Simple Ways to Improve Your Fleet Management and Maintenance
Fleet management is always going to be a stressful and expensive venture - but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. There are plenty of ways that a good fleet manager can work smarter, not harder, and improve operations while also improving vehicle reliability.
Mainline RV & Truck Service is here to help you maintain your fleet, so let's talk about some easy ways to streamline your management and maintenance.
Cheap and/or Easy Ways to Improve Your Fleet Management
1 - Invest in data tracking
One of the best possible investments you can make is a data-tracking system that will be able to quickly analyze and report on the condition of your vehicles. From tracking gas mileage per vehicle to sending alerts when a component is nearing its end-of-life, software solutions will more than pay for themselves.
2 - Focus on tires
The tires on your vehicles may be the single most important aspect of fleet maintenance to focus on. Tire condition dictates how well the vehicle handles, and how safe it is on slick roads, and will even impact ongoing costs like fuel consumption. Prioritizing the inspection and maintenance of tires will pay off in big ways, as well as reducing the chances of on-road accidents and other incidents that decrease productivity.
3 - Create a preventative maintenance schedule
Preventative maintenance is always cheaper than repair jobs, in the long run. Small costs of replacing parts when they start wearing out will prevent costly incidents later.
This is one area where data tracking really pays off. Once you have a database of your vehicles, their components, and the expected lifespan of those components, the database system will practically do your job for you. It can send alerts whenever a part is too old, or when there are signs of wear and tear that affect the vehicle's performance.
It takes a bit of work to set up but will bring constant long-term returns afterward.
4 - Better overtime management
Whenever possible, you shouldn't be in situations where your drivers or maintenance staff are working overtime. Keep track of OT carefully, along with the reasons that the OT became necessary. As you build data on why your people keep having to work OT, you'll be able to identify root causes and eliminate them. This reduces payroll costs, as well as improving efficiency in your regular hours work.
5 - Keep looking for areas of improvement
Great fleet management is a process of ongoing improvement. Even if things are running well, chances are, they could be running better with more thought and optimization. Pick an expense in your budget and dig into the factors behind it. Chances are, you can find a way to streamline it without undermining safety or reliability.
Mainline Can Maintain Your Fleet
If you want the easiest solution for fleet management in Ohio, Mainline RV & Truck Service is here! Our contracted maintenance packages take the burden off you. We do all the hard work, for a fair and predictable maintenance investment, and you get reliable vehicles year-round.
