Before the advent of global positioning satellite (GPS) technology and data analytics, entrusting the care of something as important as the transportation of your business personnel, goods, and services was a highly risky proposition. The standardisation of vehicle maintenance and driver scheduling in the 1980s ushered in much-needed fleet vehicle safety. Real-time vehicle tracking via GPS in the 90s brought light to route efficiencies. At the same time, computers were becoming better tools as various industry sectors were implementing digital changes and capturing data.
Now, artificial intelligence (AI) is putting the last 50 years of advancements in fleet management, maintenance scheduling, time/route efficiency, and fuel saving to shame. AI can check globally for fleet comparisons by any criteria pertinent to your needs and create usable data for the best-informed decisions. This is the ultimate in responsible transportation and sustainability. If your fleet management is not backed by AI, your competitors are, and every point of cap saved is growth.
Tailored leasing strategies from SG Fleet will remove vehicles from your balance sheet. With an average annual operating cost of $10-12K, that is capital saved. One type of purchase/lease-back program would have a fleet management company buy your fleet from you and clear those depreciating assets. Then they would lease a fleet to you at a fixed cost and no more hassles with vehicle upgrades, insurance, licensing, and taxes.
Large fleet management companies buy vehicles in massive volumes and are able to maintain profit margins while offering to lower your costs. Subject to the tax status of your company, there could be tax deductions and advantages to outsourcing. The real costs and the real benefits are in the drivers and operators.
Operator comfort is imperative to safety, and modern vehicles offer more options to meet specific needs for your fleet and routes. Fleet companies purchase scheduled upgrades to vehicle models, as their business structure gives them the advantage to do so. You also benefit from new vehicles that enhance the driver experience. Modern radar and cameras are integrated to provide 360 degrees of digital spatial awareness during all modes of operation. This is the comfort of peace of mind.
Never deal with the list of government bodies involved in vehicle standards, their continual changes, and loose implementation again. You can pass that e-mail on to your fleet administration company, with kind regards. However, your drivers still need you to guide them to safe and legal operation with no lapse in licence or insurance. The Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts (that’s a mouthful) is responsible for all heavy equipment and vehicle operator standards and regulations.
They publish and maintain standards digitally for all of us to access. Safety is their goal. Although judging by that department name, they have a lot going on. We have to perform every step of diligence regarding safety, continuing education, and operator wellness. Take the time to compare their criteria to yours. The safety of your drive home, and mine, requires competent and healthy drivers behind every well maintained wheel.
