Todd Ewing, Fleetmatics Director of Product Marketing, recently participated in a Q&A with Beverage Trade Network. Ewing offers insight on how a fleet management solution such as Fleetmatics can benefit companies in all industries, specifically beverage distributors. In addition to helping to adopt fuel saving practices, a fleet management solution can also help increase workforce productivity, eliminate unauthorized vehicle use, and improve customer service.
Preview an excerpt of the article below and please check out the entire Q&A session at Beverage Trade Network. Ewing provides more insight on criteria to consider when choosing a vehicle tracking solution, the implementation process, and additional information on the features and benefits of a fleet management solution.
BTN: Do you have any customers in the beverage distribution industry, and if so, what kind of results have they seen from utilizing fleet management technology?
TE: We do indeed. One example is M.L. Wismer Distributing, a 50+-year-old beer distributing business based in Texas. Wismer has 64 trucks in its fleet and utilizes our technology for a wide range of detailed reports and alerts, from real time location data of any vehicle, speed, routes, distance traveled, engine start up and shut down time, fuel usage, and much more. They also utilize our Idle Report that reveals true idle times (when ignition is on and the vehicle is not moving). This report includes idle stop and start times, location of idling, total idle time, and alerts when idle times exceed a set threshold. This report alone can reduce fuel usage, improve routing, and decrease engine wear.
In terms of specific ROI, M.L. Wismer is saving at least 4.5 gallons of gas per week, per vehicle. With over 60 vehicles, that adds up quickly. It’s saving the company $2,835 per month on fuel. M.L. Wismer’s General Manager, Jim Coker, noted the fuel savings alone, regardless of all the other benefits, pay for the system itself. Other benefits Coker cites include improved driver productivity, lower overtime costs, enhanced security for drivers and vehicles, reduced weekend activity and lower liability, and improved customer-response times and satisfaction.
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