Content
Recent Posts
What Makes A Great Fleet Management Software?
Fleet tracking software has revolutionized the fleet industry with a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service solution that streamlines fleet operations, offers vehicle and asset live tracking, and a cloud storage system for records and documents. What makes a great fleet tracking software is not only limited to the kinds of features and solutions it offers but also the way it operates and its ease of use.
A great fleet tracking software should provide your fleet business with the solutions to operate at maximum efficiency to help your drivers stay safe and your vehicles at optimum health. Some of the best fleet tracking software offer fleet maintenance tools, video-based safety, and tons more solutions that we will discuss later on.
Before getting into the features, you should expect great fleet tracking software; let us demonstrate the core basics of how fleet tracking software revolutionized the fleet industry.
How Fleet Tracking Software Revolutionized The Industry
Ease of Use
Fleet tracking and management software systems are designed to be user-friendly so that anyone with no prior experience in the matter can quickly learn how to use the software and its features. Business owners will no longer have a long dedicated time to learn how to use the system or need to hire an expert to show them the ropes.
In the case that the software is a little complex, the company usually provides free training and webinars to walkthrough their product for its users and provide them with the best practices to utilize the software for maximum efficiency.
Cost Savings
The most prominent way fleet tracking software revolutionized the fleet industry is by saving fleet businesses a lot of money in more than one way. One of them is operation optimization, where fleet managers get clear visibility of all their fleets in action and their business data in configurable and visual reports.
These layers of valuable data allow business owners to increase their fleet’s efficiencies regarding maintenance, routes, driver accountability, and more. Such optimizations will yield cost savings across many areas.
Safety
Fleet tracking software now offers fleet businesses several ways that ensure their drivers’ safety and their vehicles and assets. As fleet managers can live-track their vehicles and assets and know their exact locations at all times, there will be a reduced risk of theft or unauthorized vehicle use, and in the case of stolen equipment, quick recovery is ensured.
Moreover, the software can also monitor drivers’ driving habits and behavior on the road and provide their managers with real-time alerts over speeding, road obstacles, route optimizations, and more. Some fleet tracking companies also offer smart dash cams that provide HD recordings of a vehicle’s entire journey. Video proof is great for protection against fraudulent insurance claims or staged accidents.
Compliance
Another great way fleet tracking software and management systems revolutionized the industry is by providing fleet businesses with digitalized reports and tools that will ensure those businesses stay compliant with all laws and regulations.
Most companies offer an eLog compliance device that automatically tracks the hours of service and produces Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports. The software will ensure businesses are ready to be ELD, FMCSA, and DOT compliant, which in the long run, can save them from any violation costs.
These are merely some of the ways fleet tracking software has revolutionized the fleet industry. More ways include the following features and solutions that make up a great fleet tracking software.
Features and Solutions to Expect
Live Tracking
The most obvious solution you should expect to find in a great fleet tracking software is the ability to live track your vehicles, equipment, and assets. You should expect a live map view that showcases all your active vehicles and jobs, their routes, and destinations. Some fleet tracking software go the extra mile, figuratively speaking, and offers live traffic and weather conditions views to help you optimize your routes and help your drivers avoid heavy traffic or harsh weather conditions in certain areas.
Route Optimization
Most fleet tracking software are packed with a route optimization engine that offers drivers the best possible route to take during their journeys. Route optimization will help you save fuel, increase driver productivity to get jobs done faster, and ultimately improve your customers’ satisfaction.
Geo-Fencing
Geo-fencing is the ability to create virtual boundaries on certain areas like landmarks, job sites, customer sites, and out-of-bounds areas. As you set your geofencing boundaries, the software will alert you when any of your vehicles enter or leave those places, so you ensure no vehicle is being used for out of work or personal uses.
Moreover, geo-fencing allows you accurately track the time spent on jobs, which can be useful for payroll processes for hourly rate drivers.
Fuel Management
Fuel management is an important asset for fleet businesses, as it provides you with detailed reports over how much fuel your vehicles are spending and how much money is being spent on fuel. You should expect to have fuel card integration, where you can give each driver a fuel card to use when purchasing fuel to fill up his or her assigned vehicles. This way, you will know exactly how much is being spent on fuel and the location of the gas stations.
This data will help you optimize your fuel spending and driver behavior reports, so you can encourage safer driving habits that reduce idle time and decrease your vehicle’s fuel burnout.
