The terms ‘fleet management’ and ‘fleet consulting’ are often used interchangeably, but this just causes confusion. The table below highlights key differences between these two concepts, but in a nutshell: Fleet management is the handling of all fleet processes. Fleet consulting is an external service that assists the fleet manager with some aspects of the fleet.
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Fleet Consulting |
Fleet Management |
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Vehicle Acquisition |
The consulting company will study your current fleet and can assist with: ● Recommending which vehicles should be bought and which should be run on a lease basis. ● Optimising vehicle life or replacement cycle depending on vehicle use, fleet size, and budget. ● Negotiate with manufacturers on your behalf to ensure you get the best deal. ● Fleet size analysis – depending on your fleet needs they will make recommendations on where you can reduce fleet size or where you need to bolster your fleet |
If you have a company doing your fleet management, they will be fully immersed in your fleet details and needs. This will be an ongoing process and, unlike consulting, they will handle all the administrative tasks and logistics of vehicle acquisitions as well. ● Build strong relationships with manufacturers on your behalf. This can lead to lower cost on vehicles as well as service and repairs. Long-standing partnerships are most cost effective. ● Manage vehicle life or replacement cycle and handle all new acquisitions or lease agreements. ● Regular updates on fleet replacement cycle. ● Manage all vehicle financing administration and regularly re-negotiate to ensure your company always receives the best solution. ● Constantly manage fleet size to ensure your fleet is running smoothly with no unnecessary expenses.
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GPS & Telematics |
● Do a full analysis of which systems will benefit your fleet in the most cost-effective way. |
● Do a full analysis of which systems will benefit your fleet in the most cost-effective way. ● Handle all acquisition and installments of necessary systems. ● Manage maintenance and any required updates of fleet telematics. ● Keep abreast of industry best-practice and install improved systems if it will benefit your business and result in optimised operations. |
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Vehicle Policies |
● Review all company policies regarding fleet vehicles: from use by different departments, to vehicle care and travel. Make recommendations based on your business needs. ● Identify gaps in best practice |
● Set up and implement all necessary vehicle policies. ● Manage disciplinary or incentive procedures based on vehicle policies. ● Amend vehicle policies when changes to fleet or company structure requires it. |
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Vehicle Maintenance |
● Do a full cost analysis of maintenance for all fleet vehicles. Make recommendations on where the process can be improved and costs reduced. ● Benchmarking against industry |
● Manage all vehicle maintenance processes from continually reviewing costs to ensuring services happen on time. ● Handle all administration and logistics for vehicle maintenance and repairs. ● Manage maintenance and repair schedule to ensure minimum downtime. |
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Fuel Costs & Options |
● Do a full review of all fuel costs and make recommendations ranging from which vehicles to put on fleet (diesel or petrol) to how fueling should work (specific fuel stations or fuel cards, etc.) |
● Manage all fuel processes from acquiring most efficient vehicles to handling logbook processes and even fueling when necessary. |
Fleet Management refers to the day – to – day operation of the fleet and Fleet Consulting tries to speak to how to make the fleet the most efficient that it can be and is often ad hoc/ once off in nature.
