Fleet Maintenance
Maintenance is easy to overlook in the day-to-day operations of your company's fleet. It's far too easy to neglect oil changes, lubricating equipment, and performing important checks and maintenance tasks. However, not properly maintaining your vehicles will cause productivity to suffer. There are benefits that should not be overlooked.
Fleet maintenance saves far more than it costs to perform. Vehicles that are properly maintained will run more efficiently, and will result in lower fuel costs. Your company will prevent costly delays by having fewer on-the-job breakdowns. A well maintained fleet will help avoid DOT penalties and fines when stopped by law enforcement personnel for safety checks. Not maintaining your fleet vehicles will result in wasting money instead of saving it. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 40 percent of fatal workplace injuries occur because of transportation incidents. While driver behavior accounts for some of these problems, faulty vehicles can also be a cause. When vehicles are not maintained, they will increase exposure to risks. Brakes will fail, steering systems can malfunction, and engines that stall can all lead to significant liabilities.
You have a responsibility not only to keep your operators safe, but also to provide a measure of protection to the general public who share the road with your operators. Paying attention to maintenance is the first step in protecting everyone. Well-maintained vehicles are obviously safer to drive. Downtime for fleet vehicles will negatively impact your productivity and budget. When a vehicle is out-of-service, you either have to pay for a replacement rental or suffer the obvious expense of losing that vehicle. Return on investments have to account for vehicle downtime. Downtime will also negatively impact your customer service and damage the image of the company to your clients. Scheduling maintenance during off-road hours can help reduce unexpected breakdowns without impacting the overall usefulness of your fleet. The goal is to schedule repairs, be proactive, and minimize being reactive to vehicle maintenance.
Your fleet is often is what the community sees and is an important part of the image of your business. When your trucks and vans are out in the community, they are an example of the quality of your business practices. By not maintaining your vehicles your company's image and reputation can be damaged. By prioritizing maintenance, you can be reassured that your vehicles are working consistently and portraying the right image.
