Posts

Top 7 Fleet Performance Indicators You Should Monitor

/2 Comments/in /by

When it comes to fleet performance, there are a few key indicators that you should be monitoring. Doing this may make the required corrections and improve your fleet’s performance.

Fleet performance indicators (FPIs) are also called Performance metrics for fleets. They are key success metrics that reflect how well your fleet’s services work. Fleet managers may enhance decisions and quality by analysing and monitoring this data.

Each of these indicators can give helpful tips about a fleet’s performance. Fleet managers may track various FPIs, but some are more significant than others. This article will discuss some of fleet operators’ most important performance indicators.

Here are the top 7 fleet performance indicators you should track.

Fuel Consumption

Much discussion in the transportation industry has been made in recent years of the importance of fuel economy. Many different performance indicators have been used to help assess fuel consumption.

The average fuel consumption (AFC) is the most crucial statistic for calculating fuel consumption. The average fuel usage informs you how much gasoline your cars use on average.

It is calculated by taking the total number of gallons of fuel consumed and dividing it by the number of hours the engine was operated. For example, if an engine consumes 10 gallons of fuel in 8 hours, the AFC would be 1.25 gallons per hour.

The cost of fuel consumption when monitoring fleet performance indicators can be significant. In fact, according to a recent study, the average cost of fuel consumption when monitoring fleet performance indicators is $0.15 per gallon.

This means that if you have a fleet of 100 vehicles, you could be spending $15 per day on fuel costs alone.

For example, a fleet that operates a vehicle 10 hours a day and operates it at a certain speed will consume a certain amount of fuel. That amount might vary depending on the vehicle and the climate. The consumed amount will also vary if the same scenario happens at a different speed.

Now, the key success metric in any fleet operation is fuel efficiency. It is a percentage that shows how efficient a fleet’s operations are regarding fuel. Fuel efficiency also influences the fleet’s economy.

A fleet operates at 20% efficiency and consumes 80% of fuel. When the fuel efficiency is 70%, the fleet operates at 9% of fuel. This is the most economical condition.

Maintenance and Repair Costs

Fleet performance indicators are critical measures of success for any fleet leasing company. Among the most important FPIs is maintenance and repair cost per vehicle.

Maintaining and repairing a vehicle fleet can be a major expense for a company. Being able to track this cost well is critical to managing the fleet budget. You may check repair and upkeep costs using some vital fleet metrics.

One of the most important fleet performance indicators is the cost per vehicle. This is the total cost of vehicle maintenance and repair divided by the number of cars in the fleet. This metric can compare the cost of maintaining and repairing a fleet of cars to a similar fleet.

Another vital fleet performance indicator is the number of breakdowns. This is the number of times a vehicle breaks down while in service.

Vehicle Idle Time

Any business that depends on cars to complete its job must rank fleet performance. Indicators for fleet quality are available in several forms. Two of the most important are idle time and vehicle acquisition costs.

Idle time is the amount of time a vehicle is not used for productive work. This includes the vehicle’s buy price, fuel, maintenance, and insurance costs. A car’s idle time displays how quickly it can deplete its fuel supply.

This idle time is especially important for fleets, which use a large number of the idle vehicle. Idle time also shows managers how efficient their fleet operations are. Different vehicles have different idle times.

The data gotten from analysing vehicle idle time can help managers determine how to optimise their fleet. Monitoring these metrics will give you a decent idea of how your fleet is doing and where you can improve.

Driver Compliance With HOS Regulations and Turnover Rates

One of the most vital aspects of adhering to hours-of-service laws is how long a driver is on the road. But it’s not the only factor. Another essential metric is turnover rates.

Turnover rates are a measure of how often drivers leave a company. A high turnover rate indicates drivers are unhappy with the company. Turnover rates are an important measure to keep track of.

Both HOS rules and turnover rates can have a significant impact on a company’s bottom line. For example, driver turnover rates can lead to higher recruitment and training costs. Also, HOS violations can lead to costly fines and lawsuits.

