This article surveys the contemporary automations and software available from the industry for fleet management.

Most usages of fleet management software such as the open source mentioned above are in the areas of food delivery, emergency services, utility companies, construction, landscaping, public transportation, courier and package delivery services. The users use this software to reduce labor and gas costs, remain in compliance with state and federal regulations, locate and track fleet vehicles, manage vehicle maintenance, improve fleet and driver safety and optimize cost savings.

Commercial fleet management software like the Autosist is primarily a fleet inventory management system with a platform that charges per month per asset if paid annually.  They offer flexible pricing options no matter the size of the fleet, which entices small businesses. With the focus on process automation, commercial software provides proprietary software resources and policies for fleet management.

These software applications make it easy to keep track of drivers in the field, plan routes as efficiently as possible to save on fuel costs and stay one step ahead of maintenance tasks. They support GPS vehicle tracking, timesheet tracking, shift and route assignments and group messaging with drivers.

Some are built directly on the cloud. For example, Samsara is a cloud-based fleet management solution that offers features such as GPS tracking, trailer tracking, dashboard camera, routing and dispatch and reefer monitoring. It helps to track the physical location of their fleets and monitor their drivers’ behavior to stay compliant with Electronic Logbook (ELD) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations which encourage safer work environment for commercial motor vehicle drivers and truck drivers.

FleetIO for instance automates multiple complex management operations, including asset life cycles, fuel efficiency, safety reports, documents associated with the vehicle such as fuel and service receipts and tiles and insurance cards. Cross-platform access and programmability is key to intermodal network. Webhooks and APIs continue to help synchronize the data between disparate networks. There’s also a commenting, photo and notification element to add on, which allows for instant feedback.

Companies like Azuga even provide hardware for fleet managers to install on their vehicles. It tracks equipment and driver behavior. It believes in creating healthy competition among drivers and applies gamification in its driver rewards program to help reward drivers often to prevent churn.

Tracking and alerts are another feature of such commercial software. Some provide real-time tracking while others provide slower refreshes but with detailed alerts.