Fleet management companies are always interested in talking to qualified candidates. While many of the jobs in truck fleet management are support and administrative entry-level positions, there are other opportunities in fleet management systems management that are best achieved with additional vehicle fleet management training. Educational opportunities are available to candidates who want to advance their career in fleet management services.

Consider a degree in business to get you started and add online fleet maintenance software and fleet maintenance professional development courses through fleet companies, training centers and trade groups. Take advantage of every vehicle fleet management training course or seminar to fatten your resume. Watch for training for fleet management in a number of places.

1. Watch fleet management services job boards

2. Participate in truck fleet management trade groups

3. Ask for guidance from fleet software experts

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for training from online fleet companies websites

While you are job hunting, or doing your regular industry news updates research, keep an eye out for the trends that are leading the industry to point you to the training that you need to meet the demands of the times. Consider the requirements of the jobs you might like to pursue and find out what certificates or training you can get to make yourself a desirable candidate.

I recommend: Get individual training or bring in the professionals at Mercury for team training. VeriFone provides a number of online classes for fleet management advancement training.

Join fleet maintenance associations for training

Most trade associations offer continuing education and professional development courses for their members. Some groups can guide you to special certification courses that will help you advance your career while offering events and meetings at which you can meet other professionals and find out about other training options.

I recommend: Take advantage of one of the many courses and professional development certification programs offered by the National Private Truck Council. The Truckload Carriers Association offers a number of different training and professional development opportunities for members.

Find a training mentor for fleet management solutions

Whether you can relate to a good manager who might take you on for mentoring, or you seek out a professional in a trade group or other professional association, follow the advice when you're pointed to special training opportunities. Often a designation or degree can make all the difference when you are looking to advance.

I recommend: NISH is a non-profit training agency that can provide a number of different training options. Fleet management and fleet HR training can be taken through a number of courses at the HR Training Center.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Talk to your employer about what kinds of fleet management software training they will either pay or reimburse you for, including membership fees in trade associations.

Developing a fleet management system for your business is not an easy project. It is important to conduct thorough research now to save yourself headaches and money in the long run.

Luckily, there are federal and private organizations to provide the information and services you'll need to manage your fleet effectively and safely. Alternatively, there are companies that offer fleet management services to take care of everything from insurance to safety compliance to maintenance and repair of your vehicles. If you barely have time to focus on your organization's core competencies, you'll want to consider outsourcing these services.

The three most important things you'll need to remember when using these resources to develop a fleet management strategy are:

1. Conduct a lease versus buy analysis on the vehicles
2. It takes hard work and cash to hire the best truckers
3. Decide how much you can outsource to a vendor or keep in-house with technology

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy vs. lease

Without many cost advantages of one over the other in the long run, rest your decision on the resources you can dedicate up front for vehicle acquisition, management programs, and training for your fleet management staff.

I recommend: Midway Fleet has flexible solutions, and provides consulting to help you decide which one makes the sense for your organization. Compare types of vehicles, calculate annual fuel costs and shop by application on GM's Fleet and Commercial Site.

Fleet management software

Depending on how fancy you want to get, these programs can provide scheduling, tracking, and reporting on fuel, maintenance and vehicle wear.

I recommend: You can compare software based on features, testimonials and company size on Capterra.com. Fleet Boss and Collective Data both offer global positioning system (GPS) software for small business, which allows you to track your fleet in real time and online, among other functions.

You won't feel used

Trucks depreciate as quickly as cars do, and you can save a bundle by leasing or purchasing pre-owned vehicles. Many of these vehicles are in 'like new' condition, so you won't have to compromise reliability.

I recommend: Merchants Leasing also offers a 24/7 nationwide maintenance program along with your lease.

Tag your stuff

A surefire way to keep track of your load is through the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags so you know where your products are at all times.

I recommend: There are a wide range of RFID offerings for small businesses, and a good place to start is Microsoft, which offers a primer on RFID.

Hire grease monkeys

One way to cut down on maintenance costs is to hire drivers who can fix their own vehicles if there are maintenance issues.

I recommend: Companies such as Enterprise can set up a maintenance program for you with a fixed monthly payment that will cover all parts and service.

License and registration, please

It is important that your fleet drivers have everything they need if they are pulled over by the cops.

