Use an infotainment system like Ford SYNC3. An infotainment system helps drivers stay safe and in control while driving, communicating with people in the car through voice commands. These systems also make it easier to handle communications between driver and home base when using hands-free phone connectivity, GPS navigation or even listening to internet radio. All these features are becoming increasingly important as fleets take on more responsibility for operator training, monitoring vehicle status and tracking down vehicles if they’re stolen.
Ford SYNC offers two options: We have Ford Sync 2 which is fairly old at this point, but still very functional – It uses a rotary dial controller that you can use to pick menu items. You can then push each item once you decide on it. It’s not a touch screen, but still useful.
Ford Sync 3 is by far the best option – It has a touch screen that you can type on to input data. There are four preset options to click on which can be programmed by your fleet IT department for push notifications and other fleet related tasks. If your service provider program does not have this feature, you can also download the Ford SYNC Connect & Control app which will give you text notifications without having to go through dealership or manufacturer middlemen (This is the preferred method).
Ford SYNC is easy to use even with its smallish 10″ Screen – All of the buttons are color-coded with different functions so drivers know what they’re pressing within seconds of seeing it. If you want to change the function of a button, it’s as simple as selecting which function you’d like from its own separate menu.
Ford Sync 3 also has Bluetooth connectivity built-in – So the car can pair to your phone over Bluetooth and allow you to play music, pick up calls and communicate through voice commands. It integrates with Waze which allows management or dispatching to send out routes directly through this system without having the driver download anything first. The system is also fully equipped for SiriusXM and AM/FM radio if those are preferred by drivers and fleet managers alike.
If you need your vehicles to be even more secure than they already are , SYNC3 can integrate with pretty much any vehicle security system so that alarm notifications are pushed to the infotainment system. The driver will get alerts on their phones if the truck is tampered with or broken into at any time, where they can then report it directly from there.
Ford SYNC3 also has up to date maps for 3D navigation – Allowing your drivers to get around traffic before it even starts building up which saves them time and ensures that they arrive at their destination in a timelier manner. Once you have arrived, you can use this feature again to help navigate back to your home base so you don’t go too far off route. This comes in handy for over-the-road fleets where it’s important that the service provider has an efficient way of getting his or her drivers back to base to avoid delays.
Ford Sync 3 also has an App Compatibility feature so if your company uses other mobile apps, drivers can use this system to communicate between the two instead of relying on cell service or Bluetooth connectivity. If you want vehicle diagnostics sent back home base, all your drivers need to do is check the “Diagnostics” option in the app compatibility menu and then connect via USB – The car will then send that information directly into the cloud where it can be used to determine when maintenance needs to be done for each individual vehicle.
What are the fleet prices ?
As we mentioned before, the biggest benefits of buying used fleet vehicles is that you can get some pretty solid deals online – There are thousands of cars on ZeMotor that come with warranties and ready to go for a price lower than what any dealership would charge you. If you need something right away, this is usually your best bet as it’ll save you more money in the long run.
If you’re not in a hurry to buy anything or simply want to browse through potential options then these sites offer up some pretty good resources: OnlineFleetGuide offers up all kinds of different brands and models so you can do comparisons of everything from fuel consumption, price tag to maintenance costs. They also have listings of various dealerships around the country.
Is buying a used fleet vehicle a good idea?
Now that we’ve talked about some of the more common features on these cars, you’re probably wondering if buying used is worth it. Well, this depends on your fleet’s specific needs and what you plan to do with the car – If you plan to use it as a personal vehicle or for low-mileage light usage, then getting something fairly new is always advised so that the engine hasn’t begun to break down.
Getting something too old can mean many problems – But if you are simply planning to use them for hauling heavy loads or long distance driving, consider getting one that has already done at least 200k miles so that most of the mechanical issues have been ironed out. Engine issues are much easier and cheaper to fix early on, so if you can get a car with the same mileage as the warranty has left on it – You should have less trouble.
If your business needs maximum efficiency and quality that won’t fail you under any circumstance then buying a new vehicle makes more sense as the cost of repairs would be worth it in comparison to having to potentially use 2 or 3 vehicles simultaneously. There is always risk involved, but if you’re smart about what time of car you buy and where from – You’ll avoid most of these problems.
