What Is a Fleet Manager and What Do They Do?
A fleet manager role is more vital than ever for a business to run efficiently. A fleet manager is an individual who is responsible for a company’s group of vehicles. Behind the scenes, a fleet manager is the expert who manages every detail — big and small — helping each task stay on track to meet business goals. This includes all aspects from hiring all the way to maintaining fleet efficiency.
Core Duties and Strategic Responsibilities
A fleet manager oversees fleet operations within a company to help a business run efficiently and safely and manages compliance with the laws and regulations. Fleet managers are responsible for directing and managing the costs of the vehicles owned or leased by their companies. They also create policies based on company requirements, to address vehicle usage and driver behavior, and may also set driver schedules.
While everyday tasks might differ for each fleet manager, the job has common strategic responsibilities that include:
- Promoting and raising awareness on safety
- Maximizing fuel efficiency
- Lowering operational costs
All of the responsibilities are directed towards minimizing the impact of fleet operations on the company's bottom line.
Key Areas of Fleet Management
Vehicle acquisition: Negotiating pricing and demands with manufacturers, as well as engineering technical solutions, is an important part of reducing costs. Consideration of the vehicle’s job and the load it must carry are required in forecasting and planning fleet purchases.
Designing and managing fuel programs: Fuel is consistently one of the three greatest expenses in a fleet budget. Managing a preferred fuel network directly impacts a fleet’s cost per mile.
Designing and managing maintenance programs: Fleet managers set preventive maintenance policies based on vehicle type, vocation and geography as it impacts driver safety, saves repair costs and optimizes resale value.
Leading safety programs: Working with the executive team and/or health and safety office, the fleet manager has the responsibility to limit a company’s liability, improve safety within the communities they operate and positively impact the lives and well-being of their drivers.
Tracking fleet metrics: To monitor fleet activities, fleet managers typically use GPS fleet tracking devices and software. A manager’s work routine includes reviewing daily, weekly and monthly reports, and measuring performance in areas such as idling, routing, asset utilization, and fuel consumption.
Impact of Fleet Management Duties
| Duty | Primary Goal / Impact |
|---|---|
| Fuel Programs | Directly impacts a fleet’s cost per mile |
| Maintenance Policies | Saves repair costs and optimizes resale value |
| Safety Programs | Limits company’s liability and reduces incident costs |
| Compliance Management | Maintaining fleet compliance and avoiding heavy fines |
| Vehicle Remarketing | Achieving optimal remarketing value |
Essential Skills and Core Competencies
Fleet managers need excellent operational experience and skills to cope with their primary tasks. Digital analysis is critical; knowing how to use software and fleet technology such as telematics and dash cams is critical to tracking performance trends, predicting mechanical failures, and minimizing downtime. This provides valuable insight into the vehicle’s replacement cycle, ensuring the business maintains fleet efficiency.
