Fleet Advantage announced its latest industry survey showing where there’s a significant lack of communication between fleet operations and finance departments within many organizations with a private fleet.

Where Is the Lack of Communication?

The online survey shows private fleet management personnel highlighting several obstacles when trying to communicate fleet operational needs with finance departments. Signifying this lack of communication, 37.5 percent of fleet executives cited the inability of their finance departments to clearly communicate the company’s financial metrics and goals to the operations department as the largest communications struggle. An additional 34.4 percent said finance doesn't understand the benefit of investing in newer equipment; and 31.3 percent said finance doesn't understand various operating costs associated with the fleet.

Are Operations & Finance Departments Seeing Eye to Eye?

When asked which part of the company's financial performance the finance department is concerned about the most, 53.1 percent said cost reduction, and 40.6 percent said improving cash flow. Finance officers are unclear about the role proper fleet acquisition strategies and lease versus purchase decisions play on a company's bottom line, which is why only 25 percent of operations management believe this area is a concern for finance departments.

However, a closer look shows where a large disconnect is present between the two departments. Finance departments are most concerned with cost reduction (53.1 percent) and improving cash flow (40.6 percent). However, the majority of fleet executives (62.5 percent) said they focus on maintenance and repair (M&R) costs when calculating their fleet’s return on investment and 75 percent said that they present M&R data to finance to gain access to cap ex for new equipment. With M&R representing the largest, most volatile of operational costs in a truck fleet, a stronger focus by finance on total cost of ownership (TCO) metrics would help improve cost reduction and cash flow for the bottom line significantly. Unfortunately, approximately 18.8 percent of finance professionals never inquire about these metrics.

Are They on the Same Page Regarding Driver Turnover?

In addition, 18.8 percent said finance doesn't understand how newer trucks can reduce driver turnover and improve retention. This item is critical, particularly as driver shortage and turnover rates continue to grow. According to ATA’s Trucking Activity Report, the annualized turnover rate at large truckload carriers, those with more than $30 million in annual revenue, increased six points to 94 percent. The turnover rate for smaller carriers fell to 73 percent, but was still seven points higher than the previous year.

“It is evident that both the operations and finance departments are focused on different priorities in terms of fleet management and costs, and this poses a challenge to collectively achieve a singular organizational goal,” said Brian Holland, President and Chief Financial Officer at Fleet Advantage. “Hopefully, this survey will shed light on these communications challenges so that both departments can work closer on a fleet that operates more smoothly, with lower costs.”

For a complete look at the survey results click here: Survey Results.