Your Fleet Needs an FMIS Now: Stop Wasting Time and Start Driving Efficiency
Fleet managers, let’s be honest—if you’re still tracking maintenance and operations on spreadsheets, paper logs, or outdated software, you’re making your job way harder than it needs to be.
Josh Turley, CEO of RTA Fleet, and fleet industry veteran Marc Canton recently tackled this issue on The Fleet Success Show, using an unforgettable analogy: Managing a fleet without a Fleet Management Information System (FMIS) is like trying to remove a lug nut with your bare hands.
"You’re literally choosing to loosen that lug by hand," said Turley.
And let’s face it, that’s just not efficient.
Watch the full episode below:
The Cost of Doing Nothing
One of the biggest roadblocks fleet managers face when considering an FMIS is the thought: I don’t have time for this right now. But here’s the reality—waiting is actually costing you more time and money.
"You don’t have time today. Do you think you’re going to have more time tomorrow?" Canton asked.
"I don’t know about you, but in my life, I get busier. I don’t get less busy."
Every day you delay implementing an FMIS is another day wasted on manual data entry, hunting down vehicle records, and struggling to keep up with fleet maintenance schedules.
RTA’s Fleet360 software alone has saved fleet professionals 876 years of time since 2017.
"That’s the number. We’ve saved 876 years in seven years of time," Turley emphasized.
If that’s not a wake-up call, what is?
Upgrading Your Tools: From Wrenches to Air Guns
Let’s go back to the lug nut analogy. If you’ve ever tried changing a tire, you know there’s a big difference between using your hands, a wrench, or an air gun.
Fleet managers who still rely on manual tracking or outdated systems are effectively loosening lug nuts with their hands. Eventually, it will work—but it’s slow, painful, and inefficient.
Even upgrading to spreadsheets or basic tracking modules is like using a wrench—it helps, but it’s not a game-changer.
An FMIS, however, is the air gun. It eliminates inefficiencies, provides real-time insights, and allows your team to focus on what truly matters—keeping your fleet running smoothly.
"If you don’t have anything at all, just go get something," Turley advised. "Whether it’s us or a competitor, you need an FMIS system. Stop putting everything in file cabinets and start taking control of your fleet data."
Overcoming Objections: “But My Data Is a Mess!”
Another common excuse for delaying an FMIS upgrade? Fleet data is too messy to migrate.
"If what’s stopping you from getting a system is the quality of your data, that’s exactly why you need to do it!" Canton stressed. "Garbage in, garbage out."
Trying to manually manage bad data only compounds the problem. A modern FMIS helps clean, organize, and optimize fleet data, providing valuable insights that drive smarter decisions.
Making the Move: Why Now Is the Best Time
Let’s break it down:
✅ An FMIS saves you time – Automate maintenance tracking, streamline reporting, and reduce paperwork.
✅ It saves you money – Identify inefficiencies, prevent costly breakdowns, and extend asset life.
✅ It reduces stress – Say goodbye to scrambling for data when your boss asks, “How many vehicles are due for replacement next year?”
"Yeah, we got 86 due."
That’s the kind of instant clarity an FMIS provides.
So what’s the next step? Stop waiting. Start optimizing.
Take Control of Your Fleet with RTA’s Fleet360
You don’t have to struggle with outdated fleet management processes. RTA’s Fleet360 software is built to help fleet managers like you save time, money, and headaches.
📅 Schedule a demo today and see how Fleet360 can transform your operations.