Road map to fleet success Rob Hoysgaard Utility Business Development Manager Automotive Resources International (ARI) Mount Laurel, New Jersey anaging the life cycles of utility and government fleet vehicles is like navigating a road map. If given the option today to plan the course using either an old, outdated method such as a printed map or using the latest technology such as a GPS, who wouldn’t choose technology? Both the printed map and the GPS will help you arrive at your destination, but the latest technology will help you with turn-by-turn support, early notification of potential problems, and confirmations that you’re on the right track. To achieve successful fleet management, fleet managers need to navigate the vehicle life cycle using a road map backed with technology to achieve greater success in getting where they want to be and have greater control over costs while getting there.
that throws off an expected vehicle delivery. To successfully time the entry and removal of complex utility and government vehicles from service, fleet managers need to know the status of where their vehicles are in the process and be able to rely on accurate delivery dates. Fleet managers can leverage production status information through new technologies and webbased tools that integrate real-time information from manufacturers, upfitters, delivery companies and others within the supply chain to
ensure there is little to no overlap or downtime between the purchase of a new vehicle and the phase-out of an old vehicle. This technology streamlines the process, relieving the burden on managers, freeing their time to address more complex fleet challenges. When delays do occur, the tools swiftly notify fleet managers, allowing them time to more effectively plan the usage of their inservices vehicles to minimize potential disruptions.
Turn #2: Vehicle Maintenance Regularly scheduled maintenance is a
Turn #1: Supply Chain Management While trying to focus on the day-today activities, even a fleet manager known for running an efficient and cost-conscious operation can fall victim to a lag in its supply chain
Finding true savings for complex utility fleets can be a sophisticated balancing act that requires research and strategy. 38 APWA Reporter
September 2012
Given the amount and cost of specialized equipment in the electric industry, routine vehicle maintenance is critical.
