Question: What is one of the most challenging responsibilities of being a fleet manager in the transportation/delivery industry? Answer: Staying on top of your inventory. In general, it is a daunting task. But it can be even more difficult when individual work trucks and their inventory are involved. For a variety of reasons, it can be exceptionally difficult to keep track of inventory stored on vehicles using a manual process. Managing work truck inventory with software is far more efficient. Additionally, so they can concentrate on other essential tasks, using software frees up time for employees.
Here, we’re going to take a look at several ways of keeping track of truck inventory manually, then offer an alternative. This will apply to large fleets involved in construction, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, etc., or even a small work truck.
Work Truck Inventory: Information Gathering
Question: When tracking inventory on trucks, what’s one of the hardest parts? Answer: Gathering inventory information that is accurate. Someone can’t just walk through and look at the stock while carrying a clipboard. It’s not sitting in a warehouse. Each and every day, those trucks are moving around, severely limiting access to inventory.
With so many moving parts, it can be difficult to calculate how much material is on each truck. The material is moving around just as much as the truck. So, whoever is manning the truck needs to be contacted by the office, they have to stop what they’re doing and take a count, then they have to relay that information back to the office. There are other important duties that should be executed by both of these individuals.
An Added Nightmare to Your Work Truck
Trying to figure out where all the trucks are and the materials on them, as trucks go back and forth to multiple locations daily, can be an absolute nightmare. An enormous amount of manual effort is required. Also making it challenging is the fact that – from warehouse to truck and truck to warehouse – the rate varies at which these materials are being moved.
Today’s Technology to the Rescue
Thanks to “Construction Accounting Software” – and other types of inventory software – the entire process has become easier.
Right from a computer, everything can now be done through this software, making the process fast and smooth. Both in the field and in the office, employees’ time is freed up so they can concentrate on what you’re paying them to do – their job. You’ll also be able to cut down on paperwork when you switch from manual to digital.
Accuracy and Speed
Last question: When referring to truck inventory management, what’s the biggest advantage of using software? Answer: The need for a manual process is eliminated, streamlining everything. To each truck, thereby each specific driver/employee, materials are assigned. So that, in the system, when the material is used/billed, the truck’s inventory automatically removes the materials via the software.
Now, within the system, information can easily be looked up rather than someone from the office having to call the employee to go through the entire process described above. For every truck and the materials within, reports can be quickly generated, in detail. Check out our website, or give us a call at Mickey Genuine Parts, to see what’s currently available where parts for trailers and trucks are concerned.