The FS365 blog

How to run a fleet in 2026.

Operator how-tos, industry benchmarks, and the occasional compliance rant. Written by people who've turned wrenches — or at least sat next to them.

Compliance Featured

How to Get a DOT Number (and Whether You Even Need One)

How to get a DOT number in 2026: who actually needs a USDOT number, the thresholds, what it costs, and the MC-number change you should know about.

Jul 14, 2026·6 min
All How-to Industry insight Compliance
A driver in a service yard at dusk stands at the rear of a box truck with a tablet, tapping out a driver vehicle inspection report, the unit number stenciled on the door and a taillight glowing behind him.
How-to

What Is a DVIR? A Fleet Operator's Guide

What is a DVIR? The driver vehicle inspection report that turns a flagged defect into a certified repair before the truck rolls — and the rule behind it.

Jul 09, 2026·6 min
A driver fueling a pickup at a depot pump at dusk, fuel card reader glowing, other fleet vehicles lined up behind.
How-to

Fuel Log Template: A Practical Guide for Fleets

A no-fluff guide to the fuel log template for fleet managers: the exact steps, the KPIs it moves, and how to keep it from slipping.

Jul 07, 2026·4 min
A dispatcher watching a live map of fleet vehicles on a wall monitor in an operations office.
How-to

Asset Tracking Checklist: A Practical Guide for Fleets

A no-fluff guide to the asset tracking checklist for fleet managers: the exact steps, the KPIs it moves, and how to keep it from slipping.

Jul 02, 2026·4 min
A fleet compliance manager at a desk reviewing driver qualification files and inspection records before an audit.
How-to

Driver Qualification File Form: A Practical Guide for Fleets

A no-fluff guide to the driver qualification file form for fleet managers: the exact steps, the KPIs it moves, and how to keep it from slipping.

Jun 30, 2026·4 min
A fleet technician in a service bay checking a truck's service schedule on a tablet, work order open beside the engine.
How-to

Vehicle Maintenance Log Template Checklist for Small Fleets

A no-fluff guide to the vehicle maintenance log template for fleet managers: the exact steps, the KPIs it moves, and how to keep it from slipping.

Jun 25, 2026·5 min
A shop manager at a parts counter scanning a component, open repair order and shelves of inventory behind.
How-to

Work Order Template: A Practical Guide for Fleets

A no-fluff guide to the work order template for fleet managers: the exact steps, the KPIs it moves, and how to keep it from slipping.

Jun 23, 2026·4 min
A driver in a hi-vis vest walking around a box truck at dawn, tablet in hand, completing a pre-trip inspection.
How-to

Pre Trip Inspection Checklist: A Practical Guide for Fleets

A no-fluff guide to the pre-trip inspection checklist for fleet managers: the exact steps, the KPIs it moves, and how to keep it from slipping.

Jun 04, 2026·4 min
Heavy-duty truck technician kneeling beside an open service bay with a tablet in hand, working through a preventive maintenance checklist under bright shop lights
How-to

How to set up preventive maintenance that actually gets done

A 40-minute setup guide for operators who want PMs to feel automatic — not like another spreadsheet to babysit.

Apr 14, 2026·9 min
A fleet driver hands off a tablet showing a completed DVIR to a shop technician in a brightly lit service bay, the defect already routed as a work order
How-to

Closing the loop: from DVIR defect to resolved work order in one day

The single workflow change that took one customer from 12-day defect resolution down to under 24 hours.

Mar 18, 2026·6 min
A fleet truck pulled up to a commercial fuel island at dawn, driver mid-transaction, with the rest of a working morning quietly underway
How-to

Fuel card reconciliation is a tax on your ops team. Here's how to eliminate it.

If you're still exporting CSVs from your fuel card provider every Monday morning, read this.

Mar 07, 2026·7 min

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