Recent unforeseen emergencies, like hurricane Ian which took the Atlantic coast literally by storm, prove the importance of emergency fleet management services.
Fleet managers must deal with immediate planning and real-time emergency response, which can be challenging, especially with today’s extremely high fuel costs and complex liabilities. Let’s look at some major challenges emergency services fleet managers have to handle and a few tips to help manage your emergency services fleet(s).
5 Common Challenges Slowing Down Emergency Services Fleet Management Operations
There are a few common challenges that slow down emergency services fleet management operations, including rising fuel costs, poorly managed routes, environmental obstacles during natural disasters, compliance, and dangerous driving behavior.
Rising Costs of Fuel
Cost management is always a challenge for fleet managers. And fuel is a significant factor when it comes to fleet management costs. With the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) threatening to cut oil production, an increase in oil price fluctuations can make planning for fuel costs more complicated than it already is.
Failing to Optimize Routes for Emergency Responses
Emergency service fleet vehicles like ambulances, firetrucks and law enforcement vehicles are dispatched to a designated location as soon as possible. Failure to implement the proper technology to track vehicles and optimize routes can result in increased costs, wasted fuel, and ultimately failure to arrive at an emergency in time to save property or lives.
Navigating Environmental Obstacles During Natural Disasters
Similarly, optimizing emergency fleet routes is critical for vehicles to reach destinations in time when natural disasters are going on. Since disasters have considerable effects on transportation networks, the functionality of an emergency transportation network can play an essential role in the mitigation phase. With natural disasters rising, emergency fleet managers must undergo systematic vulnerability and risk assessments of transportation networks under natural hazards.
Maintaining Compliance
Fleet compliance involves ensuring your emergency fleet management systems are safe and in good repair. For most vehicles, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) sets fleet management requirements, and they change, so emergency service fleet management operations need to be aware of fleet management requirements in their operating areas.
Preventing Dangerous Driving Behaviors
Finally, preventing dangerous driving behaviors is always a challenge for all fleet managers, and emergency fleet management is just as important. Drivers operating in emergency response situations need to be especially vigilant, as they may be undergoing stress or operating in suboptimal conditions.
4 Tips for Improving Fleet Management Operations for Emergency Services
Despite the challenges facing fleet management operations for emergency services, the good news is that technology and improved, artificial intelligence (AI) fleet management solutions can help fleet managers address them. Here are a few examples.
Leverage Fleet Management Software to Collect Impactful Vehicle Metrics
Today’s fleet management software is exceptionally advanced and provides managers with crucial information details on vehicle location, operation, driver behavior, and maintenance. Using fleet management software like a customized fleet tracking system increases fleet efficiency and reduces costs.
Enhance Safety Protocols for Drivers and Fleet Managers
Comprehensive fleet management software can provide emergency fleet managers with valuable data regarding fleet safety. Alerts can be sent automatically to drivers and managers when there are unforeseen barriers along a planned route or if a vehicle is experiencing an emergency maintenance issue, among other things.
Achieve Visibility of Your Fleet in Real-Time
GPS fleet management, and asset tracking solutions use satellite technology to triangulate the locations of vehicles, equipment, and other valuable assets tagged with GPS tracking devices. For emergency fleet managers, GPS fleet management software can help them quickly visualize where all their assets are at any time and reroute them as needed when emergencies adjust.
Adopt Preventative Maintenance Schedules for Emergency Vehicles
Preventive maintenance (PM) for emergency response vehicles is extremely important to maintain reliable, durable response units that will reach their expected lifetimes without dangerous or expensive failures. Setting up a program isn’t difficult, especially with the right technology. Most emergency response vehicle manufacturers provide fleet managers with inspection and service forms. They can also provide fleet managers with options for driver and technician training.
Daily driver inspections are also necessary and must be conducted correctly, under supervision. Well-trained drivers and technicians can complement fleet management software to identify maintenance issues before they become problems.
In public safety, every second counts. First responders, such as police, firefighters, and medical emergency responders, need to be fast and efficient to save lives and protect the public. Download our GPS Fleet Tracking Features Sheet for Public Safety Now.
Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our blog.
Get our latest posts straight to your inbox.
Subscribe to Our Blog
