Three Tips For Commercial Fleet Uptime

Uptime and productivity are key metrics for any commercial fleet. If you've taken over management on a new fleet, these are likely two areas you are going to focus on improving. If you're looking for ways to optimize both, you need to streamline your fleet maintenance as well as optimize the routes and driving time for all of the drivers in the fleet. Careful planning is essential to doing both. Here are some tips to help you keep your fleet on the road as much as possible.

Optimize Your Preventative Maintenance

Prevention is a key component to minimizing emergencies and mechanical breakdowns. That means that your preventative maintenance schedule with a place like Florida Truck & Trailer CO is a vital component. Take time to create a comprehensive maintenance schedule that ensures that all of your fleet vehicles are getting the inspections and upkeep that they need. That way, your technicians can identify potential problems and signs of wear before they lead to failures.

One thing that many fleet managers don't take into account when creating a maintenance schedule is the driver routes and run schedules. If you take the time to schedule each truck's maintenance individually, you can schedule all of those inspections and repairs when the truck is down between routes. It also makes it easier for you to schedule a secondary vehicle for your driver to use if there's a run that they need to make while the truck is down.

Maximize Your Technology Investment

When you rely on the latest technology and monitoring equipment, you minimize the time spent troubleshooting issues. You also make it easier to keep track of any potential problems that could be occurring with your trucks. For example, by outfitting each truck with the latest telematics systems and monitoring the feedback from them on a daily basis, you'll be able to identify the signs of trouble when they first begin.

For example, if you notice the assessment of the sensor operation declining, you'll know that you have a sensor in the engine that's getting ready to fail. You can also identify problems by monitoring fuel mileage. While you would notice a significant decline in fuel mileage pretty easily by the effect on the fuel per diem, you may be able to prevent that problem if you monitor the mileage statistics for the trucks on a regular basis. This allows you to see gradual declines in fuel mileage sooner so you can address them before they become major, costly issues.

Work With An On-Demand Fleet Maintenance Specialist

When you sign a service contract with an on-demand fleet maintenance company, you'll have someone you can turn to for all of your maintenance, emergency repairs, and other service. It gives you consistent quality in all of your work and a single source for your maintenance records.

If your on-demand service company is nationwide, that's even better for your uptime needs. Your drivers will be able to seek emergency repairs when necessary by finding the nearest location, which minimizes disruption to your operation. The same can also apply for routine maintenance. If a driver is still out when their next maintenance appointment is due, they can have it taken care of at a nearby location so that it doesn't set the schedule back.

Finally, signing a maintenance contract also helps you eliminate any surprises in your service costs. You'll have a flat rate defined in the contract so you know what you're paying for the work you need. This makes it much easier to budget, so you're not caught unaware and without the funds for a needed repair. When your costs are predictable and you can budget them properly, your drivers will be back on the road as quickly as possible.

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