Have you ever experienced heavy traffic? Well if you have, then you are aware of just how frustrating and damaging they can be for a vehicle. Fleet management system, while of no use to reduce this traffic congested areas can still help protect your vehicles. 

But how? Before we look into the use of fleet management software for helping fleet businesses, let us understand the root of the trouble/ After All, why is a little traffic considered such a big issue in the first place?

Why is Traffic Congestion a Challenge for Fleet Businesses?

Traffic congestion refers to  slow traffic practices. Fleets essentially running on roads face the issue of traffic congestions, i.e traffic jams very frequently. Then why the need to avoid such situations? Let us learn the harmful ways this slow traffic affects a vehicle:

• Consumes Time: To begin with, getting stuck in slow traffic means that task completion will take much longer than normal. This harms a business’ reputation ultimately leading to clientele shrinking. For industries like FMCG, this wasted time can translate to rotten products ultimately causing fleet business to lose money. 
• Idling: When traffic is moving slowly and there are long waiting periods, idling is very common. This is because stitching the engine off can result in accidents while vehicles behind wait for you to move. Thus, vehicles end up consuming more fuel than normal, hiking business’ expenditure.
• Vehicle Damage: As we just mentioned, it is very easy for vehicles to get into accidents due to slow vehicles. This can not only endanger the consignments a vehicle is carrying, but can also lead to losses. Businesses might have to get their vehicles repaired or replaced.
• Wear and Tear: Driving very slowly, idling and harsh braking are all very common behaviours in traffic congestion. But as common as they are, they are equally as damaging. It can wear down the tyres and also cause irreversible damage to the engine of the vehicle. 
• Bad driving Practices: Traffic congestion leads to frustration on the driver’s end. This can sometimes lead to them making harmful decisions. This can result in vehicles ending up with damage. 

Why is Fleet Management Software a Good Investment?

Before we look into what the fleet management system has to do with traffic congestion, let us have a complete overview of the software. Traditionally fleet management systems were responsible for tracking the location of a vehicle. But it has evolved a management system. This software allows fleet managers to schedule and plan the operations of their business via a single platform. 

A lot of solutions come together to form the fleet management system. Each of these solutions focus on a single aspect of the fleet and optimises it. Thus, providing a holistic optimization approach to fleet businesses. Some of these solutions include:

• Driver Behaviour Monitoring 
• Route Planning
• Fuel monitoring
• Video Telematics 
• Asset Tracking

The software allows managers to access the real-time locations of the vehicles. It also stores data to aid managers in their study for decision making. Thus, they take well researched decisions that make the fleet profitable and safer in the long run.

How can Fleet management System help Traffic Congestion’s Damage on Fleets

While a fleet management system cannot reduce the amount of traffic on the roads, it can certainly help you avoid these areas. But you might be wondering how that can be made possible. Do not worry, we will explain the process in detail. Here are some ways a vehicle tracking system can help you avoid heavy traffic or aid your driving if stitch in such a situation: 

Route Planning Solution

This solution allows fleet managers to pre-determine the paths their vehicle will travel through. Managers are incharge or selecting what routes will be the most suitable for their vehicles.  

Thus, they can take into consideration the places that are usually traffic ridden and try to avoid them the best they can. Drivers can avoid sticky situations like traffic congestion altogether and they will face none of the above mentioned issues. 

Driver Behaviour Monitoring Solution

Now imagine you have encountered a traffic jam with no other available alternatives for travelling. Then there is no other option but to drive carefully to avoid any harm to either the vehicle or the consignment. This is where driver behaviour monitoring solutions come handy. They alert managers ever time their drivers carry out any of these events:

• Sudden Braking
• Irregular Acceleration
• Harsh Cornering
• Idling
• Overspeeding

This way, the drivers will handle their vehicles with care. Ultimately, the consignment will reach its destination safely. 

Video Telematics Solution

One of the major concerns when dealing with slow traffic is the idea that a vehicle might bump into you. Or that your vehicle might bump into someone when driving in close proximity with other vehicles. This is why the ADAS feature of the video telematics solution is very useful. It uses a series of roads facing cameras that maintain surveillance over the vehicle’s surroundings.

If your vehicle is mistakenly getting too close to another vehicle on the road, the system will alert the driver instantly. This gives them time to rectify the situation. Thus, the vehicle stays out of harm’s way and safety stays intact. 

Reports and Records

The fleet management system stores all the data that enters the system. Then this data is categorised as insights for the managers. Thus, they can see the pain points of their fleets to rectify these mistakes. 

Studying long-term reports will make it clear that what time of the day is likely to pose more of an issue for the vehicles. Managers can use this information to ensure that they avoid sending out their vehicles for tasks during these peak hours unless necessary. This eliminated most of the problem right at its root.

Conclusion

Traffic congestion can be an extremely difficult situation to navigate, especially for vehicles carrying fragile consignments. This is why it is important fleet businesses eliminate any chance of getting stuck in traffic jams. In case unavoidable, fleet managers need to take essential steps to keep the vehicle safe.