Fleet management shapes future of general freight industry

Transport is important to New Zealander businesses. The transport sector contributes around 5% to the GDP (1), more than $13,032m and the transport sector employs 108,000 people which is 4 percent of the national workforce. (2) 

Verizon Connect 2023 Fleet Technology Trends Report for Australia and New Zealand  is based on insights from over 300 fleet managers and mobility experts. The report provides valuable perspectives on the business and how fleet management technologies can transform the general freight industry. You can learn more about these insights in the Advanced Fleet Management Technology for the General Freight Industry 2023 eBrief.

The 3 key pillars in fleet management to drive progress in the general freight industry

#1: Raise the bar on compliance and safety

Our latest Fleet Technology Trends Report for Australia and New Zealand reveals that fleet operators are making impressive strides in regulatory compliance and accident reduction. According to the report, 50% of survey respondents who implemented a GPS fleet tracking solution reported improvements in EWD and regulatory compliance.

Specifically, 43% of survey respondents reported a decrease in accidents, while 39% reported improvements in vehicle maintenance. This is crucial for general freight businesses to promote a safe working environment and put the team's safety first. 

It is key for fleets to take a thoughtful approach when addressing safety and compliance. Fleet management technology such as GPS fleet tracking software can help fleets:

• Promote teams’ safety monitoring daily operations in near real-time on a live map
• Streamline compliance and monitoring of driver hours and rest periods remotely
• Download your ELD data remotely
• Boost preventive maintenance for all your vehicles

#2: Cost savings matter and impact the bottom line of your business

Cost savings can significantly influence a business' profitability. Streamlining daily operations and reducing costs can have a substantial impact on your business, particularly when managing a larger fleet. By implementing cost-saving measures such as fuel efficiency improvements, optimising labour costs, reducing vehicle maintenance and accident costs, significant savings can be achieved. 

According to energy research, efficient driving practices ‘can allow us to save 10 to 25% of fuel.’ This reduction in fuel consumption can have a significant positive impact on your company, especially since fuel costs represent a crucial daily operational expense. (4)

Among GPS users in the general freight industry, 82% found them ‘extremely’ or ‘very beneficial’ to manage their fleets. In terms of cost savings, they achieved important cost reductions with the help of GPS technology including:

• Fuel cost reduction
• Labour cost reduction
• Vehicle cost reduction
• Accident cost reduction

To find out the percentage of cost savings achieved by general freight industry users since implementing a GPS vehicle tracking solution, download the Advanced Fleet Management Technology for the General Freight Industry 2023 eBrief.

#3: A customer-centric strategy is a game changer for general freight businesses

The implementation of GPS fleet tracking technology has proven to be a valuable solution for meeting customer expectations in the general freight industry. In fact, 54% of respondents reported an improvement in their customer service levels. In this sector, providing innovative and high-quality services is crucial in setting businesses apart from their competitors.

Elevating the quality of customer service is the foundation for building strong customer relationships and increasing customer loyalty, ultimately ensuring that a business remains top of mind among both current and prospective customers.

In general, businesses believe that customers are willing to pay a premium for superior customer service, as well as for environmentally sustainable and eco-friendly products and services.

The general freight industry must prioritise reducing their greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and proactively position their business as a part of the solution. As customer demand for environmentally conscious practices continues to rise, it’s imperative for businesses to adopt greener operations and demonstrate a commitment to sustainability.

A GPS fleet tracking solution can help your business to: 

• Provide accurate ETAs 
• Monitor and help reduce carbon footprint to become a greener fleet
• Reduce fuel consumption

Fleets are using GPS vehicle tracking to help improve their business while doing a better job of meeting customer demands and cutting costs as well. Download the Advanced Fleet Management Technology for the General Freight Industry 2023 eBrief and learn more about how this tech can help you and your business.

Find out how our platform gives you the visibility you need to get more done.

Sources: 

(1-2) https://www.mbie.govt.nz/assets/transport-factsheet.pdf

(3) https://www.idae.es/uploads/documentos/documentos_manualPME_6bc54e20.pdf