Managing a fleet is not a walk in the park; it can be stressful and complex. While managing a fleet, you will come across many challenges, from hiring and training drivers to maintaining the structural integrity of the trucks and reducing fuel and service costs.
However, there are ways to reduce the stress load and keep your fleet operational. One way fleet managers can ensure uninterrupted fleet operations is preventative maintenance. The preventive measures will save the business a lot of money and employ a proactive approach to solving problems before they become detrimental.
Here are five maintenance tips to keep your truck fleet operational.
Vehicle Insurance
Insurance is an excellent way to avoid paying costly out-of-pocket expenses. Business vehicle insurance coverage typically includes cover against third-party damage, repairs, employees claims, and lawsuits.
Other types of cover, such as commercial insurance, safeguard your assets against damage due to fire, theft, and driver illness or injury. Some auto insurance covers offer extended cover, including roadside assistance and towing services.
Service Checks
Fleet management’s most effective preventative measure is conducting regular vehicle service checks. These checks consist of auto repairs, diagnostics tests, and lube or oil replacements.
Businesses can do service checks at recognized fleet management service providers like beltway companies. The company is a leader in transportation services in the mid-Atlantic region.
The benefit of conducting these thorough checks is that they uncover underlying issues that may soon become notably problematic and cost a lot of money to repair.
GPS Tracking
Fleet tracking allows fleet managers to monitor their vehicles’ movements throughout their trip closely. This will ensure that drivers are never off course or making unnecessary stops.
Fleet managers can use the GPS to plan and schedule routes that will take the least time and have the best roads – thus saving you fuel money, tire replacement costs, and other wear-and-tear expenses.
Companies can use the tracker to locate missing or stolen trucks.
Driver Training
Fleet drivers must be competent and have a good understanding of efficient auto maintenance and safety protocols. Training your drivers will significantly reduce the effects of reckless driving such as hard braking, speeding, and excessive idling – thus improving fleet safety.
Another benefit of training drivers is that they will quickly notice minor defects or issues like wear-and-tear or corrosion before they become a problem.
Fleet Management Software
Fleet management software systems allow companies to collect and analyze data. You can use the system to compare the most efficient routes and calculate the fuel costs of each course.
The software can be integrated with the GPS tracking system, thus allowing managers to calculate lead or delivery times, with the road quality, traffic density, and distance taken into consideration.
Successfully running an operational fleet can be a daunting task without the right tools. Therefore fleet managers must implement guidelines and protocols that will assist them in their work.
Investing in regular service checks, driver performance, and good fleet management software will thus yield higher rates of operational productivity while saving both time and money.
