Construction is an especially complex industry, defined by mammoth projects, multiple moving parts, skilled teams and professionals rotating on and off jobs, and various types of pieces of equipment. Given this complexity, it’s no surprise that construction companies often find managing their mixed fleets challenging.
Then there are the various types of data associated with these mixed fleets – large commercial trucks, trailers, heavy equipment, pickup trucks, generators, and more – and the needs construction fleet managers, maintenance managers and equipment managers will have for making intelligent use of that variety of data.
Do you need multiple systems to manage your fleet? The data variance by asset type often leads many construction companies to invest in multiple asset tracking systems to access the breadth and depth of data they seek. Unfortunately, these systems don’t always work well together. Then there are the headaches that can accompany aggregating the data into a single view of the entire mixed fleet, which can result in challenges in analyzing data, accessing reports, or enabling alerts. And if one of these systems goes down, the company may learn they have to work with a third-party vendor for service – yet another headache that can negatively impact uptime and the bottom line. Having a powerful asset management software can protect your fleet while driving revenue for your business.
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A Single Solution Does Exist The good news for construction companies is that, yes, a single construction fleet management solution does exist to tie together all the various telematics-enabled data streams to effectively manage mixed-fleet operations.
Look for asset tracking software for construction that offers a full range of telematics hardware – from simple tracking to high-definition in-dash cameras – that matches all the assets in your mixed fleet. Ask if the solutions provider has the knowledge and expertise to write the needed custom scripts to ensure data can smoothly flow into one system. And be sure that the provider offers a platform that delivers a complete view of fleet performance on one screen and offers a robust set of reports and alerts to drive productivity and maximize fleet performance.
Another important factor you’ll want to ask about is scalability. You’ll want to ensure you invest in a system that can be flexed to accommodate the make-up of your fleet as your business grows and you add new or additional assets.
Additional features that define a best-in-class, all-in-one mixed fleet monitoring solution include:
• Asset tracking and reporting using Power BI dashboards
• Equipment status and location, to guard against assets being intentionally sidelined at a worksite until they are needed
• Asset productivity, including engine hours and active utilization
• Vehicle analytics, including fuel pressure and miles per gallon
• ELD data
• Preventive maintenance
• Service planning
• Inspections
• Driver safety
A System Offering Many Advantages What’s especially surprising about construction companies and their unique needs is that so many companies continue to try to cobble together a “whole fleet” telematics solution by employing multiple systems from multiple vendors. Meanwhile, the alternative – a single system designed to meet their needs – offers so many advantages that it can make tracking construction fleets a relatively painless process by providing a solution that is uniquely powerful and tied to streamlined operations.
If you are a decision maker for a construction company, you owe it to yourself – and your company – to learn more about how easy it can be to capture, aggregate, and share the important and actionable data associated with all the assets in your fleet with construction fleet management software.