Tag Archive for: fleet fuel

How remote work is running for fleet management

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After almost a year in the lives of many people, in some cases unexpectedly, today it seems that most employees are already getting used to the home office. According to a Kaspersky survey, 48% of employees now make their video calls in a slightly more comfortable outfit and 27% prefer to update reports or other bureaucratic tasks while working in the garden or on the porch.

Unlike the first few months of confinement, today people have a home office routine much more adjusted to their lifestyle. Technology, connectivity, and collaborative work are factors that helped a lot for this.

And while the home office lasts for a few more months in several companies, we ask ourselves: how remote work is running for fleet management. 

This virtual world has resulted in fewer miles driven and more time in front of a computer for company drivers. Most companies still have restrictions on guests at their offices (many are 100% virtual), which means having an in-person sales call will require that it be held offsite.

As more jobs involving company drivers become permanently remote, it may result in less travel that will cause a reassessment of optimal fleet size. 

Other changes should also appear with this new model of work. With many employees opting to work from home, corporations may not require as large a building to accommodate a smaller office staff. Another ramification may be an ongoing reduction in the budget for business travel.

It is difficult to say whether these changes will be permanent, but at least for now, it is the reality of many companies. But it is likely to take advantage of the positive points going forward. And the best way to ensure remote work is efficient is to invest in the technology necessary for your fleet to be controlled from the cloud. 

Your fuel supply control can be done quickly, intelligently, and 100% in the cloud with Link2Pump. If you’re looking for a fuel management partner that can help you prepare for the future, contact us. 

Tips to motivate and connect with the remote workforce

You may be wondering why employee engagement is so important. Today’s employees want to know how what they are doing contributes to the overall success of the company. Communication is one of the keys to keeping employees engaged and smart businesses are staying close to their employees on a variety of platforms. 

In addition to regularly communicating with your employees, it is also important to continue to recognize employee achievements. So, it is very important that even though they are away, managers work hard and make the extra effort to make sure employees stay engaged. 

As we establish what the new normal will be for businesses, the sector needs to prepare and make the necessary changes to deal with the current situation. Waiting for things to go back to how they were before can make you lose a lot of money. 

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How data can help to lower your fleet costs?

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Fleet owners and operators face unique financial challenges. Rising fuel costs, compliance violations, and driver turnover can keep your fleet costs rising and profits stagnant. Unfortunately, reducing fleet costs is not an easy task, but some tools and systems can help significantly. 

Data-driven management can help you analyze the daily work routines without manual work because this is always a source of failure that can be avoided by setting up automated solutions. The more data points can be connected, the more insights a report can give. And, above all, it can help you save some money! 

Right now, fleet managers can use integrated data fleet management solutions to improve real-time monitoring, reporting, analysis, and outcomes in areas such as driver safety, operational efficiency, fuel management, maintenance, and vehicle utilization. 

According to analysts at Frost and Sullivan, effective use of data can help fleet managers:

Increase productivity by 10 – 15%

Save 20 – 30 minutes of labor time per driver per day

Reduce overtime by 10 – 15%

Cut fuel expenses by 20 – 25%

Reduce vehicle idle time by 20 – 30% 

Boost vehicle utilization by 15 – 20%

Cut total miles driven by 5 – 10%

The data as a product evolution in fleets will allow for much smarter decision-making based on real-time data, rather than guts, as we mostly see today. Predictive modeling uses the data continuously streamed by telematics to identify everything from maintenance needs, to equipment requirements, and even through to patterns and peaks in future customer demand.    

Fuel is one of the biggest and most unpredictable cost centers for fleets. While you might not be able to affect the price at the pump, you do have the ability to ensure your drivers there are getting the most out of each mile per gallon.

Driver education can help, but how can you be sure they will follow these policies when they’re on the road? The real savings in fuel cost, just like other expense areas, comes from data. Here’s how:

  • Companies that use fuel cards can monitor employee fuel-spending and usage
  • Some systems can integrate with a fuel card. This allows you to manage where and when your drivers are filling up and identify which routes your vehicles are taking, alerting you to out-of-route miles driven. It also gives you the ability to track fuel fill-ups against miles driven to identify any fuel misuse issues.
  • Driver performance programs allow fleet managers to monitor driver behavior, such as speeding and idling. These programs give you the ability to deliver better-tailored coaching that will change behavior and result in decreased fuel consumption.