I recommend: You'll want to hire drivers with CDL certification to serve as a filter in the hiring process. Access the CDL Fact Sheet provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Chase offers commercial auto insurance for small- to medium-size businesses that covers injuries and damages to your property and the property of others involved if there is an accident.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep in mind that the quality of vehicles you deploy is a factor in the quality of truckers you attract to drive them.
• •  Decide whether to lease or buy by figuring out how much cash you can put down up front.
• •  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers tips on how to increase your fleet's fuel efficiency.
• •  Keep up-to-date on current transportation rules and regulations.
• •  Use your fleet as a vehicle for direct and indirect response advertising by placing your logo on the truck, trailer and truckers' uniforms.

Fleet management solutions change with the times. And as the landscape surrounding truck fleet management continues to evolve, following technological and financial forces, you have to keep up with fleet management services to be able to make the best presentations and know what your competitors are doing. The fleet software industry should be followed closely so that you can remain competitive and land the big contracts.

Follow the trends that are affecting fleet management solutions in a variety of ways. Read vehicle fleet management publications that can keep you updated with news and information. Subscribe to white papers and fleet maintenance articles. Take advantage of fleet management trade groups that keep members apprised of news and trends. Look for fleet management news and trends in a number of ways.

1. Get email alerts and vehicle fleet management software newsletters

2. Participate in associations for fleet companies

3. Subscribe to magazines for fleet management providers

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get emails alerts on fleet management companies

Set up a separate email account to get email alerts, RSS feeds and industry newsletters that will send you news as it happens, the latest trend pieces and information about what the major industry players are up to. Check this email daily so you don't miss out on important news.

I recommend: Inbox Robot will keep you updated of all the news and trends affecting your business. Keep up with trend information, news headlines and in-depth research through Fleet Owner or Fleet Maintenance online.

Join vehicle fleet management network groups

Association with other professionals in the same field will provide you with an inside track to news, often before it hits the press. Get involved with your trade association and take advantage of the networking opportunities to develop relationships as well as the group's newsletters and communication vehicles.

I recommend: Members of the National Fleet Management Association have a number of publications sent to them that keep them apprised of important news and research. The American Trucking Association keeps you updated on news that will affect your fleet, including regulatory issues in the news. Government fleet managers should check the news gathered by the National Conference of State Fleet Administrators.

Read about the latest fleet maintenance

Take time to read in-depth reports and magazines that cover the industry further than the headlines. Often the best information that can help drive your own business decisions comes from investigative reporting and research articles that take a deeper look into industry issues.

I recommend: The Automotive Business Review offers specialized news updates for fleet management as well as other industry news. Government Fleet is a great source of information and news that’s culled from sources around the country.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Encourage your staff to read publications and websites that can bring even more news about fleet management systems. Make it fun by giving a prize to the team member who comes up with the best news tidbit each month.

Managing your fleet is an essential aspect to the success of your business. For example, you want to perform maintenance tracking to ensure that all vehicles in your fleet receive preventative maintenance at the correct times. You also may want to use RFID or GPS to track vehicles, potentially decreasing unauthorized vehicle usage. Whether you have a fleet of two cars or thousands of trucks, knowing the key terms related to fleet management will help you get the job done.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Radio frequency identification (RFID)

Using radio frequency identification, or RFID, you can easily track your goods. A small microchip is placed into an item and this can be used to automatically track where your goods are. There is no need to manually enter this information.

I recommend: Learn more about RFID technology through a primer from Microsoft.

Global positioning system (GPS)

Global positioning system, or GPS, is another method of tracking your fleets. GPS uses satellites to track the position of things. To use GPS to track your fleet, you would need to insert a GPS device into each car.

I recommend: Find out how GPS works through NASA.

Unauthorized vehicle usage

Unauthorized vehicle usage is when fleet drivers use their vehicles to make personal stops or take on side jobs. Because many companies allow drivers to take the car home, but not use the car during after-hours, tracking vehicle usage is an important part of fleet management.

I recommend: Telogis explains why it's important to track unauthorized vehicle usage.

Commercial Drivers License (CDL) and commercial motor vehicles (CMV)

The vehicles that you use for your business are commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) and many require the drivers to carry a commercial drivers license (CDL). This is because CMVs are typically much larger and more difficult to maneuver than consumer cars.

I recommend: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association discusses commercial drivers licenses and the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986.

Maintenance tracking

All vehicles require regular maintenance, such as oil changes and tune ups, to perform their best. Part of fleet management is maintenance tracking, or tracking when vehicles were last maintained and when they need preventative services.

I recommend: Innovative Maintenance Systems explains why it's important to track a vehicle's maintenance history and includes screenshots of a software program that does this.

NAFA Fleet Management Association

The NAFA Fleet Management Association helps those that are in charge of fleet management to network and learn the latest techniques for fleet management.

I recommend: Learn more about the NAFA Fleet Management Association from their website.