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If you are thinking about looking for a fleet management job, you might know that having some understanding of how commercial vehicles work and are operated can help you a lot in your career. However, there are a lot of other things that you'll need to know as well. These are some of the unexpected skills that you'll need -- and use -- in a fleet job management position.

1. Strong Understanding of Finance

One main goal of a fleet manager is to be able to run the fleet as effectively and efficiently as possible -- without spending any more money than necessary. You'll have to keep diligent records, pay close attention to how much is being spent on things like fuel and maintenance and look for ways to cut costs without affecting the fleet. This means that you'll need to have good math and financial skills, but it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to have a finance background at all. You will, however, have to be open to learn as much as you can about the financial side of managing a fleet.

2. Attention to Detail

The small details matter when it comes to managing a fleet. You have to pay attention to your fleet to look for problems that drivers might not have spotted, like rust spots or worn-out tires. Being able to notice the small details can help you maintain your fleet and keep it in good condition before your commercial vehicles become worn out.

3. Communication Skills

There is a lot of communication involved in managing a fleet -- you have to be able to communicate with drivers to stay informed about potential issues and other things that you need to know about the fleet that you're managing, and you also have to be able to communicate what you need with parts store managers and maintenance crews. Maintaining strong communication with everyone who has anything to do with your fleet can make the difference between a well-maintained fleet and a poorly-maintained one.

Obviously, there are other skills that can be important in this job, such as having a basic knowledge of the mechanics and necessary maintenance of the trucks or other fleet vehicles that you are managing. However, these are some of the more unexpected -- yet still incredibly important -- skills that you should possess if you want to be good at maintaining a commercial fleet.