Running a fleet is hard enough. Running a mixed fleet — with dozens of asset types, different brands, and scattered telematics — can feel impossible. Over the past year, we’ve talked to dozens of companies in construction and port logistics. Some run 30 machines, others run 3,000. Different scale, same core problems.

Here’s what we learned from listening to them:

Visibility is your foundation

If you don’t have a clear view of every machine, every site, and every cost, you’re guessing — not managing. Many companies still work with spreadsheets that quickly fall out of date. Meanwhile, money leaks out through unplanned downtime, duplicate rentals, or missed maintenance.

Not every asset behaves the same

You can’t track a crane like you track a forklift. A truck has different usage than a wheel loader. A good fleet system should adapt to each asset type, not force everything through the same template.

Data alone doesn’t solve anything

Some companies drown in data but stay blind to the real story. You need clear, useful insights — the numbers that show you what to fix first, and who needs to act.

Disconnected systems are silent killers

Every OEM loves their own platform. But if you can’t bring your OEM data, your ERP info, your rental contracts and your maintenance tasks together, your people waste hours copying and reconciling.

Small gains become big wins

One small improvement — like catching an overdue inspection — can prevent a major breakdown. Multiply that by every machine and every site, and you’ll see why companies that invest in proper fleet tracking keep their costs down and their people safe.

A fleet is complex by nature. Managing it doesn’t have to be. That’s the real lesson.