As summer traffic starts to ramp up, it increases traffic congestion. The weather is great and kids are getting out of school, which means that more people are hitting the road for summer fun. If you are managing a fleet, then it’s essential to be proactive with delivery route planning because of how the traffic patterns are changing this time of year. One method for optimizing your routes is by using fleet tolls strategically.
The truth is that transportation logistics can be challenging throughout the year. So, route optimization is often changing depending on the seasonal conditions, current trucking contracts, number of drivers, and other elements that can affect your overall success.
Fleet Tolls: How They Are Affected in the Summer Months
One important thing to understand about the summer toll landscape is how there can be an additional financial burden on fleet operations. During peak seasons, the toll prices can go up – which cuts into profit margins and affects your bottom line. So, you need to be proactive in routing to not only reduce toll costs, but also save time. Ultimately, the goal is to maximize your fleet efficiency as much as possible.
Take into consideration that many toll roads have fluctuations in pricing, based on the times of day and week. There is a potential for higher toll costs in the summer due to an increase in demand during this time.
Additionally, region can be another factor that will influence toll costs. For example, summer traffic increases in popular vacation destinations. So, tolls may have higher rates as more people are coming into the area for the holiday season.
Strategic Approach: Fleet Routing Tools
Just because fleet tolls have the potential to be higher in the summer season, doesn’t mean that your budget needs to go out the window. The reality is that there are many tools and techniques you can use to manage expenses, ensure efficient routing, and keep your trucks on the road.
Some of the tools you should be using include:
- Navigation Apps: Many of the modern GPS tracking apps enable you to see details about toll calculations and avoidance (if desired). These tools can be used to plan the routes in advance, so the drivers know exactly where they are going to optimize their route.
- Toll Technology: Make sure to have working transponders in each of the trucks. These devices make it easier for the drivers to pass through the toll checkpoints. At the same time, transponders offer financial benefits through potential discounts and avoiding missed payment fees. Our team is here to help with the technology you need to streamline your toll passing and payments.
- Fleet Routing Software: If you want to take your strategy to the next level, then ditch the free apps and invest in modern fleet routing software. These tools allow more complex optimization and can even streamline all of your toll payments in one simple administrative area. Dispatch software also helps you see where the trucks are in real-time.
Every successful fleet manager knows that they need to leverage pre-trip calculators to know the trip estimates in advance. Not only are you looking at mileage and the cost of fleet tolls, but it’s important to see how toll avoidance can impact profitability due to increased fuel costs. Ideally, you want to balance fuel efficiency and manage toll expenses simultaneously.
Also, look for ways to plan fleet routing to avoid peak traffic hours. For example, if your drivers are on the road at night, then you can likely avoid peak toll times during the most popular times of day. Evaluate alternative routes or adjust driving schedules to stay away from peak hours as much as possible.
Other Cost-Saving Tips During the Summer
With a bit of research and effective strategy, there can be other ways to save money on your fleet management this summer. One option is to look into toll discount programs. Fleet toll management services centralize all of the payments and enable you to tap into the power of group buying. As a result, the cost goes down each time your trucks pass through toll roads.
The fleet toll management service negotiates these discounted prices on behalf of the group. Then, your transponders record the toll passing and payments. Since everything is managed digitally, your drivers don’t need to deal with payments and reimbursements. Plus, these systems help to reduce the administrative burden in your office, which decreases the risk of late fees or penalties for payment issues.
Fuel efficiency is another essential factor to consider that impacts your profit margins. Trucks should be well-maintained to ensure optimal efficiency. Routes can be planned to maximize mileage and manage fuel costs. Drivers should also be well-trained to implement good habits such as abiding by speed limits, maintaining smooth acceleration, and decreasing their idle times.
FAQ
What are the best practices for optimizing delivery routes with tolls?
Even though there is a cost to go through toll roads, this fee can often save money overall. Look at the delivery timeline and fuel efficiency to determine if it makes sense to use toll roads in your route planning.
How to reduce transportation costs with summer travel tolls?
The biggest factor is to make sure that your drivers are avoiding peak times. Often, the schedules and routing need to be adjusted in the summer months since traffic patterns are changing due to seasonal travel.
Talk to the Fleet Toll Management Experts
Do you need help managing your fleet tolls? Not only can our team assist with telematics and strategy during the summer, but we have proven systems for all seasons. Our goal is to streamline your systems and improve your routes as much as possible, delivering the best results and optimal profit margins.
When you are ready to learn more, reach out to our team at Innovative Toll Solutions. We offer the best solutions and software in the industry to improve your fleet toll management and protect your budget at the same time. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discuss the possibilities.