Fleet telematics has come a long way since it first emerged in the early 1990s. What was initially a simple GPS system to pinpoint the location of a vehicle and tell if a vehicle was or wasn’t in motion has evolved into a sophisticated data gathering tool that can drive bottom-line benefits to fleets of all functions, compositions and sizes.

Today, fleet telematics technology integrates routing, geo-fencing, navigation, two-way communication, vehicle diagnostics, dashboard, real-time driver and vehicle alerts, customizable reports and a host of other features that collect critical data about vehicles and drivers that fleet managers use to shape strategy and improve efficiency.

To put the destructive power of nature in perspective, look no further than the damage estimates from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria—between $65 billion and $190 billion for Harvey, between $50 billion and $100 billion for Irma and between $45 billion and $95 billion for Maria.

Most of the recovery expenses will go toward property damage, but a good bit of those expenses—at least in the case of Harvey and Irma—will also go toward vehicle replacement.  

With innovations and technological advances in tank construction and also in fuel delivery, dispensing and monitoring, using aboveground storage tanks for fuel storage is safer than ever before, and if managed and maintained properly, they can provide fleets numerous advantages.

For example, there’s improved product security, a price break for buying fuel in bulk, greater control over inventory and the convenience of not having to wait on a fuel delivery service to top off vehicles or equipment—meaning less downtime, increased productivity and improved operating costs.

Truck drivers log 432 billion miles annually, so it’s no surprise that breakdowns are inevitable. Unfortunately, when a truck in your fleet breaks down, you lose time, money and, potentially, client trust if services or products are delayed. Considering how important it is to maintain your fleet, maintenance is top of mind for fleet managers.

It’s a best practice to track maintenance and repairs to determine if your fleet has unique areas that should be addressed immediately. There are, however, several leading causes of semi-tucks breaking down that you should keep in mind.

Drones—used solely for military purposes for decades—have proven to be valuable, adaptable and easy-to-use multipurpose tools that help provide organizations a more affordable, efficient and safer way to do business and a faster and smarter way to track and collect invaluable data.

Thanks in part to more regulatory clarification, technical innovations and reduced component costs, organizations of all sizes and industries are integrating drone technology in their daily business practices. 

To keep your workforce at the top of their game, you need to be at the top of yours. While every fleet is different, accomplishing this goal as a fleet manager can be as simple as incorporating a few of the most common habits of highly effective fleet managers.

To that end, let’s take a look at five common habits compiled by fleet professionals from the National Association of Fleet Administrators and other industry professionals to give you some insight on how adopting these habits can help you:

PS Energy Group is the 2017 recipient of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Diverse Business Award, given to companies that show support for business diversity through development initiatives. 

“I am humbled to be included with such a committed group of diversity professionals,” Livia Whisenhunt, PS Energy’s CEO, said. “My association over the past two decades with EEI, as well as with its members and clients, has motivated me and the PS Energy team to embrace the support of business diversity initiatives.”

Summer and road trips go hand in hand, and this summer will be no exception. In fact, according to AAA, you can expect 10 percent more travelers on the road this summer than the record-breaking numbers from last summer—and that’s despite a projected 30 cent increase in the price of gas.

If it feels a little crowded out there, it’s not your imagination.

Determining how your drivers pay for fuel at the pump can mean the difference between saving money and improving efficiencies or spending large chunks of your day tracking driver expenses manually.

And, who has time for that?

Making better use of your time and money by identifying solutions that reduce expenses, streamline operations, maximize workforce productivity and keep troubles at bay is essential to operational success. That’s where fleet fuel cards come into play, eliminating cash and conventional credit cards for driver purchases, and replacing them with a trackable, more efficient option.

Businesses are continuing to undertake sustainability initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint and impact on the environment. What many are discovering is that by better managing their greenhouse gas emissions they are becoming more environmentally friendly, improving their brand image, generating positive PR, increasing efficiencies, motivating their employees and saving money.

Doing the right thing can be both environmentally and financially friendly and a smart investment. Let’s take a closer look at one important environmentally friendly practice—using alternative or green fuels to fuel fleet vehicles and equipment.