users can instantly tune into the live feed of either one and even switch back and forth to see what’s going on.
In conclusion, fleet monitoring systems are a next-generation tool that allows business owners and fleet managers to oversee their operations with efficiency, improve driver safety, and boost their bottom line. These systems provide you with crystal-clear video evidence that is critical for navigating driving incidents or accidents, as well as monitoring driver activity and performance. Fleet monitoring systems provide users with tools that enable a full-picture view of every aspect of a fleet and show you real-time data about your vehicles, employees, and equipment. These solutions are transforming fleet monitoring from a manual, formidable task to a simple and efficient one.
Click here to learn more about the Nexar Fleet Monitoring System.
