The Fleet Code

Success in fleet management might be obvious for those in fleet, but difficult to comprehend for people outside of fleet. If you're looking to grow your fleet operations, you need to be able to clearly communicate the status of your fleet with stakeholders in leadership positions. In this episode, we talk with fleet veteran, Bob Polka of Treeways, to learn about his relationship with the c-suite and steps he has taken to keep them involved in fleet decisions.

Guest this Episode:

• Bob Polka, Director of Fleet Operations, Treeways

Takeaways from our conversation with Bob:

1. Think about your operation from the perspective of your key stakeholders.

2. Have regular meetings to keep everybody informed.

3. Leverage technology to make your data accessible.

4. Know which metrics matter and focus on high-visibility areas of your fleet.

5. Be confident in yourself and the knowledge you have.

Additional Links and Resources:

• Masters of Fleet: Basic Principles of Fleet Management
• Understanding Fleet Data (Blog Series)
• Fleet Management KPIs to Target (Blog)

Michael D. Watkins describes The First 90 Days as a make or break period for new managers. During this time, opinions are created that will likely carry throughout the rest of your time in that organization. In this episode of The Fleet Code, we sat down with two of Fleetio's own, who both come from fleet management roles. Jon Hinkle and Mike Eldredge share some of their learned lessons from their times in fleet, as well as advice for new fleet managers who are searching for ways to make a positive impact.

Guest this Episode:

Jon Hinkle, Customer Success Manager, Fleetio

Mike Eldredge, Customer Success Manager, Fleetio

Takeaways from our conversation with Jon & Mike:

1. Listen to your people to build trust and understand their issues.

2. Ask targeted questions to figure out what you don't yet know.

3. Build processes and metrics to help you track your progress.

4. Share your discoveries with the team.

5. Identify and support other leaders on your team.

Additional Links and Resources:

90-Day Plan for Fleet Managers (PDF)

The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins (Book)

How to Audit Your Fleet's Performance (Blog)

Find the ROI of Fleet Management Software (Tool)

From harsh winters to swarms of insects, each season brings a new challenge for fleet managers trying to ensure continued safety and productivity within their fleet. In this episode of The Fleet Code, we sat down with James Shelton of Jiffy Lube International to gather some tangible actions that fleet managers can take to prepare their fleet for each passing season.

Guest this Episode:

James Shelton, Technical Field Support Manager, Jiffy Lube International

Takeaways from our conversation with James:

1. When in doubt, refer to the owner's manual.

2. Seasonality preparedness is about more than just temperature swings.

3. Talk to others to learn about the unique challenges of your geographic region.

Additional Links and Resources:

• Free Fleet Maintenance Spreadsheet Template (Download)
• Preparing Your Fleet for Crisis (White Paper)
• How Driver Input Enhances Fleet Safety Policies (Blog)

We're back with a new season of The Fleet Code, bringing you even more tips and tricks from the leading voices in fleet. In this episode of The Fleet Code, we sat down with Tom Rowlings from the City of Cambridge to learn about his experience in sourcing new fleet technologies and some steps that he took to ensure its rollout was a success.

Guests this Episode:

• Tom Rowlings, Assistant Fleet Manager, City of Cambridge
• Dominique Leupi, Lead Customer Success Manager, Fleetio

Takeaways from our conversation with Tom:

1. Find the right solution for your fleet.

2. Train smart, tailoring the experience to your team.

3. Get buy-in by showing the functionality.

4. Listen to the people who will use the software.

Additional Links and Resources:

• Implementing a New Fleet Management Software (White Paper)
• Calculate the ROI of Fleet Management Software (Free Tool)
• The 5 Elements of the ADKAR Model

In this episode of The Fleet Code, Kris Gault with Embark Safety joins us to discuss the importance of mitigating risks with a driver safety policy and reporting. From identifying potential risks to leveraging your existing partnerships, this episode will talk fleet managers through the steps of creating an initial risk management plan and ways to build upon that plan in the months and years to come.

Learn more about Kris Gault and Embark Safety: https://www.embarksafety.com/

If you're looking for additional information on preparing your fleet for crises, this free white paper can help you understand the steps you can take to prepare your fleet for pandemics, natural disaster and other dangers. Link: https://www.fleetio.com/downloads/preparing-your-fleet-for-crisis-white-paper

In this episode of The Fleet Code, Greg Mattes, Fleetio's Vice President of Product Strategy, is joined by Craig Rice – the long time fleet manager for the City of Detroit and responsible for implementing VMRS into their maintenance reporting. This episode is the second part of a two-part series where we talk about the implementation process of VMRS, best practices when standardizing your maintenance reporting, and ways to encourage employee buy-in as you make the transition.

In this episode of The Fleet Code, Greg Mattes, Fleetio's Vice President of Product Strategy, is joined by two industry veterans in Jack Poster and Jon White – who both have decades of experience in implementing and updating VMRS codes. This episode is the first part of a two-part series where we provide an overview of VMRS, it's history, and ways that fleets of all sizes can implement VMRS codes to standardize their maintenance reporting.

In this episode of The Fleet Code, we're joined by Dominique Leupi, Lead Customer Success Manager at Fleetio, and Celia Ballou, the Lead Customer Success Specialist at Fleetio. We'll discuss the three-pronged approach to implementing change, as well as tips and best practices observed through others in the industry.

In this episode of The Fleet Code, we're joined by Laura Maxwell, CAFS, Product Marketing Manager at Fleetio. We'll discuss the ins and outs of NAFA's CAFS and CAFM Certification Programs for fleet managers, including why certification content is so valuable, plus tips and tricks for being successful throughout the certification process.

Learn more about NAFA's Certification Programs at nafa.org.

In this episode of The Fleet Code, we're joined by fleet management veteran Robert Johnson, Fleet and Safety Manager at Kayak Public Transit. We'll discuss how fleet managers can use data to build compliant fleet maintenance programs that ensure driver safety and maximize vehicle health and uptime.