TMS Takes the Load Off of Fleet Managers During Peak Season

The holiday season has arrived and many of us are looking forward to enjoying this “most wonderful time of the year.” For fleet managers, however, the winter season presents a distinct set of challenges. From handling higher demands to navigating winter weather conditions to navigating heavier traffic, this time of year can place unique strains on fleet operations.

“The holiday season brings a surge in demand for many businesses, creating both opportunities and challenges for fleet managers. As shipping and delivery volumes increase, fleets are often pushed to operate at maximum capacity to meet tight deadlines,” eDriving’s Sarah Bechtold explains in Fleet Management Weekly.

“Keeping safety and efficiency at the forefront is essential for managing holiday pressure without sacrificing the wellbeing of drivers or the reliability of operations,” Bechtold adds. Some of the top ways to achieve this balance is by prioritizing both vehicle maintenance and pre-winter preparations; optimizing routes and schedules with both efficiency and safety in mind; and ensuring drivers are taking breaks and complying with hours of service (HOS) rules.

A Single Pane of Glass 

Technology is a powerful tool that empowers busy fleet managers to achieve high levels of productivity, efficiency, safety and compliance year-round, and not just during high-volume/high-stress times of the year. Transportation Management Systems (TMSs), in particular, have emerged as powerful tools for streamlining operations and alleviating stress for fleet managers.

For example, managers can use Revenova TMS’ Fleet Management Console feature to make driver assignments and handle trip planning, equipment maintenance, regulatory compliance and IFTA reporting, among other requirements.

The platform effectively replaces traditional methods like using one company or application for dispatching, another for telematics and yet another for maintenance inspections. Because none of these traditional options “talks to” or shares data with one another, fleet managers are forced to consult with multiple different systems in order to get a clear, 360-degree picture of what’s going on with their vehicles and drivers.

“With our modern, cloud TMS, fleet managers get a ‘single pane of glass’ to work with when orchestrating their vehicle fleets,” says Jeremy Estep, Chief Revenue Officer at Revenova. “They can manage all assets and drivers on one platform, which is something no other TMS vendor offers right now.”

Avoiding Costly Errors

In an industry where disruptions seem to be lurking around every corner, customer demands are continually changing and labor constraints are a perpetual problem, TMS is empowering fleet managers to do more with less. Whether they’re in the middle of peak holiday season or operating under more “normal” conditions, fleet managers know they can count on their TMSs to continue working, optimizing and supporting their transportation networks around the clock.

“20 years ago a company may have had a 50-person team managing their fleets; that number has since been crunched down to just a handful of employees who handle the job,” says Estep, who has been working closely with fleet managers for 20+ years. During that time, fleet size, order volumes and regulatory requirements have all increased dramatically. This puts even more pressure on managers to ensure high levels of efficiency, safety, equipment maintenance and compliance across their fleets.

“We’ve reached a point where technology is the only viable tool for driving efficiency, streamlining fleet management and avoiding errors,” says Estep. “That last point is especially critical because fleet-related mistakes can really cost companies a lot of money, and especially from the regulatory perspective.”

6 Ways TMS Eases the Load for Fleet Managers

By acting as a digital command center, Revenova TMS provides the real-time visibility that fleet managers need to be able to easily keep tabs on what’s happening in their transportation networks. Here are six different ways TMS makes life easier for busy fleet managers:

1. By tracking vehicle locations, monitoring driver behavior, and optimizing routes, TMS empowers fleet managers to make informed decisions.
2. Automating tasks like load planning and dispatching saves time and reduces error.
3. Predictive maintenance alerts help prevent unexpected breakdowns, minimize downtime and ensure high levels of efficiency.
4. When integrated with electronic logging devices (ELDs), a TMS ensures compliance with HOS regulations, preventing costly violations and accidents.
5. The TMS also helps companies comply with the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA), which requires fleet managers to track fuel purchases and maintain mileage (and other) records, file quarterly returns and pay fuel taxes.
6. Finally, TMS generates data-driven insights that fleet managers can use to identify trends, optimize fuel consumption and improve overall fleet performance.

By automating routine tasks, providing valuable insights, supporting good compliance and enhancing safety, TMS takes the load off of fleet managers and allows them to focus on more strategic tasks and initiatives.

To learn more about Revenova TMS, Request a Demo. Follow Revenova on LinkedIn, YouTube, and X for the latest updates and news about Revenova TMS, the original CRM-powered Transportation Management System.