Responsibilities of a fleet manager

Fleet management is a position that requires wearing many hats. A fleet manager must oversee every facet of a company’s fleet, including the vehicles, drivers, policy compliance and more. 

Whether you’re a current fleet manager looking to refine your skills or a superior seeking clarity on a fleet manager’s role, keep reading for a full breakdown of a fleet manager’s responsibilities. 

Responsibilities to the drivers

A fleet manager has many responsibilities toward their drivers, ranging from traditional managerial duties to more specialized tasks related to the trucking industry. 

1. Scheduling and planning

A fleet manager is in charge of scheduling drivers’ shifts and routes. They must balance what the drivers want, such as short or long hauls, with what the company’s clients need. Additionally, they must schedule carefully around vacations, sick leave and unexpected absences to ensure clients get their cargo on time. 

Fleet managers also plan the routes drivers take so they can reach their destinations as efficiently as possible.

2. Monitoring and improving driver performance

A fleet manager must ensure their drivers are always performing at their best. The majority of this is done through training and mentoring. A fleet manager will oversee the training of all new or experienced drivers, even if someone else is doing the training.

The fleet manager will ensure that each driver completes their training, follows the current driving regulations, and properly represents the company while on the road. They may also host one-on-one meetings with drivers to answer their performance questions or coach them individually.

Fleet managers may also conduct performance evaluations with drivers and either reward them for good performance or hold them accountable for bad performance. The accountability may include additional training or placement in a disciplinary program. 

Enhance driver performance with a Driver Training Solutions simulator

Whether you have new drivers to train or existing ones who could use a refresher, there’s no better way to provide truck driver training than with a driving simulator. Driver Training Solutions’ realistic truck driving simulator can help your drivers: 

• Develop safe driving habits and reduce the risk of accidents
• Learn good practices to improve fuel efficiency
• Practice scenarios they may struggle with to enhance their competence and confidence
• Be prepared for any situation they might face on the road

3. Performing managerial duties

Of course, a fleet manager will also perform a range of general managerial duties, such as: 

• Recruitment 
• Promotion
• Rewarding good behavior
• Communicating requirements
• Tracking attendance
• Termination

Like most managers, fleet managers provide comprehensive oversight to their subordinates and serve as a resource to assist drivers with questions, issues, clarification of company policies, etc. 

4. Building relationships

Part of a fleet manager’s job is to create relationships with their drivers. They do this by being both mentors and confidants. Whether it’s listening to drivers’ concerns about the company or job or helping them improve their skills, a manager is constantly building relationships.

A fleet manager also maintains consistent communication with drivers, whether they’re at a company building or on the road. They may check in to see how the driver is doing or ask if their scheduling needs have changed.

Responsibilities to the company

A fleet manager has responsibilities toward the company they work for as well. 

1. Ensuring goals are achieved

A fleet manager is responsible for ensuring company benchmarks are met. This can include attendance, a certain amount of profit or a lack of accidents. 

Fleet managers must report any relevant metrics and explain any failure to meet benchmarks to upper management. Fleet managers are usually responsible for creating a plan to improve performance or operations if there are any shortcomings. 

2. Performing financial duties

Another aspect of a fleet manager’s job is handling the financial aspects of the fleet to help the company’s accountant balance budgets. Financials a fleet manager might have to monitor and record include:

• Fuel costs 
• Maintenance fees for vehicles
• Reimbursement of work-related expenses for drivers
• Repairs to vehicles
• Salaries for the drivers
• The purchase of new vehicles

3. Monitoring daily operations

Handling daily operations takes up the majority of a fleet manager’s day. They have to balance tasks like monitoring their fleet’s status, ensuring good communication between drivers and dispatch and planning fuel programs to make sure resources are used efficiently.

4. Managing vehicles 

Finally, fleet managers have a variety of responsibilities over the vehicles themselves. They may oversee:

• Selection and purchasing
• Paperwork
• Insurance
• Compliance needs
• Maintenance
• Repair
• Sales

Managing driver performance is easy with driver training solutions

With so many tasks to handle daily, a fleet manager needs all the help they can get. That’s where a Driver Training Solutions driving simulator comes in. A single simulator can handle almost all aspects of driver training. It offers a lifelike truck driving experience, a wide range of scenarios, varying difficulty levels and instructor tools for optimized training sessions. 

Request more information about our simulators today to make training one less thing to worry about during fleet management.