Telematics: The Ultimate Budgeting Tool For Government Fleets

The way government fleets budget is changing. The days of guessing how much we need for gas, maintenance, and staff salaries are over. We now have the technology to know exactly how much we need to spend and where we can save.

Fleet data is becoming increasingly important for government organizations as they look to data-driven decision-making to save money. Telematics data provides valuable insights into driver behavior, vehicle utilization, maintenance cycles, and more.

This data can be leveraged to improve budgeting and forecasting, as well as to make more informed decisions about which vehicles to purchase and lease. With the right data, fleets can run more efficiently and better utilize taxpayer dollars.

Data-Driven Budgeting

Government fleets are under constant pressure to operate more efficiently and effectively. To meet these goals, fleet managers must budget with a variety of factors in mind, which isn’t always easy as fleets become more and more sophisticated.

Data is one of the most important aspects of modern fleet management, and it should be tapped into through the budgeting process. From maintenance to motor-pool management, today’s telematics systems are providing a constant stream of information.

Start by establishing your fleet goals for the upcoming year. Does that include new equipment? Maybe you are preparing to integrate electric vehicles into your fleet. Perhaps it is as simple as reducing materials used during winter storms.

Next look at historical data to help establish your baseline for specific budget items. If you went over budget on maintenance, perhaps it is time to look at making the switch from preventative to predictive maintenance.

Each data point that you examine will allow you to better understand your biggest budget items and how you can potentially improve upon them, or if additional funds are needed.

3 Budget Items To Consider

1. Fuel Management

It is hard to argue that fuel costs over the last 9 months have been one of the biggest budget breakers that government fleets have faced. Because of this, many agencies are taking a much closer look at where they can improve their fuel efficiency, even if the price per gallon is dropping nationwide.

Idling is an often overlooked culprit that can waste thousands of gallons per year on the fleet level. Your telematics system should give you a clear picture of how a reduction of fleet idling can help save in 2023.

2. Moving To Predictive Maintenance

Maintenance is a big-ticket budget item that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. But there are ways that you can mitigate unexpected maintenance costs for your fleet. For years fleets have harped on preventative maintenance. The downside to this approach is that it is typically interval based.

Predictive maintenance is an approach that is quickly growing in popularity. Rather than focusing on an interval-based system, it focuses on data that each vehicle provides on a daily basis. This means that you can quickly address issues before they become problematic, saving time and money.

3. Material Management

Winter storms are right around the corner, and government fleets are already preparing. One of the newest tools within the Geotab platform centers on material management, like road salt. Being able to accurately manage material usage means less waste. Less waste opens the door for budget dollars to be reallocated to other fleet needs.

One of the biggest benefits of improving your material management process is the ability to accurately forecast your needs year in and year out. For cities that are growing rapidly, this is especially important. Additional roadways create the need for additional vehicles and in turn additional material when a winter storm strikes.

Reliable Data = Better Budgeting

Reliable data is at the heart of better fleet budgeting and management. When you are confident in your data, you can be confident that you are making the right decisions during the budgeting process. Reliability is the driving force behind so many government agencies making the switch to Geotab.

With over 3 million vehicles, Geotab has established itself as the government fleet leader in telematics. Whether you are implementing fleet technology for the first time or you are looking to improve your fleet management process, we can help. Connect with our team to schedule your demo today.