What makes a great fleet operation tick along?

No matter what industry you’re in, if you need to run multiple vehicles, having efficient fleet management is critical. Whether you take it in-house or partner with a major fleet provider, there are some key factors you should consider.

A well-managed fleet will help you save money and provide a better work environment for your employees – whether they’re on the road or in administration – which will ultimately help you retain valued staff.

There are several large fleet providers in Australia, such as SG Fleet, Fleetcare and Orix, and they can be helpful if you need to maintain a large fleet of vehicles. However, if you’re a smaller operation, bringing your fleet operations in-house can be a more effective proposition, as long as you do it right.

The priority for any fleet should be optimising the use and efficiency of the vehicles, and that means selecting the right vehicles for your business, ensuring they’re maintained correctly and employees are properly trained to ensure safe operations.

Any expert in fleet management will tell you that having a plan is the most important first step in a well-run program. That’s why many businesses choose to outsource to specialist operations, but as long as you are aware of the requirements your business needs it can be done internally.

For starters, that means selecting the right vehicles for your needs. It may look good from a social responsibility standpoint to choose electric vehicles, but if your fleet will cover long distances in a single day or be taken home by employees at night, EVs might not be suitable.

Once you’ve selected your fleet, keeping them on the road and in safe condition is vital. Delaying or skipping regular servicing may save you money in the short term, but it can be damaging and dangerous in the long run.

Industry experts also say that keeping the fleet in good condition will also help foster a better working environment, with employees feeling looked after and safe in their vehicles.

Of course, the final key element in great fleet management is ensuring you can keep your fleet properly fueled. This is why the Shell Card is a must for any good operation because it has a range of benefits that will keep your fleet fueled, but also ensure it’s easy to manage.

The Shell Card recently won the Canstar Blue 2023 Award for Customer Satisfaction for Small Business Fuel Cards, highlighting its value and ease of use for small business fleet operators. Shell Card customers have praised it for its ease of use as well as its reliability and the extensive network of fuel stations around the country, with the card accepted at more than 1300 locations around Australia; including 150 truck-friendly facilities.

The Shell Card also makes the administration and logistics side of fleet management easier as it features the ability to keep track of your fuel costs while offering low fees and fuel savings. Account holders can personalise each Shell Card to specific fuel types and purchases, while also tracking invoices and receipts in one place on the Shell Card Portal.

^Disclaimer

^{Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.}