Other factors are also necessary when monitoring driver compliance with hours-of-service regulations. But these two – hours on the road and turnover rates – are some of the most important.

Accidents Rates

When conducting a fleet assessment, you should track several key performance indicators (KPIs). One of the most vital is the accident rate, which refers to the average number of accidents per 100 drivers. This KPI is important because it gives you a good sign of the safety of your fleet.

High accident rates make your drivers likely to sustain injuries and damages. A low accident rate makes your drivers less likely to have an accident, making your fleet more stable.

The average number of accidents per driver is a good starting point, but it is not the only factor you should track. You should look at the types of accidents that are being reported, as well as the severity of accidents. Considering all these factors, you can get a complete picture of a fleet’s safety.

Driver Compliance With Traffic Laws

Driver compliance with traffic regulations is the most crucial fleet performance indicator. Transportation managers are under constant pressure to improve their KPIs. Yet, complies are often slack in favour of specific measures, such as fuel usage or accident rates.

Besides, compliance should be at the forefront of any conversation about transportation strategy. This is because compliance is within the drivers’ control, unlike other KPIs. You can increase fleet safety and save hefty fines by ensuring your drivers obey traffic law.

If you’re not already monitoring driver loyalty, start doing so today. It’s the best way to ensure your transportation strategy is on the right track.

Customer Satisfaction

Most fleet performance indicators are essential for monitoring online and direct freight services. While using online and direct freight services, client pleasure should come before FPI.

One aspect to consider is customer need if you track online and direct freight services. The first thing to remember is that customer satisfaction drives revenue. Happy clients are more likely to use your services again and refer others to your company.

Moreover, happy clients are less likely to leave your business, saving you money. Also, customer satisfaction is a good indicator of the health of your business.

If your company meets or exceeds client desires, it indicates it’s on the right path. Also, if customer satisfaction is low, it’s a red flag for your business.

Ensuring your clients are happy with your service requires evaluating their happiness. Surveys and customer feedback forms are all possible methods for doing so.

Wrapping Up

With gasoline prices rising, fleet managers must check the fuel use of their cars more than ever. Other important monitoring indicators include maintenance and repair costs, customer satisfaction, and turnover.

Tracking these data can help fleet managers decide how to better their system and save costs.

6 Reasons Why Your Restaurant Business Needs Retractable Awnings

/1 Comment/in /by

Running a restaurant involves so many different things. It takes a lot of effort to handle everything from the food, service, and most importantly, business. One of the things you’ll need to take care of is design features and improvements. You want your restaurant to look modern, upscale, and well-maintained even outside the building’s four walls. Retractable awnings can make a huge difference for your business, and there are some of the main reasons why you need them.

1. Customer Experience

During the summer months, some people like to bask in the sunlight, while others prefer to sit in the shade. Having retractable awnings can offer customers the chance to enjoy their meals just the way they prefer to. This is especially true when you’re located near an outdoor park or other open-air venues where customers want to spend time, even when it’s blazing hot outside. Because they’re such a popular feature, all you need to do in order to find one is to type something like retractable awnings or pergolas in New Jersey, Detroit, or wherever else your business is located and find a company that suits you best. A good dining experience means that the establishment took care of all the little details that make a difference, from the menu to comfort and convenience. With retractable awnings, that’s exactly what you offer your customers.

2. Aesthetic Value

The way your restaurant looks inside and out is crucial to deciding whether or not people will stay. If your design features look faded, unkempt in any way, or if they don’t fit in with the style you’re going for, you could lose business. Just like the type of packaging one might use for a product they’re selling is a big factor in how successful it is, the way your restaurant looks will play a big role in how many customers keep coming back. With retractable awnings, you can find endless styles, colours, and designs to fit your theme or atmosphere. They come in many different materials, colours, and sizes. This means that you can choose one that goes with your overall design perfectly, and compliments the rest of your restaurant. The extra flare adds to the entire dining experience and makes customers more likely to come back.

