The best fleet managers we know have one thing in common: they measure what matters. They don’t rely on gut feeling. They trust numbers — simple, clear, up to date. If you want to keep your fleet healthy and your operations lean, start with these 5 metrics.

1. Utilization rate (planned vs. actual)
   How many hours was this machine used last month? Was it parked half the time? Underused assets cost money. Overused ones break down faster. You want to know both.

2. Downtime per asset, per site
   You can’t fix downtime you don’t track. Log every breakdown or planned stop. Find patterns: same machine type, same site, same operator? That’s where you can prevent the next issue.

3. Total cost of ownership per hour
   Fuel, maintenance, repairs, insurance — roll it into one clear cost per operating hour. Some machines look cheap but burn cash quietly in the background.

4. Maintenance backlog and compliance
   What’s overdue? How many inspections, oil changes or services are behind schedule? A rising backlog means your risk is rising too — and surprises are just around the corner.

5. CO₂ or fuel burn per project
   More tenders now demand clear sustainability reporting. Knowing exactly how much fuel you burn per site or project helps you win bids and stay ahead of rules.

Bonus tip: Don’t overcomplicate it. These numbers don’t need fancy dashboards no one checks. They need to be clear and visible to your operators, technicians and managers — every day.