For government agencies with employees who operate motor vehicles as part of their jobs, safety on the job is an absolute priority. It can be common to address this priority by checking drivers’ motor vehicle reports (MVRs) periodically, but there is more that can be done to promote driver well-being and accountability.

New and emerging vehicle technologies help organizations define, measure, and improve upon their fleet management goals effectively and with reduced risk of human error. That’s why many organizations are adopting comprehensive, forward-looking strategies that harness improved technology to better manage vehicle fleets. While this approach takes planning and coordination, the shift is well within reach with the help of a professional fleet management company.

Vehicle Selection

Swapping older vehicles with newer models automatically improves crashworthiness—the ability to protect occupants from a crash—as safety technology has significantly improved over the past decade. In fact, simply replacing a 10-year-old vehicle with today’s standard model will often bring additional airbags, electronic stability control, and many other essential safety features. Government agencies can check a vehicle’s National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety rating by visiting nhtsa.gov.

Partnering with a fleet management company can help an organization replace its aging fleet with vehicles that offer the latest in safety and crash-avoidance technologies, while also freeing up capital for other expenses.

Telematics

By using a fleet telematics tracking device, operators can keep an eye on their fleets from almost anywhere in real time. The device tracks a wealth of logistical data from the fleet telematics system, including location, performance, driving behavior, seatbelt use, and accident detection.

Using this collective data, organizations can make highly informed decisions about their vehicles and their drivers. Through its partnership with a global leader in telematics, Enterprise Fleet Management helps government agencies keep tabs on their fleets and track long-term patterns, so they can plan and streamline operations.

Driver Training

While driver training traditionally takes place behind the wheel, advancing technologies are making web-based simulations an excellent alternative that offers a host of additional benefits.

Enterprise Fleet Management in partnership with a driver risk management solutions team combines assessment-based learning and monitoring into a centrally managed tool.

The service offers a variety of web-based training. Its personalized curriculum assesses each employee’s driving personality and assigns training sessions, accordingly, targeting high-risk driving behaviors in fleets. Additionally, periodic 30-minute follow-up sessions ensure that training is an ongoing process. Organizations can monitor drivers’ training statuses throughout, saving time and resources.

Driver Monitoring

While many organizations check their drivers’ motor vehicle reports periodically, driver monitoring technologies are considered more effective than sporadically running MVRs. Driver monitoring automates the management of driver-related information and is the most consistent method of keeping tabs on drivers’ records. In addition, it provides both cost savings and convenience to organizations.

Driver monitoring manages all driver data and automatically checks for new violations, DUI/DWI convictions, invalid licenses, and approaching license or medical certification expirations. This data is then compiled into a comprehensive review of individual driver performance, alerting management to critical driver behavior issues and potential risks.

Comprehensive Approach

Organizations of all sizes are realizing that emerging technologies are critical to helping with the identification and mitigation of risks in real-time, while also reducing the resources required to manage their fleets. A fleet management partner like Enterprise Fleet Management can create a comprehensive plan to modernize fleets, maximize performance, reduce risk, save time, and cut costs.

Fleet management companies also deploy technology-based solutions to ensure all vehicles are properly and regularly maintained. In addition, they can handle the licensing, registration, and auto insurance, as well as provide fuel and maintenance cards to cover vehicle expenses.

Ultimately, choosing to outsource fleet management to a company like Enterprise Fleet Management frees up an organization’s most valuable resource—its people—to focus on the core operating activities of the organization.

About the Author: Dain Giesie is the assistant vice president of business development for Enterprise Fleet Management, the largest affiliate of Enterprise Holdings. In this role, Giesie oversees strategy development, government marketing, and partner relationships, as well as Enterprise Fleet Management’s client advisory board and overall marketing efforts.