Internet of Things (IoT) has generated a lot of buzz in the digital world. Just the way IoT fleet management has become a significant thing in the fleet business.

We live in a digital era where IoT has become the next big thing, and it is among the technology trends that we will look up to in the next decade. The world has become more connected with IoT as almost every device is connected to the internet these days.

Ever since industries have adopted this technology, they have been performing better. IoT has allowed many businesses to discover efficient and innovative ways of performing tasks, fleet management companies being the top beneficiaries. There’s a reason why IoT fleet management has become a trendsetter in the fleet management business.

Understanding IoT Fleet Management

IoT is playing a significant role in the transportation industry and fleet management as a whole. It has been anticipated that IoT will become the backbone of fleet management in the future. But how is that going to happen? To know the answer for that, it is important to understand the role of IoT in fleet management.

The businesses that have fast adopted the IoT technology are doing better than those without it. After doing wonders across several industries, IoT helps trucking and fleet-operating companies track the location of their vehicles in real-time to keep eyes on their loads and drivers all around the clock.

IoT fleet management also helps fleet management businesses automate their fleet operations. On the other hand, it helps generate insightful data for the fleet-operating companies to improve efficiency when they face driver or vehicle shortages.

When real-time IoT data is readily available for fleet managers, they can speed up the decision-making process by obtaining the data when needed.

The Role of IoT in Fleet Management

IoT is doing wonders in the fleet management industry. Let us understand the role of IoT in fleet management and how it improves fleet operations.

Complete Visibility of Fleet

In every transportation or fleet management business, complete transparency and oversight are necessary. Investing in technology that helps truck owners be able to track their vehicles is not new. They have been deploying vehicle tracking devices coupled with GPS to gain visibility of their fleet.

However, with new IoT-based applications, truck owners and fleet managers can get better real-time visibility of the fleet and improve fleet operations. With real-time IoT data, fleet managers can find out the exact location of their vehicles and know the ETA of the delivery.

Cloud-based TMS software can also help you provide real-time visibility of your fleet, drivers, and loads anytime and anywhere.

Enhances Efficiency

Every fleet manager’s responsibility is to optimize the fleet and vehicles’ performance and increase the bottom line while reducing waste. To do so, the fleet manager must keep constant eyes on the exact location of the fleet and its usage and get real-time updates on its location.

Before adopting IoT technology, it would have been impossible for fleet managers to determine the exact location of each vehicle at a particular time and how it is being used. But, as soon as they adopt the new IoT technology, they can get real-time information using system sensors.

It becomes relatively easy for fleet managers to track the IoT-enabled fleets and get their location updates in real-time.

Reduces Operational Costs

Every fleet manager continuously struggles to reduce operational costs. There is no doubt that reducing the operation costs is a demanding task. And, in most cases, businesses gain more operation costs than profits.

Trucking and fleet-owning companies can reduce operational costs by adopting IoT fleet management. IoT makes data collection a more manageable process and relatively cost-effective. With IoT fleet management, fleet-operating companies can balance different aspects of fleet management, such as fuel consumption, driver performance, and vehicle management.

Maintaining equilibrium between all these aspects of fleet management is important yet challenging for fleet managers. However, things become a lot easier when IoT comes in as it automates fleet operations and decreases operation costs.

Increases Driver Safety

IoT technology helps control the increasing cases of vehicle accidents, injuries, and deaths. With this advanced technology, fleet managers can track the real-time GPS location of the vehicle and know where each vehicle is at a given time.

What’s more, fleet managers can also deploy fleet tracking software in the vehicle to monitor the driver’s behavior to see whether or not they are following the road safety rules. This software can also help managers ensure safety compliance.

With the help of IoT data and vehicle tracking software, fleet managers can control the number of road accidents and crashes. Using the IoT data, managers can collect important driver information such as speed limit, harsh cornering, overtaking, idling, etc. The same data can be used to help drivers drive safely and keep on the right track.

In case of a road accident, the hardware will send you an alert instantly, notifying you about the accident so you can take immediate action. Fleet managers can also integrate IoT and fleet safety programs to check the vehicle’s health status and receive an alert when they require immediate maintenance and repairs. This can help reduce the possibility of unexpected breakdowns when they are on the road.

Increases Fuel Efficiency

Fuel cost is one of the significant expenses for every transportation company. Fleet managers are constantly struggling to cut back on fuel expenses while increasing fuel efficiency. So, how can IoT fleet management help increase fuel efficiency? Let’s find out.

IoT can help increase fuel efficiency by using sensors so fleet managers can gather real-time data on time waste, idling, braking, acceleration, and other driver’s behaviors that may affect fuel consumption.

By using this data, fleet managers can advise drivers to improve their driving behavior to achieve optimal fuel efficiency.

Improves Customer Service

Real-time IoT helps fleet-owning and trucking companies offer better and more accurate customer feedback. Fleet managers can use cloud-based GPS to automate shipping times and ensure deliveries are made on time. They can also track the exact GPS location of each vehicle.

Fleet managers can also use the IoT data to track driver’s location. Since drivers know they are being monitored, they would not do anything that puts their jobs at risk. They will drive safely, observe road safety rules and avoid time wastage and idling, thus improving delivery services.

Final Thoughts

Looking at the benefits of IoT in the fleet management industry, it would be safe to say that every fleet-operating and trucking company should adopt this technology sooner rather than later to increase efficiency and profitability.

Apart from helping reduce costs and increase efficiency, IoT also promotes flexibility in fleet operations, which has become vital, especially after the disruption caused by COVID-19, which has left businesses in the entire world struggling to adopt the new normal.