Maintaining a successful fleet of vehicles is more than just keeping your drivers busy and your workload stacked. It’s also being solely responsible for the safety, security, and productivity of your drivers, fleets, and workflow management.
As a business owner, the buck stops with you, and you alone. You’re liable for your transportation, the people who drive your vehicles, and the security of your systems. Whether it’s a minor inconvenience, a costly oversight that needs immediate attention, or looking into innovative ways to automate vehicle security within your fleet, all eyes are on you to make the final decision.
Unfortunately, that also means all of the pressure is on your shoulders to keep your fleet safe from theft or damage, and up to date with the latest advancement in technology.
To ensure that you’re leaving absolutely nothing to chance and implementing the best tools possible, here’s everything you need to know about keeping your fleet secure.
Implement Clear Safety and Security Procedures
Start with the fundamentals. Make sure that all of your procedures and protocols are adhered to and clearly understood by all of your employees. Communicate the ramifications of any driver caught breaking any rules regarding unattended vehicles, and reiterate the importance of safety within your fleet management business.
Once this is done, log the safety and security procedure in a document or agreement, and have your drivers sign it. Welcome any questions or concerns they may have, but once that procedure has been signed off, it’s essential that these security rules be enforced.
Choose Your Vehicles Carefully
It’s not just a matter of the best fleet for right now, it’s about choosing the fleet vehicles that are able to adapt to the changes in technology over the next decade. Not just for the sake of your business remaining one step ahead of the changes in the industry, but for the safety and security of your drivers as well.
With new technologies and the latest upgrades come more thorough quality checks, and higher safety ratings, which contribute to the overall security tools available for your vehicles. For example, a van rental for courier will be different from a van for commuting.
Inspect These Vehicles Regularly
Of course, there should be daily vehicle checks that are conducted by your drivers, but a more in-depth inspection is required by a reputable fleet vehicle mechanic. These checks aren’t MOT inspections, these are regular safety checks (once every 3-4 months is recommended) to ensure that your fleet is up to standard, and secure enough to be out on the road.
Just like your safety protocols, keeping a log of your MOTs, daily driver checks, and quarterly inspections from an expert fleet vehicle mechanic is essential. Staying prepared for the unexpected means being able to remain calm when the unexpected occurs.
Embrace Technology for Better Overall Security
If all of the above measures to keep your fleet secure seem exhausting, there’s a simple solution to harness all of these essential safety measures through one management system.
By embracing the changing technologies within your fleet service business, you’re keeping at the forefront of your industry, remaining one step ahead of your competitors, and using the most secure innovations available.
Ridecell’s Fully-automated Security Management Solution
Ridecell covers all of your fleet security needs in one simple security management solution. Ridecell security knows exactly when to protect your fleet vehicles by efficiently and effectively disabling digital keys, immobilizing the vehicle in the event of theft, and notifying the authorities.
It’s a fast, comprehensive, and cutting-edge solution to your fleet business security needs.
Automatic Protection at the Touch of a Button
With Ridecell’s automation technologies, you’re able to locate any vehicle at any time. Search through the location history of your entire fleet. Monitor the movement of your vehicles in real-time. Implement your own personalized geolocation alerts and operate with simplicity, improved functionality, and complete autonomy.
Through innovations in fleet management, Ridecell provides all of the latest and most advanced security features without the stress and pressure of handling multiple issues in separate places.
Implement Regular Employee Training and Refresher Courses
Anyone can nod their heads and say that they’re aware of the limit on driver hours, weight restrictions, and the correct way to leave their vehicle when it’s unattended. Nevertheless, it’s important to plan regular refresher courses and additional training opportunities to maintain that strict understanding between your drivers, and what your business expects of them.
These extra training courses will instill the importance of safety and security within your drivers, and through further documentation that they can sign, you’re ensuring that they’ve agreed to uphold them.
Accepting the Future of Fleet Management Security
The world is changing, and technology is constantly moving as fast as it possibly can to better serve the needs of consumers. While your fleet business may benefit from this, it also leaves it open to potential security threats.
Much like the technology itself, learning to adapt and accept the innovations in fleet security available is absolutely essential.
Inspection, employee training, and regular maintenance of your fleet is a key component of keeping your vehicles secure, and ready for the road ahead. But when it comes to how that security and safety is implemented during the day-to-day runnings of your business, allowing the innovations in technology to keep your fleets secure is vital.
Whether you were prepared for it or not, the shift in fleet vehicle security has already happened. If you’re resistant to implementing those changes now, you’re setting your business up for security risks, issues, and a potential failure further down the line.