As a fleet manager, you are carrying a lot of responsibility to keep your trucks on the road and maintain profitability every step of the way. How are you handling toll management and fees? Even though these transactions seem small in comparison to the overall spending, the cost of tolls and fees really start to add up over time.
The reality is that fleet toll management mistakes can cost your team a lot of money. Late fees and other violations can result in fines that add up over time, and cut into your profit margins. Additionally, these compliance issues can sometimes take your trucks off the road, which interferes with your schedule overall. These inefficiencies are costly and they are impacting your business overall.
In this guide, we are taking a closer look at the most common fleet toll management mistakes. Not only will this article help you identify the issues that could be impacting your team, but we will also provide the best solutions to overcome these inefficiencies.
Mistake 1: Lack of Active Monitoring
Active toll management is more than just a nice thing to have. The reality is that active data and ongoing tracking can have an undeniable impact on your efficiency and results. Are you tracking toll usage in active and resolving potential violations as soon as they are occurring?
Active tracking is critical because it helps you stay ahead of payments, avoid toll violations, and manage your costs at the same time. You need to make sure that you have a current, active tracking system in order to avoid these most common toll management mistakes.
The solution to avoid this mistake is to make sure that you are using proven toll management software combined with GPS tracking in all of your vehicles. This dynamic system gives you active monitoring and ongoing alerts so that you are staying ahead of everything that is happening.
Mistake 2: Poor Compliance with Toll Regulations
Certain fleet management toll issues are completely avoidable, but these issues start to sneak in because of mistakes that are made by drivers and management. If you are facing compliance issues, then it is time to evaluate your system and address any problems. Some of the most common compliance issues include outdated toll accounts or using the wrong transponders.
What is the impact here? When you fail to update your toll accounts or keep up with the administrative tasks, then it not only causes financial penalties and fees – but you could also be facing legal complications now and in the future. It’s essential to take a proactive approach now so that you can avoid unnecessary legal problems.
The first step is to make sure that all fleet vehicles have the correct toll transponders. Also, ensure that the transponders are linked with active accounts. When these things are in place, then it becomes much easier to maintain compliance at all times.
Mistake 3: Relying on Manual Toll Management
Even though manual tracking systems were common in the past, we live in a digital world and it has changed the industry. There is no reason why drivers and office staff members should be tracking and managing toll fees and violations manually. The truth is that manual tracking is both inefficient and error-prone.
Some of the most common issues that occur with manual toll management systems include delayed payments (which result in late fees and penalties), a higher administrative workload, and a loss of revenue. But when you implement an automated toll management system, then you can streamline the payments and tracking, which helps you save money and boost efficiencies at the same time.
Mistake 4: Neglecting Driver Training and Awareness
The final mistake that we commonly see is when drivers are not properly trained. If you have untrained drivers behind the wheel, then they are likely missing toll compliance requirements. The result can be quite a headache for fleet managers, because you are dealing with frequent violations and increased costs because of tolls and penalties.
So, when you are implementing a toll management system, also make sure that your drivers receive regular training. You need to make sure that all drivers are well-versed on everything related to toll management and route efficiencies, including transponder use, managing toll payments, compliance, and more.
Avoid Costly Mistakes with Proactive Toll Management
The good news is that you don’t need to be burning through your budget because of fleet toll management mistakes. A proactive approach right now can have an undeniable impact on your overall efficiency, which improves the bottom line.
Make sure that you are leveraging technology, route optimization, and driver training, and you will see an undeniable difference in your results overall.
If you need help optimizing your toll management process today, then our team at Innovative Toll Solutions is just a phone call away. We offer the proven systems and solutions that you need to stay ahead of this ever-changing industry. Contact us today to avoid some of the most common fleet toll management mistakes and learn more about available services.