A fleet manager defines the efficiency and morale of their team. An organized fleet manager runs efficient routes where mistakes are few and far between. An inspiring fleet manager boosts moods and encourages everyone to give their best. A fleet manager who communicates well will keep everyone on the same page and minimize mishaps. But not every fleet manager is perfect.
There are also bad traits that can carry over into poor quality fleet management - and some are worse than others. It's one thing to pop bubble gum behind the desk or miss a few details, but these are the five worst traits of fleet managers - and ways to improve if you see these traits in yourself.
1) Poor Communication
Fleet management relies on communication. Your clients and partners relay where your fleet needs to be each day, and the fleet manager makes sure routes are planned, inspections are complete, and drivers know what is expected of them. Poor communication leads to mishaps, confusion, lost time, and unhappy customers. Often, unhappy drivers as well.
If you have trouble clearly communicating as a fleet manager, focus on these skills. Listen actively and take notes if you need to. Accept feedback and try to improve based on what others need from you. Use technology to help coordinate messages between parties and clarify what is expected from each team, even if you're still working on better conversational skills.
2) Poor Time Management
Fleets run on a clock. Routes are X miles long and should take X minutes to complete, considering the time for each stop and appropriate driver breaks. Stops and appointments should allow for a route to be completed in a driver's assigned shift. Preparing the fleet in the morning and putting everything away at night should fit into the daily schedule. A fleet manager with poor time management can throw a wrench in the whole system resulting in long hours, missed appointments, unscheduled overtime, or incomplete tasks.
You can work on your time management by carefully scheduling everything. Use data and metrics to determine how long things should take. Schedule fewer stops per route if you are always over-time, and analyze for inefficiencies to optimize routes. Self-improvement of your own personal time management can also carry over into better management of your fleet's time.
3) Numbers Over People
Never put the numbers over the safety and comfort of your drivers. A fleet manager who doesn't care about their team will cause low morale and fail to motivate everyone to do their best. Putting numbers like route completion times or a super-low budget ahead of your team's needs as humans will ultimately result in high turnover and dropping productivity.
Remember to maintain a balance between your numerical goals and the responsibilities of leading a team of human workers. Your drivers, maintenance, and office staff all deserve consideration, and their experience -and valuable feedback - are equally important metrics you must account for.
4) Lack of Accountability
Fleet managers hold a great deal of responsibility. They are in charge of safety, scheduling, routing, and coordinating. In other words, everyone else's performance hinges on their leadership. So a fleet manager who can't take personal accountability weakens the entire system. Blaming drivers for poorly managed routes or poorly maintained vehicles will never work.
If you find yourself putting the blame on everyone but yourself (a common personality flaw), it's time to step up. Start asking yourself what actions you could take to improve or avoid every problem instead of focusing just on the actions or responsibilities of others.
5) Resistance to Change
Lastly, there are fleet managers who have a system that worked (once) and refuse to change. However, both vehicles and fleet management technology are evolving rapidly. Vehicles are now more than half computers with a variety of new features ranging from safety to telematics. Fleet management software makes it possible to automate, communicate, and adapt more efficiently than old spreadsheet or pen-and-paper fleet management methods.
Fleet managers who won't adapt hold back their entire fleet in archaic and now-inefficient methods. Fortunately, to fix this problem, all you need to do is stop fighting change. Look for and adopt the best fleet management software for your business model. Learn about the new features in each vehicle and arrange training for your teams to make the best use. Simply adopting the latest fleet management methods and technology can significantly boost your fleet's overall efficiency, performance, and even morale.
Improve Your Fleet Management Skills with Wilmar
Wilmar has been building and supporting fleets for many years, and can help your fleet to thrive as well. Whether you need to build a modern fleet or work alongside a talented fleet manager to improve your leadership skills, we've got you covered. Contact us today to discover how Wilmar helps fleet managers on every level.
