Fleet Maintenance Management Will Cut Costs, Improve Productivity, & Boost ROI
Mainline Team • October 18, 2021
As a truck fleet manager, you have a lot of responsibilities - you need to keep your vehicles running properly, keep your drivers safe, and see loads delivered on time. There's a lot to do, and great fleet maintenance
management makes it a lot easier!
The trick is to be proactive. If you stay on top of preventative maintenance and stop issues from happening before they become big problems, you'll save a lot of money in the long run - and have happier and more productive drivers as well.
Six Tips for More Effective Fleet Maintenance Management
Certain elements of preventative maintenance are obvious: trucks need regular oil changes, tire rotations, and inspections. However, not all such issues are as easy to spot. Elements of your trucks, such as the suspension or the gearbox, might be nearing their end-of-life and, as such, could potentially begin to fail at any time.
If you keep track of your components and their expected lifespans, such as in a spreadsheet, these issues won't be a surprise. If you know an important component is only rated for (X) years or (Y) miles, don't wait for it to fail. Once it's nearing end-of-life, go ahead and have it replaced in a planned way so that there are no unexpected disruptions... or accidents.
2 - Plan your purchases carefully based on expected usage
When buying a new vehicle, there's really no such thing as too much planning. The more thought is put into its intended usage in the field, the more closely you'll be able to match that usage to the vehicle you purchase.
Otherwise, you may end up with a vehicle being pressed into service it wasn't designed for. This will inevitably result in more maintenance issues, lowered performance, and potentially dangerous situations.3 - Have clearly defined fleet maintenance policies and procedures
Your drivers and maintenance crews should never have any doubt about when, where, and how maintenance is happening. Every aspect of a vehicle's upkeep
should be clearly outlined in documentation which your workforce can refer to whenever needed.
This should include the schedule for upcoming maintenance, repair guides, safety matters, and procedures to follow in case of an unexpected breakdown. That way there's never any question of what to do, even if something goes wrong.
4 - Closely maintain tire pressure
Even though it's just one element of truck maintenance, tire pressure is important enough to warrant a close watch. Tires with low pressure will deliver worse gas milage, while significantly increasing wear and tear on the treads. In some situations, poor tire pressure can even affect the handling and make it more difficult for drivers to control the vehicle - especially in adverse conditions.
Keeping your tires properly pressurized, based on manufacturer specs and intended usage, is one of the single best ways to improve performance and prevent costly breakdowns.
5 - Keep tabs on your total cost of ownership
A good fleet manager is keeping detailed logs of all the costs and expenses related to their vehicle management. This isn't only important in terms of bookkeeping; it can actually serve as a vital early warning system. Older vehicles, or those with deeper underlying maintenance problems, are going to tend to become more expensive to keep up. Even something as basic as seeing average fuel costs go up unexpectedly can clue you in that there are problems with the vehicle. These are exactly the sort of warning signs that, if heeded, will allow you to extend the lifespan of your fleet and reduce overhead.
Also, keep a watch on the vehicle's blue book value. If it's well-maintained, it could potentially be a sellable asset in bad times.
6 - Partner with a fleet maintenance provider
If you want the easiest way to keep your vehicles well-maintained and well-documented, that's to bring experienced fleet maintenance providers to regularly services your vehicles. They can work with you to create a predictable schedule of inspections, maintenance, and upgrades. Having these dates set in stone allows you to schedule work around maintenance and repairs, without unexpectedly disrupting work.
Get Fleet Maintenance & More
Mainline RV & Truck Service
is one of ohio's premier sources for top-quality fleet vehicle maintenance. We'll help you create a regular maintenance schedule that keeps your trucks and other working vehicles in top condition.
Click here to learn more
about our fleet management services.
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Successful truck fleet maintenance is the foundation of effective fleet management, and knowing what to look for can help business owners and fleet managers make smart and data-driven decisions. Let’s explore the key indicators that your fleet maintenance program is on track and delivering great results. Budget Adherence and Cost Control One of the first signs of effective fleet maintenance is staying within your maintenance and repair budget. Fleet management tools can help track spending on fuel, services, parts, and more, which allows you to see exactly where your money is going. By analyzing this data, you can identify unnecessary costs and work toward reducing them. Over time, consistent budgeting also helps you forecast future expenses more accurately. If your actual costs closely match your projected budget, and you're seeing fewer surprise breakdowns, it’s a good sign your maintenance strategy is working. Preventative Maintenance and Downtime Reduction Another strong indicator of successful fleet maintenance is how often your trucks are out of service. If you’re consistently scheduling preventive maintenance and avoiding emergency repairs, you’re likely on the right track. Proactively servicing vehicles before problems occur not only reduces repair costs but also limits downtime. Fleet tracking systems can monitor individual vehicle performance and flag those with recurring issues. With this data, you can repair or replace underperforming vehicles before they affect operations or eat up your budget. Safe and Efficient Driving Practices Driver behavior has a major role in the health of your fleet. Excessive speeding, harsh braking, and rapid acceleration contribute to faster wear and tear. If you’ve noticed a reduction in these behaviors across your fleet, that’s a direct sign your maintenance and driver training programs are effective. Monitoring driver performance and providing additional coaching when needed ensures that your fleet is not only safer on the road but also more cost-effective over time. Fewer incidents mean less strain on your vehicles and fewer insurance claims. Optimized Vehicle Replacement Timing Even with strong maintenance routines, every vehicle has a lifespan. Knowing when to replace a truck is critical. Good fleet management systems help identify the optimal time to retire and replace aging vehicles, saving you from throwing money at equipment that’s no longer reliable. This strategy extends the life of your overall fleet while keeping performance high and costs in check. Reducing Empty Miles When a truck is driving without carrying a load, also known as “empty miles,” are a huge drain on fuel, labor, and operational costs. Successful fleet maintenance includes route optimization and load planning to limit these non-productive trips. Tracking tools that identify inefficient routes and idle driving can help you tighten operations and improve profit margins. Schedule Truck Fleet Maintenance at Mainline RV & Truck Service Today! Maintaining a well-performing fleet requires a proactive approach, reliable data, and trusted service partners. At Mainline RV & Truck Service , we provide expert maintenance and repair for trucks and commercial vehicles. Our team can help you reduce downtime, extend vehicle lifespan, and support a high-performing fleet. We even offer contract maintenance packages to ensure your fleet stays on the road. Call us today or visit our shop to schedule your next fleet maintenance appointment.
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