Top 3 challenges experienced by government fleets

Staying on schedule, adhering to budget and increasing productivity is a complex process for fleets in any industry—but in the federal sector, fleet managers must overcome these operational challenges while also contending with cybersecurity mandates, vehicle utilization mandates and aggressive environmental policies.

Vehicles equipped with telematics technology, or GPS fleet tracking software, are providing an answer to these ongoing pain points, providing government entities with real-time data insights and new efficiencies.

Maximize budget

President Trump’s federal budget plan proposes a $2.4 billion funding cut to the Department of Transportation (DOT), reallocating $1 trillion to U.S. infrastructure repairs. That means government fleets are likely to continue operating with too few budget dollars.

Telematics can assist by giving fleet managers a direct line of sight into every ounce of fuel used, every minute spent idling, every additional mile driven and the resultant costs to their organization. GPS tracking solutions further identify opportunities to save money by drawing attention to unsafe driving habits that waste fuel, like speeding and harsh acceleration/braking.

By connecting this granular data to budgetary plans, government entities eliminate inefficiencies that drag down their bottom line.

Track utilization

Every minute matters when it comes to keeping vehicles on the road. At their core, vehicle tracking solutions are navigation tools that improve fuel efficiency and asset utilization. Delivering second-by-second data to analytics tools helps surface the data needed to make decisions, helping government fleet managers identify performance outliers/inefficiencies that might otherwise go unseen. This helps government fleet owners get more out of their vehicles, eliminate waste, reduce unnecessary wear and tear, provide better service to citizens, decrease emergency response times and improve public safety.

Lower emissions

Under Section 3(g) of Executive Order (EO) 13693, enacted by President Obama in 2015 to dramatically curb greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade, government agencies operating a fleet of at least 20 motor vehicles are required to take specific actions that reduce CO₂ emissions.

Government fleets must have achieved a 4% reduction (at least) in total fleet emissions by the end of 2017, per EO 13693—which remains intact under President Trump’s current environmental plan. That’s where the information collected through GPS fleet management software proves invaluable, as the data shows a vehicle-by-vehicle breakdown of emissions required for EO 13693—to determine if a vehicle or driver is contributing to carbon output.

Aside from government regulations, the ability to see immediate records of miles driven and engine hours is an evergreen benefit. Consolidating assets to reduce fuel waste and carbon footprint is simply good business practice in the public sector, as climate change and greenhouse gases remain hot button issues.

With more than 4 million miles driven by government fleets across the country—from police cruisers and ambulances to snow plows and refuse trucks—GPS fleet management solutions are a critical component in fulfilling local, state and federal agency needs.