Advanced tracking systems can also detect when the engines of vehicles in the fleet are about to experience issues that require maintenance or potential repair. Using best practices for maintenance and predictive software that anticipate problems can cut down on the cost of engine repairs and time lost as a vehicle is repaired. This can also help a company determine when it’s no longer cost-efficient to repair a vehicle and instead put money into a new vehicle.

As you can see, technology plays a crucial role in almost every money-saving tactic and strategy discussed above. If you’re looking for a fuel management partner that can help you reduce your fleet’s expenses, contact us.

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What have fleet managers learned in 2020?

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2020 brought a great lesson for business. It showed the need for preparation, connectivity and resilience. Fleets across industries have had to navigate uncertainty and adapt to new ways of operating. It was a year that forced fleet leaders to evolve continually, learning how to operate in totally new ways and, especially, doing more with less. 

As we enter in 2021, it’s time to think how fleet managers can apply what they’ve learned in 2020 to help shape future plans and practices? Let’s look at some scenarios. 

Adapt your business model

Many fleet leaders had to evaluate their existing business models, with some pivoting  to  service  essential  industries. One  example  of  this change  involved  repurposing  fleet  vehicles  to  fulfill  last-mile  delivery. If your fleet is not being fully utilized, you can look up and find new markets to operate. 

Keep a good relationship with suppliers

Fleet management companies depend on supplier relationships. These relationships can become complicated when fleets have reduced needs, such as fewer tires, less preventive maintenance, or a pause in vehicle acquisitions. 

The best you can do to prevent the loss of relationships with suppliers is to be proactive in their outreach. When business gets back at full capacity, the transition back to regular work will be complicated if supplier relationships haven’t been maintained. Remember that they are fundamental to your business and make the necessary effort so that the relationship remains healthy.

Identify possibilities for automation

From GPS tracking to fuel management, there are a lot of opportunities to automate your fleet operation. Automated operations can help to make  the  transition  to  remote  work  easier, for example. With automation you can manage, control, analyze, optimize, and schedule tasks for your business. Automated processes also help to save time and money. 

Controlling vehicle costs and yields in relation to usage indicates how much each item in your fleet is consuming. This measure is essential to generate savings in the short and long term, as well as to verify the performance of each truck. With Link2Pump you can control your fuel supply quickly and intelligently. We can install our system in your fuel pumps, ensuring safety and data accuracy for managing your fleet. All fleet fueling data is sent in real time to the system and only authorized drivers and vehicle are able to pump fuel. In addition, you can generate several reports, with all fuel consumption information. If you want to learn more about our solution, get in touch . 

Stay more connected than ever 

Working from home it’s not new, but the trend has increased as governments all over the world have introduced lockdowns in a bid to fight the coronavirus. For some it was a very bad experience, but many others want the flexibility to continue. Companies are not only adapting their policies to allow working from home, they’re also downsizing their offices and other expenses. 

That’s why it is very important that you hire talented managers for fleet, mobility, facilities and other key departments. Managers who are connected with the present and future of the company and are ready to act.

These are some lessons to anticipate solutions for the future and it is also an opportunity to make your business thrive in difficult times. One thing is certain, data-based technology is already making a difference in many companies.

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How Link2Pump can help your business 

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Link2Pump services accounts all across the US, helping businesses to save human and financial resources in the fuel tracking and reporting process. By automating and managing fuel dispensing from bulk storage tanks, we turn a complex process into a simple experience. In 2020 we teamed up with CTASmart, a multinational leader in fuel management from Brazil, aiming to extend our culture of simplicity and intelligence to Latin America and worldwide. CTA Smart & Link2Pump has already tracked over 500 million gallons of fuel  by managing  600,000 assets at over 3,000 fueling points 

We made fuel tracking and reporting simple. In the era of data and connectivity, Link2Pump empowers businesses to take control of their fuel usage. Our solution combines a web portal and a device connected to your fuel dispenser. 

Our solutions

Link2Pump Pedestal automates the fueling process on-site, capturing data points you need and sending them to your online account in real-time. Account access is available from any device, anywhere, any time. Fully compatible with mechanical, digital and electronic dispensers, each unit controls up to 4 fueling points and features extensive data input options and restriction capabilities.

