We're excited to announce the launch of the all new Fleetio. Our mission is to make it easy to manage a fleet of vehicles and equipment. We learned a ton by talking to countless customers and listening to feedback, then spent a lot of time thinking about how we can make Fleetio easier to use on a day-to-day basis.
Last week, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended that states reduce the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving from 0.08 to 0.05. If the proposal is accepted, anyone found driving with a 0.05 BAC level or greater could be subject to prosecution and arrest. For some context, a 180-lb male will reach a peak BAC level of 0.05 somewhere between two and three drinks consumed within an hour (see chart below for peak levels).
When someone asks for your job title, do you have to think about it for a second? If so, you probably work for a small business. At smaller companies and startups, it seems that the lines are blurred between departments, responsibilities and roles. Simply put, you do whatever is needed to make the business a success.
Likewise, if your operation depends on vehicles to get the job done, managing that fleet falls under the responsibility of a number of people. Ideally, you want everyone who touches the fleet to play a role in keeping up with the vehicles - in tracking maintenance schedules and data logging. If one person fails to keep up with their responsibilities, it can cost the company a great deal of money in repairs as well as lost time. It also compromises the overall safety of your fleet.
Whatever product or service you're pitching, video is an excellent communication tool for your website. I recently gave a talk to a group of folks applying to the next round of the Alabama Launchpad competition on the "Essentials of a 3-minute pitch video".
In order to make tunnels in Sydney, Australia safer, engineers have developed intelligent safety features that help notify trucks in advance that they will not fit. The video above features a potential disaster that was avoided thanks to these new innovations.
Sensors before the tunnel detect whether or not a truck is too tall, then flashing signs appear specifically in front of the offender - telling them to stop immediately. If these signs fail to garner the attention of the driver, then tunnel operators unleash a water curtain at the entrance as a last line of defense. So far, this has prevented a number of potential accidents in the Sydney area.
Regardless of what you are looking to accomplish, there is undoubtedly software or an app on the market that can help get the job done. However, in an age of accessibility, the key is finding a product that not only fits your requirements, but also adapts to the way you do business. With hundreds or even thousands of options out there, how do you know what software is right for you and your business?
First, let's address a few misnomers about software today:
There are a lot of articles out there centered upon the “Green Fleet” philosophy. As a responsible fleet manager or business owner, you are probably already striving toward Green objectives, whether or not you label them as such. Being proactive and placing a high importance on your operating efficiency can really make a difference. And if your company is looking for some recognition for its efforts, or simply looking to run a more effective fleet, going green could really pay off in the long run. So how do you start “greening” your fleet today?
I remember when Formula 1 teams first introduced the kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) a few years ago. At the time, it sounded like rocket science (or something out of the game F-Zero. The principle makes sense: harness wasted energy from braking to give a power boost for passing down the straightaways. In practice, however, such a system was quite complicated. At first glance, it seems a little over-the-top, even for F1. If you are looking at racing as a proving ground for viable features, what's the chance this would ever go mainstream for the average, non million-dollar, vehicle?
Renewal Reminders are a great way to keep up with all of the time-based notifications like insurance, inspections, tags, and other important activities that are essential to running an efficient fleet. With Fleetio, you can easily track these, and even create customized renewals to fit the specific needs of your operation.
Feedback from our customers identified the need to set different "Due Soon" thresholds for each reminder. We are happy to share with our users new functionality that will allow you to customize that threshold. You will notice this option as soon as you open a reminder in Fleetio.
Just another way we are building our fleet management software around you.
Learn more about Renewal Reminders and customizing your notifications in the Fleetio Help Center.
As a fleet manager, it is important for you to be aware of what is going on in your industry. Changes in technology, the regulatory environment and best practices can really be impactful to your business. If you were unable to attend the NAFA 2013 Institute & Expo, we want to give you some insight into some of the things that are being discussed and presented. So here are a few key ideas floating around at “the Fleet Management Industry’s Largest Event.”