3. Weather Protection

Awnings are an easy way to protect your restaurant from the rain and other weather conditions that might hurt business. By providing your restaurant with some extra protection, you can rest assured that your business will remain open, even if it’s raining cats and dogs outside. It’s important to have an outdoor space your customers can use even when it’s not exactly sunny out – especially when it’s still relatively warm outside. Many people find the sound of rain soothing, and it can add to their overall experience – but only if they can enjoy it while remaining dry. Installing a well-designed outdoor heating system, that not only serves its function but adds an extra flare, is also a good idea. That way you can use your restaurant’s outdoor space, even when it’s a bit colder out. Because you’ll be providing your customers with comfortable dining conditions, even when the weather is less than ideal, you’ll gain more revenue from those that might have skipped a meal if they had to stay inside.

4. Easy Maintenance

While it’s important for the additions you choose for your restaurant to look nice and inviting, they should also make the job easier for your employees. The last thing you want is to have your servers occupied by having to bring in the outdoor furniture inside during a lunch rush because of a sudden rain shower. You want your staff to be able to focus on their job of providing great service, not avoiding puddles along the way. This is why it’s important for you to invest in retractable awnings. Not only are they convenient because they provide some leeway for your employees to better focus on your customers, but they’re also easy to clean and maintain. All you have to do is wipe them down every so often, or if they’re made from a different material, hose them down. This makes it easy for your employees to keep the awnings clean without too much extra effort.

5. More Advertisement Options

Something that might have once been a luxury, is now a must-have for most businesses. There are countless advertisements out there that go past the traditional billboard or print ads and into more modern media – outdoor video screens being one of them. With retractable awnings, you can find many different options in terms of what type of advertisement is most effective for your business. You can go with a traditional roll-down shade that displays the advertisement you prefer, or there are retractable video screens that play your promo video on loop for passing pedestrians and drivers alike to see. This is a great way to draw more attention to your business and give it an edge over similar brands nearby. On the other hand, they can be a great place to display your restaurant’s name and logo to make it easier for customers to find you.

6. Catch Attention Of Passers-By

Having a reputation of a restaurant with great cuisine and excellent customer service is a great thing. However, even if you are truly impeccable with your service, it can take years for word of mouth to spread. Being able to catch attention to random passers-by with the way your restaurant looks from the outside is a great advantage to have. Regulars are important for any business – but so is continuously getting new customers in the door. Retractable awnings can help your business considerably with reaching out to possible new customers who may not have known you existed if it wasn’t for the advertisement on your retractable awning. This is especially true if your restaurant is located in a busy area where there’s a lot of foot traffic. People might pass your establishment by without even realising it’s there. However, a great-looking awning can help catch their attention, which might lead to an increase in business.

With the ways that retractable awnings can better your restaurant, it’s obvious why they’re so important to have. Not only do they help you attract attention and increase your signage options, but they also provide many other beneficial features for you and your staff to enjoy at their convenience. If you take the time and effort to find a quality manufacturer for your retractable awnings, you can rest assured knowing that they’ll be built to last and provide all the benefits mentioned above, and then some.

Useful Pieces Of Advice To Help You Travel Safely With Your Motorcycle

/0 Comments/in /by

A motorcycle ride might seem entertaining and thrilling, especially in places where the atmosphere is pleasant, like Florida; but the dangers one can encounter throughout it can be much more harmful than a car accident. If a motorist confronts an accident, they are likely to have more physical damage since motorcycles are not covered, minimising their protection against road crashes.

Hence, the risk of driving a motorcycle is higher, and we must take extra precautions before and while riding for our safety.

Examine Your Motorcycle For A Safe Ride

A safe ride does not begin when you ease off the clutch. The likelihood of a safe motorcycle ride depends on numerous factors that we must examine long before we go out on the road.