We also offer mobile applications that pack the same technological power from L2P Pedestal into a compact enclosure to fit fuel trucks, tanker trucks or any kind of mobile tanks. Whether used solo or combined with an L2P pedestal, filling up equipment out in the field is safely tracked in real-time, with in-unit and cloud backup for added security.

As we know, more assertive route planning, more robust management systems are among the investments required for this moment. The resumption of services provided with excellence also has a major problem: the price of oil. 

That’s why we need to improve delivery planning and fuel distribution management, saving money without losing effectiveness and deadlines.

How it works? 

The Link2Pump Pedestal unit connects to your fuel dispenser, protecting your fuel from unauthorized use. The operator will be prompted for  key information, like driver, vehicle number and mileage. Only then the L2P unit activates the pump. While the operator fills up the tank, L2P records the gallons being pumped and uploads all fueling data to your online account once the transaction is overfueling data is available in real-time and you can see and manage it from any device. Cloud backup guarantees zero chance of data loss.

Lifetime warranty

Our unique lifetime warranty protects your investment and eliminates unexpected expenses. We offer a hassle-free parts replacement policy, where servicing is simple and easy and can be done quickly by the customer, reducing down-time to a minimum

Popular Integrations

Link2Pump also offers open API for seamless and free integration with 3rd party softwaresYour fuel transactions and tank inventory data in the L2P system can interface via web service with basically any software platform, such as fleet fuel cards, billing programs, fleet maintenance, telematics, and much more. You can also export to text and spreadsheet files. 

Our company has solutions for several industries, such as agriculture, aviation, construction, government, marinas, manufacturing, mining, transportation and utilities. If you want to learn more about our solution and are looking for alternatives to improve bottom line  and productivity, please get in touch. 

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Benefits of having a fuel management system

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A very common question today is: Do I have to set up a fuel supply system for my company’s fleet or continue to refuel at gas stations? If your company has a minimum demand , you can start thinking about enjoying the benefits of your fleet supply system.

Agility and speed in routine

With automated supply, the logistics become much more agile: times are shortened and you no longer depend on external factors that reduce business efficiency. In addition to being able to be placed in strategic locations, a fuel management solution allows the entire fueling process, including vehicle identification and odometer reading, to be completed very quickly.

Avoid and reduce fraud

Another important point is to avoid and reduce fraud. Companies tend to lose a lot of money in the risk management process. A software system solves this issue by ascertaining that the right vehicle is fueled at the right time and place. Indeed, managers can monitor their fleet conveniently and at all times.

Focus on your core activities

You can also increase focus on your core activities, as management of fuel can consume a lot of time from your time. After engaging a professional to build an on-demand fuel delivery app, most of the manual work is handled by the features and tools. It is, therefore, possible to focus on other management functions such as planning, controlling, and coordinating activities to achieve goals. 

Improve maintenance

Fleet management systems provide everything you need to develop a preventative maintenance schedule, helping you manage maintenance costs. Kilometers traveled, engine hours, fuel usage. These are some of the data points that can be used to create a preventative maintenance schedule. 

Easy fuel tax refund

In most states and for the federal government, motor fuel excise taxes are collected and designated for highway and road construction and maintenance. So, fleets using fuel for powering vehicles and equipment at off-road applications may qualify for federal and state-level refunds. Some fuel management systems, like Link2Pump, easily track and reconcile all information needed for filing fuel tax refund claims with one-click reports. 

The real picture of the operation

Fleet management software gives you a more comprehensive picture of your fleet’s operations. When you have this well-rounded view of your fleet, you can expand it more efficiently. By understanding your current fleet, you can find opportunities to bring in more jobs.

So, to sum up, the main advantages of installing your own fueling point are:

  • Fuel quality assurance, reducing the risk of fraud and ensuring that the entire fleet can have the same performance;
  • Elimination of the costs of moving machinery/vehicles to the gas station;
  • Practicality and speed of supply, since it will have the availability of supply 24 hours;
  • Fuel tax refund; 
  • Centralization and rationalization of consumption control. 

If you want to learn more about our solution and are looking for alternatives to improve bottom line and productivity, please, get in touch.

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