You know better than anyone that the fleet review is an important moment in preparation for the winter season. It's vital to test whether all machines work, all equipment is properly adjusted and whether the routes are still correct. You need this moment of feedback on the working method to ensure that the season runs as smoothly as possible. That's why it is essential to get the most out of the fleet review: both for you as a planner and for the drivers. You can read in this blog how you do that and how you can still use this feedback during the winter season.

Knowledge of different groups

As an executing party, you seldom do the execution of winter maintenance actions alone. You will most likely work with multiple parties: municipalities, contractors and hardware suppliers. One of the aspects that is a main priority is whether the routes are still correct and are easy to drive. But how is this information shared with you? This often goes well, but it isn't easy to get back the precise information from a driver driving the route. After all, the driver has to pay attention to the road and remember the location of any obstacles encountered in the route. For example, something is quickly forgotten or not accurately passed on, which affects the route's quality (and output!). Therefore, it is important to organize the fleet review as well as possible so that you receive all feedback on the routes driven back at the office. 

Receive feedback on the routes

A fleet review is intended to check routes, tighten and adjust where necessary, so it is vital to get feedback as precisely as possible. There are roughly two possible ways to do this:

• Through feedback on paper

Drivers leave their feedback on paper by writing down all points after driving, or stopping the car while driving and writing it down immediately. This is by far the simplest method to prepare: after all, you only need pen and paper. Cons? The driver must indicate exactly where the problem is occurring and must either remember this information or write it down somewhere at the time. 

• Through digital feedback (memos)

The second option is to provide feedback using digital memos. When drivers drive with a tablet with Route Navigation, they have the option to provide immediate feedback via this system. They can add a memo on the screen of their tablets with their input on it, and the GPS coordinates are immediately recorded. In addition, the driver can attach a clarifying photo. The memos are read into the web application and become visible to you so that you know exactly where and how the route needs to be adjusted. The big advantage of using Route Navigation is that this method is easier and safer for new drivers: they can listen to the route guidance instructions instead of having to read a paper route description all the time. This allows drivers to better focus on traffic, which ensures greater safety for all road users.

A good process ensures smooth winter maintenance

You can make optimal use of the fleet review by keeping the time between the fleet review and the adjustment of your gritting routes as short as possible. Implement feedback and difficult points on the routes as quickly as possible and ensure a straightforward working method. Inform drivers and other involved parties about guidelines for giving the feedback and make it easy for them too. Give them the opportunity to give digital feedback: that makes driving the route safer and makes it easier for you to implement the changes. At the next spreading campaign, your spreading routes for the drivers have already been adjusted. This will enable you to make adjustments to routes during the season: so you are always sure of optimal routes and output!

Curious how you can get even more grip on your actions this winter? Download our productsheet.