Choose the Correct Bike

The most important factor that predicts the safety of a ride is how good a bike is. We must choose the right motorcycle for a stable and safe journey throughout. A bike must have a comfortable seat to support your physical health by keeping your back upright. It must have low maintenance to save your efforts in their preservation. Do not forget to consider the fuel efficiency, power ratio, wet weight, and mileage for a healthy engine and functioning.

Regular Maintenance

Before setting out on an expedition, ensure that you have properly investigated every part of your vehicle. Fix an issue as soon as they come to light. For instance, loose brakes, clutch issues, broken lights, and the list goes on. Have a regular cleaning and maintenance service with a professional service provider to avoid risks while driving.

Some Useful Tips To Travel Safely With Your Motorcycle

Use Brakes

Utilise the brakes while you ride a motorcycle. Push your brakes as soon as you sense any situation that might lead you to danger. Brakes help a rider to have a quick stop when they encounter damaging situations while changing lanes, turning, or crossing a big vehicle. Maintain a safe distance from the other vehicle and firmly hold or press the brake when there is a chance of hitting them. Upgrade your brakes regularly and have a safe ride.

Stay Alert

Whenever you begin your journey on a motorcycle, ensure that you are alert and watchful, especially when you’re riding in the United States. Avoid driving when you feel drowsy and distracted. Due to the negligent practices of the riders, the dangers of riding a motorcycle in Florida, in particular, have increased over time. Many incidents that have been reported until now were the result of the irresponsible behaviour of the riders. The bike riders who lose their focus are more likely to face accidents. Have some coffee or tea before you ride on a bike or keep yourself mentally alert to avoid incidents that might have fatal consequences.

Check The Forecast

Motorcycles have more exposure to the outer environment. They do not have windshields to protect the riders from weather conditions like rain or storms, nor do they have extra shelter and coverage to prevent those situations. Hence, it is recommended to stay updated on the weather forecast before a bike rider leaves for their journey. Avoid riding a bike if rain or storm is predicted in your city.

The Use Of Correct Accessories

Arm yourself with the correct accessories for safe and sound transportation. The correct use of accessories will protect you against possible dangers and give you a safe and comfortable experience while riding. While purchasing a bike, do not forget to buy gloves and a jacket for protection against harsh weather. Wearing appropriate shoes will help you have a firm grip on the accelerators and brakes. Whereas, a good-quality helmet will protect you against head injuries.

The Dangers of Driving A Motorcycle

Lane Splitting

Bike riders have the dangerous practices of splitting lanes, overtaking other vehicles, and rushing through narrow spaces, which multiplies their chances of having severe accidents.

Zero Shelter

A motorcycle, as compared to a four-wheeler, is not covered and has zero protection from the outer environment, which maximises the risk of accidents for a bike rider.

Compared to cars, motorcycles are fuel-efficient, fun, and easy to ride. They help you soak the fresh breeze and engage directly with the scenery. However, motorists are prone to risk the minute they throw a leg over their bike, and this is why it is always suggested to stay aware of the potential risks to help prevent them in the best possible way. Stay on the safe side of driving whenever you get behind the wheel using this helpful guide.

6 Useful Facts Every Good Landlord Should Know

/2 Comments/in /by

A landlord is the owner of a house, apartment, condominium, land, or real estate which is rented or leased to an individual or business, who is called a tenant. When a juristic person is in this position, the term landlord is used. Other terms include lessor and owner.

There are many things people can invest in, be it wines, jewellery or paintings. Folk can also get involved with the stock markets or multiple property ownership. One thing’s for sure: it pays to know what you’re doing in advance.

It may be tempting to assume that all landlords do is receive monthly rent checks. A chat with a landlord would quickly rectify this misunderstanding, however. There are multiple responsibilities and landlords need to be a ‘jack of all trades’ in order to do their jobs.

If you read this article you’ll learn about six key facts every landlord should fully know.

You Need To Get The Finances Right

This applies each time a new property is considered. It’s important to do the maths and decide if it’s worth the investment. Think about the rents and involve an accountant in all your financial decisions.

