The move to using Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) may have been challenging at the outset, but fleets both big and small are slowly starting to comprehend the power of the data being collected -- and, it’s ability to improve the efficiency of operations in more ways than one. But, with the overwhelming amount of information being collected, how do you know which data to actually analyze and how to leverage that information to your fleet’s best advantage?

With a new year upon us, there’s no better time to reassess your business needs and create plans to protect your most important assets. After being in the business for more than 20 years, we know that it doesn’t matter if you operate just a couple of trucks or manage an entire fleet of hundreds -- protecting your investments and your bottom line have to be a priority. So, what does that look like? For starters, we recommend you look into solid roadside assistance plans that suit your business needs.

Organizing your back office, finding and booking loads, maintaining your accounting and cash flow, finding the right talent, and getting the right trucks are just a few of the things growing trucking businesses need to manage. Building your own small fleet means being methodical about your growth strategy and having the right people skills to attract and manage great office and trucking staff. Here are some operational and HR tips for growing your fleet:

In our previous blogs, we’ve given you ideas for how to grow your fleet and effectively manage your cash flow. All great things, yes. But, there’s more. With careful pre-planning coupled with insider tips on things our fleet customers wish they knew when they first started out, it’s entirely possible to grow your small fleet into one that’s able to compete with the big boys.

Being in trucking can be incredibly profitable...and, also extremely complex and competitive. It’s unfortunate the number of truckers who try to get into the business every year and end up having to close up shop. Why? Because being a great truck driver doesn’t mean you’re a great business person.

If you’re the owner of a small trucking business, then you’ve definitely felt the growing pains of competing with larger fleets. More trucks rolling means you have better leverage when it comes to pricing deliveries, garnering more favorable discounts from suppliers with bulk orders, attracting and hiring better drivers, and more. 

The major long-term savings associated with updating your fleet can be tough to balance against the cost of new equipment.  Knowing when to make the transition to new equipment is all about taking into account a variety of factors such as your current fleet age, maintenance costs, the availability and cost of new equipment - and finding a good balance between them all. Here’s a quick look at some of the factors you should consider, and how they might affect the decision to update your fleet.