Grey fleet management: Tire and VIN scanners, and other empowering tools
Frédéric Baroin
Global Head of Automotive Business at Anyline
The automotive industry is working to catch up with the increasing amount of data available to them. Each type of data available is empowering and valuable, but finding the most appropriate way to use that data isn’t always simple. Fleet managers, including grey fleet managers, are facing the same challenges. Grey fleet managers face unique challenges because they supervise a team of drivers who use their personal vehicles for business purposes.
Consider the different tasks they need to take on and the pain points grey fleet managers face. Technology can help these professionals overcome most of the challenges they are facing now.
Grey Fleet Management vs Fleet Management
Grey fleet management allows businesses to save money on assets by allowing their employees to use their own vehicles for business purposes, such as a truck driver fleet. However, this only works when the drivers take the necessary steps to maintain those vehicles. Because of the reduced costs associated with this process, it’s worth putting in place solutions that improve safety through technology.
What Grey Fleet Managers Have to Look Out For
Numerous concerns exist with grey fleet management that must be considered. The most impactful include:
- Track vehicle fuel consumption and general wear and tear.
- Know when your vehicles are due for an MOT and/or service.
- Make sure you’re covered! Check your insurance and breakdown cover are valid.
- Keep a log of the grey fleet vehicles in use in your business.
- Consider telematics solutions to increase your fleet’s efficiency.
Pain Points for Grey Fleet Managers
Fleet management and fleet maintenance are hard as is; grey fleet management is even harder. While company-owned vehicles are easier to keep track of, grey fleet vehicles are mostly outside your control. And yet you deal with the exact same challenges as you would with an in-house fleet, only to a greater extent. Here are some of the biggest pain points:
Driver safety: To ensure your staff’s safety on the road, you need to do a great deal of risk management. From road and weather conditions and choosing the safest route to ensuring regular breaks and having protective equipment on board, there are a lot of things to consider.
Vehicle tracking: Vehicle tracking is a big issue when you need to track privately owned vehicles. Especially if we’re talking about monitoring several drivers at the same time and in real time.
Vehicle maintenance: Vehicle maintenance is a difficult task for any logistics operation. When you have limited resources, proactive maintenance may be difficult to implement, and reactive maintenance can seriously disrupt your operations.
Cost optimization: Another thing that is difficult to do when managing a grey fleet is optimize transportation costs like fuel. If you work by reimbursing your staff for whatever they spend on fuel, you may find these expenses hard to predict and control.
How to Improve Efficiency in Your Grey Fleet Management
Technology can comprehensively change the way you manage grey fleets. Consider the following as some of the most effective, simple steps you can take now to gain more insight and control over your fleet:
Tire Tread Scanner – A tire tread scanner can be integrated into an app or website through an API and helps you find out when your tire’s tread is worn and needs to be replaced. By offering your employees a tire tread scanner, you actively help them stay safe on the road. With a simple scan of the tire using the app, you have clear information about the safety of the vehicle.
Tire Scanner – A tire scanner is an OCR-based technology that can be implemented as an SDK into an app or website so that everybody – fleet managers and drivers alike – can simply scan their tire information. That way, you can be 100% be sure that when their tires need to be replaced, it’s with the right tires for the vehicle. It reduces the risk of using inferior tires on trucks, putting the vehicles, cargo, and drivers themselves at risk.
VIN Scanner – A VIN scanner works pretty much like the tire scanner, but it offers more insight about the car (model, manufacturer, year, etc.), which is helpful for any grey fleet manager who needs to keep track of many different types of personal cars. This tool is essential for the long-term management of your vehicles.
License Plate Scanner – A license plate scanner also works on OCR-based technology and works best in combination with a VIN scanner. It allows you to keep a constant eye on the license plates moving into and out of your location.
Explore the solutions Anyline offers in each of these areas. We have what you need to stay on top of your grey fleet.
