Top 5 ways a comprehensive commercial navigation solution can improve fleet efficiency

Posted: 19 November, 2020 | By Dana Petrone

We all know navigation is a tool for drivers - but navigation is also a tool for fleets to keep their drivers safe, and operations efficient. By using a comprehensive commercial navigation solution like CoPilot, you can connect the back office to the vehicle to streamline dispatch operations, get real-time insights, and provide critical routing and guidance in the last mile.

Need a refresher on why commercial navigation is critical? Check out our blog What is commercial map data? What everyone in transportation needs to know about maps.

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So, how can a comprehensive commercial navigation solution improve fleet efficiency? Here are the top 5 ways:

1. Set drivers up for success with remote configuration of navigation settings 

Remotely configuring application settings from the back office can to ensure fleet-wide safety and compliance. The back office can set precise vehicle routing profiles to groups of vehicles based on height, weight, or general roadway preferences, like avoiding tolls or road segments. This eliminates manual driver entry and keeps drivers on safe, legal roads.

2. Use verified, commercial location data for precision in the last mile

In transportation, locations like distribution centers, truck stops, and manufacturing plants are the foundation for successful business operations. They require a specific level of detail a consumer map won’t provide. Where should trucks enter and exit? On which road should a driver enter?  Beyond that, commercial location data can also include site information, like parking availability, amenities, and pickup/delivery specifics.

Using verified, commercial location data that is predefined with truck-specific entry and exit gates ensures drivers get to the right place, the first time, creating a safe, stress free environment.

3. Provide site guidance in the last mile to avoid delays & alleviate driver stress

Inaccurate location information can result in delays, unsafe driving conditions and dangerous vehicle maneuvers. By using a navigation solution that incorporates verified, commercial location data into its routing and turn-by-turn guidance, your last mile operations can be much more efficient. Even further, dispatch can input driver notes that are visually delivered to drivers in their navigation system that allow them to make smarter, faster deliveries - and decisions, such as “Pick up at Dock 4” or “Overnight parking available.”

4. Get automated alerts on real-time events and ETAs changes for “on the road” visibility
ETAs are an integral part of keeping a transportation network running smoothly from end-to-end. But ETAs are dynamic and are impacted by a number of factors, like traffic, weather, HOS breaks. Imagine connecting the back office to the vehicle, and sending automated alerts to the back office when an ETA changes! Fleets can get ahead of service failures, reschedule appointments in order to avoid detention and layover charges, and maximize asset utilization with data-driven future load planning. Want to know if a driver arrives at a facility? You can use geofencing alerts to do just that.

5. Obtain post-trip insight to know what happened on the road
You can plan precisely, but you can’t control what happens on the road. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have insight available post trip. Miles, drive times, and cost are the foundation for transportation operations - so it is vitally important to compare planned vs. actual routes. Fleets can analyze out of route events, tolls costs, unplanned stops, etc. Fleets can even identify driver coaching opportunities.

 

You can do all of this with a comprehensive navigation solution like CoPilot! We presented this as a webinar, hosted by FreightWaves. If you want more detailed information, I highly recommend you watch it. In the webinar, we also present 2 case studies of how customers have utilized our comprehensive commercial navigation solutions and their ROI.

 

 


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