Rosana Beechum

So, you've been tasked with managing a fleet of vehicles for the company that you work for; or you've been brought on board in a more senior role as a fleet manager for your new employer – and now you're excited yet nervous about the transition.

Feeling a bit uncertain is understandable when you consider the level of responsibility that comes with fleet management. Fortunately, if you take the necessary steps to ensure that you are committed to safe and effective operating habits you should be able to succeed in your new role. To help you handle the promotion in the most graceful and productive manner possible, here are four tips you can follow for a safer and less stressful experience:

1. Ensure the Company Has Adequate Insurance Coverage

Your primary duty as a fleet manager is to facilitate the continuity of fleet operations in a way that maximises profitability while also minimising risk. Thus, checking the existing insurance policy to ensure it provides optimal coverage is one of the very first steps you should take to protect yourself and your employer from negative financial events.

Likewise, if the company doesn't yet have fleet insurance, or you want to check how their current policy compares to others, looking at the wide range of policies on the market through a comparison platform like Quotezone will allow you to compare insurance companies for many types of vehicles in just a few minutes.

2. Research Fleet Management Best Practices

Of course, beyond the initial precautionary measure of ensuring that the company’s fleet is adequately insured, you need to be ready to perform your duties effectively. While your employer should provide some level of orientation or training in this regard, it's best to do your own research in your spare time if you want to be the best fleet manager you can be.

3. Become Familiar with a Fleet Tracking System

Most companies will already have fleet tracking systems in place, so adjusting to this type of interface will be one of the primary learning curves that you'll encounter in your new position. However, whether the company already has a preferred platform or not, comparing all the software and tools available on the market is still worthwhile, because you could propose a change if you find that another fleet tracking tool would be better suited or more cost-effective. Company owners and managers like to see that their fleet managers are playing a hands-on role in improving logistics on an ongoing basis, so changing the fleet tracking system or mastering their existing platform will help you make a good impression.

4. Optimize Logistics and Create Reports to Impress

In addition to revamping the fleet tracking system, you'll also want to look into ways to optimize logistics for enhanced profitably. If you can increase the company's bottom line as a fleet manager, you'll have proven your value in that position. Of course, the fear of demotion or just that you might not do your job well will always be looming in the beginning, so taking steps to facilitate and show improvement through comprehensive reports can help you avoid such an unfavourable outcome.

Fleet Management Doesn't Have to Be Extremely Difficult

Much of the concern and hesitance that comes with managing a vehicle fleet originates in the value and responsibility involved. In terms of job difficulty, it's not really rocket science and you should have no problem mastering it within the course of 1-2 months on the job. In fact, if you're a fast learner, you could be impressing your corporate superiors within the first week by thoroughly following the tips given above.

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