Fleet Manager Burnout

The fleet management industry has been one of the worst affected in the last couple of decades. There have been a series of consecutive crises which impacted fleet management professionals on a large scale. Especially during Covid's emergence back in 2020, the shutting down of the North American OEM assembly plants affected the upfitters. Soon, it leads to instance chassis shortages. Inventories started getting depleted in bailment pools. Even the sales activities had to be stopped at dealerships. This further led to reduced deliveries of automobiles as well as vehicles going out of stock. 

These were just a few instances of market disruptions in the fleet management industry. The truth is that things started falling apart back in 2001 because of the highly unfortunate 9-11 terrorist attacks. The attacks led to a series of events, such as residual values dropping down. All the commercial airlines were being grounded. Rental fleets were being downsized.  7 to 8 years down the line, the credit crisis took place. 

Besides, the price of gasoline has been soaring high since 2005 because of excess demand and inadequate stock.

And since the pandemic, the fleet management has not been able to cope with the instances of resignations. The work-from-home format, too, has impacted productivity. Although fleet managers have been trying to keep things under control by arranging virtual work meetings, yet increased workload, frequent online meetings etc., together have impacted the overall productivity.

Fleet Managers- Overwhelmed, Stressed and Burnt Out!

Over the last twenty years or so, the fleet management industry has become quite vulnerable to external factors. However, the truth is that these market forces cannot be controlled, and that’s why mitigation is the best that one can aim for. It is these factors that have compelled fleet managers to be on their toes 24/7. The fleet managers have been putting in extra hours to ensure that no market dynamics can impact their day-to-day operations. However, this, in the long run, is leading to burnout among fleet management professionals.

Not just the fleet managers but workers across different sectors and industries have complained of facing instances of burnout during the pandemic phase. As per the survey results by the American Psychological Association, 8 out of 10 employees had been through work stress at some point in 2021. 3 out of 5 employees mentioned the shortcomings of work stress, such as lack of motivation, interest etc. And about one-third of the employees reported instances of fatigue, emotional exhaustion etc.

When it comes to fleet management, managers have been facing strenuous situations, especially because of the COVID restrictions. Factors like the transition to EVs, supply chain disruptions etc., are forcing fleet managers to push their limits to a great extent. 

Remarkable Resilience Displayed by Fleet Managers

Fleet managers are being praised for displaying remarkable resilience even in the face of severe disruptions. And only these resilient fleet professionals have managed to survive the market dynamics. They are ready to adapt to the challenges and are willing to come up with apt solutions. This bunch of fleet managers is showing a great level of emotional, physical, behavioral and mental adjustment. 

Another trait that has proved to be helpful for these resilient fleet managers is their time management ability. The way they manage time has helped them to protect themselves from getting overwhelmed. The sense of discipline and the ability to focus on priorities have helped these managers a lot. They very well know the difference between what is important and what is urgent. 

Besides, it is their perseverance- the never-say-die attitude that is helping them to withstand the challenges of the market. They are persistent and adamant enough not to call it quits. These managers are self-reliant and well aware-of their skills and abilities. That’s why they have been able to survive one of the worst times in human history. 

Conclusion 

Burnouts among fleet managers are a common issue, given the frequent upheavals in the industry. But it is upto these fleet professionals if they wish to withstand the test of time or crumble at the first instance of disruption. Burnouts can be prevented by inculcating certain features or traits within. Also, a strong mind can do what a strong body cannot. Thus, it won’t be wrong to say that resilient fleet managers are capable of evading instances of burnout. And they work keeping in mind the overall sector rather than just the fleet segment.