A fleet manager supervises a company’s fleet vehicles. Their primary goal is to ensure that work orders or deliveries are completed on schedule. Additionally, they make sure that drivers comply with regulations and safety requirements.
Statistics On Fleet Managers
The United States currently has 4,682 fleet managers, who are mainly located in Chicago and Houston. There is a demand for these managers in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Their average age is 45 and 83.2% are males versus 16.8% females. Women fleet managers get paid 97¢ For each $1 that men earn.
Private companies employ more fleet managers than public entities do.
Starting salaries begin at $29,000, growing to $47,092 with experience, while top fleet managers are paid upwards of $75,000. Oyster Bay, New York pays the highest wages in the US, which is $67,440, on average.
What Is Required To Get A Job As A Fleet Manager?
The minimum qualification for a fleet manager is a GED certificate or a high school diploma. However, most companies hire people who have a Bachelor’s degree in business, logistics, or supply chain management. You will need a clean driving record and a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL). An Automotive Service Excellent (ASE) certificate is strongly recommended.
Regards your knowledge base, you should be fully conversant with (Department of Transport) DOT and Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) regulations.
Your skillset must include general management experience or training, budgeting, sound administration of records, relationship management, and organizational abilities.
Knowledge Of Fleet Hardware And Software
Modern fleet vehicles are fitted with telematics hardware that is coordinated by fleet management software.
Telematics is used to monitor driver behavior and keep track of vehicle locations. Fleet management and telematics companies work hand-in-hand to get the most out of their fleet and drivers. If a driver brakes too hard, speeds, or goes off route, the fleet manager will be able to contact him or her immediately or provide coaching to improve driving and adherence to the work schedule. The hardware will even report on whether or not drivers used their seat belts. If you’re looking for fleet telematics companies, Acertus has a useful article on the topic.
Fleet management software combines all the data from the telematics hardware to provide reports and real-time information to the fleet manager. If urgent delivery is needed, it is easy to see which drivers are available and who is closest.
But the software also helps the manager to reduce overall fuel consumption, see that preventative maintenance is done on time, improve safety scores and rank drivers, and increase profitability.
Daily Duties And Responsibilities
To see if fleet management is for you, consider the daily duties and responsibilities of a fleet manager. You will be required to obtain vehicles for the fleet and determine whether to purchase or lease them. Regular maintenance of vehicles will need to be scheduled and repairs arranged. All of this involves cost and benefit comparisons.
One of your key duties will be recruiting and managing drivers. From time to time you may have to discipline a driver who practices unsafe behavior and adds to the wear and tear of a vehicle. Driver schedules will have to be prepared. Vehicles must be registered and licensed.
Your responsibilities include strategies to maximize profits and cut costs and analyze data to improve efficiencies.
Fleet management is a worthwhile career for someone who meets the requirements.