Fleet Maintenance
Last but not least, great fleet tracking and management software should be packed with fleet maintenance tools. Fleet maintenance will keep your vehicles at their optimum health, expanding their lifespan and reducing their wear and tear.
Such tools allow you to set up maintenance reminders for essential tasks, such as regular inspections, oil changes, etc. A dashboard will showcase the vehicles that need instant attention and those with overdue maintenance.
Keeping your fleet maintained adequately in healthy conditions will prolong their lifespan, ensure your drivers are safe while using them, and increase your fleet’s reliability and driver satisfaction overall.
We have laid out the most prominent features to expect from great fleet tracking software. Let us present our top three recommendations with their key features and prices.
Top Fleet Management Software Recommendations
1. Samsara
Our first recommendation goes for Samsara. Samsara offers one of the most comprehensive fleet tracking software, packed with feature-rich solutions and capabilities. It supports a wide range of industries and business sizes.
Samsara is a market-leading fleet tracking software and is known to offer real-time visibility across your fleet operations and facilities. Some of its key features include the following:
- Integrated routing and dispatch tools
- Custom reporting
- Fuel management
- Maintenance workflows
- Mobile fleet tracking application
- Dash Cameras
- Integrations
Samsara does not advertise any plans or prices for its software; it will instead offer your business a customized quote specific to your business’s fleet, size, and requirements. We recommend reaching out to their team by email at [email protected] or clicking “Get Started With Samsara” on their official website.
2. Azuga
Azuga is our second pick for one of the best fleet tracking and management software. It is one of the top-rated software in the industry’s market. Customer reviews praise its software’s ease of use, real-time alerts, and driver rewards incentive features.
Azuga’s connected vehicle platform Azuga Fleet™ offers inclusive solutions for your drivers, dispatchers, and managers. Its top features include:
- Asset Tracking
- Route Optimization
- Field Service Management
- Scheduled Maintenance
- Driver Safety Rewards as a Service (RaaS)
- ELD Compliance
As for its plans, you are offered three tailored plans for your business’s needs. However, their pricing is Its plans are:
BasicFleet Plan
The BasicFleet plan includes core vehicle tracking features plus driver scoring and rewards. Its features include:
- GPS Tracking
- Alerts and Notifications
- Driver Scores
- Driver Rewards
- Reports
- Geofence
- Unlimited phone, email, and web-based support
- Dual-facing HD camera
SafeFleet Plan
This plan includes everything in the BasicFleet plan, plus the must-have safety features and efficiency-boosting tools, such as:
- SpeedSafe
- Distracted Driving
- Panic Alert
- Vehicle Diagnostics
- Scheduled Maintenance
- Trip Logs and Tags
- Fuel Card Integrations
- API Integrations
- TrackMe
- Occupant Recognition
- Messaging
CompleteFleet Plan
The Complete plan includes everything in the previous plans, in addition to:
- Azuga Coach
- Fuel-Saver
- One-minute Tracking
- Custom Reports
- Quarterly Fleet Review
- Concierge Support
3. AUTOsist
Our last recommendation goes for AUTOsist. AUTOsist will offer affordable and scalable plans that will fit your fleet business’s needs. AUTOsist allows you to pay for its software in two ways, either by the number of users you want to have on the system or by the number of vehicles you want to track.
Its software key features include:
- Maintenance tracking
- Web Portal
- Offline Use
- Automated maintenance scheduling
- Fuel management
- Real-time communications with drivers
- Detailed trip log
- Customized reports
As for its plans, we will present you with one of each plan type:
1 User Plan: $149/month, plus two free months with annual billing.
The 1 User plan will provide you with the following features:
- Up to 1 User and Sync 2 Devices
- Manage Unlimited Vehicles/Assets
- Unlimited Records & Storage
- User Permission Control
- Inspection Checklists
- Parts Inventory Management
- Mobile App Access
- 24/7 Email and Phone Support
5 Vehicle/Assets Plan: $59/month, plus two free months with annual billing.
This plan will provide you with the following:
- Manage up to 5 Vehicles/Assets
- Unlimited Users & Devices
- Unlimited Records & Storage
- User Permission Control
- Inspection Checklists
- Parts Inventory Management
- Mobile App Access
- 24/7 Email and Phone Support