Managing a fleet of delivery vehicles is a big job, especially in the age of same-day and next-day delivery expectations. To make matters more challenging, fleet managers are also dealing with the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing supply chain breakdowns worldwide. All of these factors can make the job of managing a fleet of delivery vehicles tough, but thankfully, there are some steps you can take to make your life easier.
Below are several tips to maximize your fleet of delivery vehicles:
1. Use Fleet Management Software
Today’s fleet management and logistics software give you the power to virtually manage delivery vehicles from just about anywhere. Virtual fleet management software provides instant logistics updates, and many apps provide the ability to track vehicles around the country in real time.
As a bonus, some virtual fleet management software can be used in the cloud, allowing fleet management professionals to access logistics and routing functions from anywhere an Internet connection is present. This makes it easy to be productive when on the road or when working remotely. Visit this website if you need virtual fleet delivery service.
2. Have a Backup Plan
As stated above, the Covid-19 pandemic caused a lot of havoc for delivery drivers and fleet managers due to supply chain issues. Many fleet managers were caught off-guard simply because a situation of that magnitude had never occurred before.
To avoid such situations in the future, it is recommended that fleet managers create backup plans and contingency strategies that have multiple layers. While it is impossible to plan for every possible scenario, having a plan in place to deal with emergencies can maximize the vehicles and drivers your company has available at any given time.
3. Take Advantage of Retail Delivery
If possible, take advantage of retail delivery strategies to reduce the stress on your fleet. Many retailers now offer buy-online-deliver-from-store (BODFS) services that allow customers to have items delivered from a local store as opposed to from a warehouse. BODFS services can reduce the number of deliveries your fleet needs to make and can help your logistics strategy to operate more efficiently.
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