When creating a new unit in your Fleetpal account, you’ll notice that one of the two mandatory fields you’ll be required to fill out is the Unit Number. The unit number is perhaps one of the most important pieces of information regarding unit creation.

What Is a Fleet Unit Number?

For starters, it’s worth defining the unit number and what it symbolizes. Some users may confuse it with the VIN or the unit name. However, these are separate elements that can be customized when creating a unit.  The unit number is vitally important as it shapes the foundation for all performance statistics for a vehicle from your fleet, like downtime hours, working hours, and other essential data regarding the machine’s history. Unit numbers are also at the core of creating work orders and jobs regarding fleet repairs. A range of different reports and analyses are performed at unit number level. Because of the significance of the unit number, it’s essential to select a numbering system that is reliable, easy to understand, and transparent for all members of the team involved in fleet repairs and management.

How to create a robust unit numbering system?

When it comes to creating a unit numbering system, a multitude of different approaches could be taken. Various formats are used, and the truth is that every fleet has its own logic behind the creation of unit numbers. Regardless of the system you choose, the most important thing is to make the unit numbers easy to remember and trace based on logic.  One of the most commonly seen approaches to numbering fleet units is to use a four-digit number. The first two digits are the year of acquisition, while the last two are dedicated to another logic, like the series numbers of assets purchased during the year.  The beauty of unit numbers is that you can use both letters and numbers. This allows you to use more creative logic behind the numbering system. For instance, you could use the first letter of the manufacturer’s name followed by numbers indicating the manufacturing year. You could mix things up and use the first or last numbers of the vehicle’s VIN in combination with the first letter of the type of vehicle, for example, T for truck.  It’s important to note that consistency is critical for a successful unit numbering system. No matter how large or small your fleet is, chances are that numerous people will have access to your fleet management or fleet repair system. By glowing the same logic and the same rules for creating unit numbers, everyone involved will be on the same page. Finding information about a specific unit will become much easier and stress-free. Don’t forget that without a unit number, you won’t be able to create a new unit in your Fleetpal account. This is a mandatory field, which further emphasizes that the unit numbering system is the foundation for a healthy fleet.