Articles Tagged with ''beverage fleet''

Earlier this year, Beverage Industry conducted its third annual Fleet Study to offer a snapshot of the size and makeup of today’s delivery fleets, as well as an understanding of the operational concerns and strategies that beverage fleets face every day.

With the exception of the Ford Super Duty launch coming later in the year, new truck model news will be comparatively thin for 2016, but that’s not to say that all is quiet. Most truck manufacturers have announced at least one or two refinements for 2016, while others have been more prolific.

A common expression in marketing is “Sell the sizzle, not the steak.” Although the consumer might need food for sustenance, it’s the sound of the sizzle that makes them want a steak instead of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

As beverage manufacturers and contract packaging companies see more SKUs entering the warehouse, operations professionals are tasked with ensuring that all processes are operating efficiently and effectively.

Not all that long ago, fleet software defined a relatively narrow range of products that primarily were designed to track maintenance schedules and the related costs of vehicle operation/ownership.

As the beverage industry continues to experience significant levels of consolidation, distributors on the local, national and global level are being affected.

As with any other form of technology, telematics solutions are always changing. From new devices to new software solutions, telematics suppliers are innovating to offer more effective and efficient solutions. Marco Encinas, product manager for Teletrac and Navman Wireless, Garden Grove, Calif., gives Beverage Industry insights to new innovations in telematics devices. 

Not far behind the cost of labor and fuel, tires are among the top operating expenses for most beverage fleets. Looking at just maintenance costs, tires rise to the top of the list.