Budgets and costs on minds of fleet managers: Survey

BURLINGTON, N.J. — Fleet budgeting is the single most important issue facing trucking company managers, according to a new survey by maintenance management experts Arsenault Associates.

More than 47 percent of fleet mangers at the 2007 Dossier fleet maintenance software Users Group cited budgeting as an issue most on their minds out of 11 major management topics, while 38 percent of the respondents said
equipment life cycle costing is the issue of the day.

After budgets and costs, managing
mechanics is a top issue for fleet execs

Arsenault will use the info to plan discussion topics at its next conference in October.

More than 200 fleet managers took part in the survey.

Other topics in the survey included driver/mechanic management, selected by 31 percent of the respondents; tire management (30 %); equipment specification (28 %), wireless computing (24 %) purchasing, and accident tracking (21%); among others.

“Fleet managers are challenged to control and reduce costs, not just keep the fleet on the street,” said Charles Arsenault, CEO of Arsenault Associates. “They are required to account for fleet maintenance expenses in detail more than ever before. Being able to develop an operating expense plan and then manage it is what budgeting is all about.”

Arsenault’s Dossier software automatically tracks and reports on actual fleet expenses compared to projected expense budgets; and tracks parts, labor, fuel, fluids, tires, and other typical fleet operational and administrative expenses.

“The concerns reflected in the survey indicate that fleet managers are being held more accountable for financial management in addition to their fleet maintenance operational responsibilities,” said Arsenault.