In some cases, investors can afford to buy outright for cash. In many others, however, a mortgage will be required. For more information on this subject, it’s advisable to consult the internet. Should you visit largemortgageloans.com you’ll see that there are three types from which to choose: commercial buy-to-let, residential buy-to-let, and owner-occupied mortgages. Many landlords go online to discover what they can use as security for a commercial mortgage and learn about the benefits of having one.

You are well-advised to consult a reputable lender who can offer favourable rates. The price of property insurance is another expense you will need to factor into the calculations.

You Need To Wear Plenty Of Hats

We have just discussed the need to understand all things financial, as well as having property knowledge. There may be out-of-hours responsibilities too, such as tenants with plumbing issues or manual rent collections. When building work occurs it’s necessary to be a communicator with external companies and contractors. Sites may need to be visited regularly to check the work from a practical and legal angle.

Before investors buy homes they need to have an understanding of the property markets. This would include knowing the local area and being aware of e.g. unemployment issues or future developments that could affect their worth. When so many landlord roles are required, it’s not hard to see why they are so often delegated to others. People may appoint an accountant or rental company, debt collector, or maintenance overseer.

There Are Many Legal Responsibilities

If they are not met, external auditors could fine you – whether it relates to tax or safety. Landlords need to be aware of local and national legislation, zoning laws, and building regulations. It’s important to ensure the smoke detectors are fully working and that the emergency doors and windows are also functional. All plumbing and wiring should be certified safe and compliant.

One way to ensure you cover all the bases is by appointing a residential attorney. They would be able to use their experience and knowledge to keep you up to date. Help can also be received for preparing new leases and dealing with evictions.

Maintenance Is Not Optional

Any new tenant will require a warrant of habitability, certifying their new abode to be safe. You may have the responsibility to pay grounds people to care for the communal areas. Workers would be needed to deal with a range of tenant issues, from leaks and dampness to broken windows or appliances. Besides basic handyman jobs, there could be the need for professional plumbers and electricians.

It’s obvious that landlords want to attract and keep quality tenants who are faithful payers. If the properties look nice and are well-maintained this will help, and so will prompt attention to repairs. If you own an apartment block it’s wise to aim for consistency in appearance, and to use the time between tenants to upgrade the flats. Should damp issues be reported, it’s in your interests as well as the tenant’s that action is quickly taken.

You Need To Know Your Tenants

Everyone is different and will have different needs, whether it’s the number of bedrooms or the view. Accessibility is especially important for those with disabilities. If someone has an Emotional Support Animal (EMA) you’ll need to fully understand the person’s rights. Even if you have a ‘no pets’ policy you will be unable to refuse accommodation to someone on that basis.

The Fair Housing Act exists to protect people from discrimination in a number of categories. They include race, religion, national origin or ethnicity, or age. Added to that are gender and family status or people with mental or physical disabilities.

You Need To Understand The Tenancy Process

There are a number of options for you in regards to advertising vacant rooms and houses. You could use local adverts, notes in stores, or specialist websites.

New Tenants

Involve an attorney when someone applies to become a resident so that everything is done efficiently. Credit checks are a key part of the process, making sure the enquirer is not in debt or likely to be a bad payer. If someone was previously bankrupt this should also ring warning bells. Peoples’ references are important too. It’s wise to check the people who have supplied them, as they are vouching for your potential tenant’s character.

When the new tenant moves in, they need to be shown everything about their accommodation. Let them know their responsibilities and what they should do if there are any issues. Be sure to set up the rental payment arrangement too.

Eviction

There are certain circumstances where you can do this, and a legal procedure exists for it. Let your attorney include the various scenarios in the rental agreement, whether it’s non-payment, noise, and behaviour, or property damage. Both tenant notices and home inspections form part of the legal process.

It has now become clear that being a landlord requires an all-rounder from start to finish. They need wisdom in choosing and developing properties, overseeing the financial and legal aspects, and addressing ongoing tenant issues. In return, a stable income is often achieved, and profit may be made on the increased value of the properties too.