3 Biggest Maintenance Mistakes - Copy

For the most part, fleet managers do their best to keep vehicles running at peak performance.

But a poor approach to vehicle maintenance can cost thousands of dollars and countless man hours. It’s up to fleet managers to keep a watchful eye on the entire preventative maintenance program and ensure the system in place is working.

1) Setting the Standard
Short-term savings are not worth it when it comes to the overall lifespan of a car, van or truck. Putting off preventative maintenance for a few extra days or weeks eventually jeopardizes an entire fleet operation.

The upfront preventative maintenance costs are a fraction of the eventual price for repairs on oil, tires, brakes, or any other critical part of the fleet vehicle. Since different vehicles require different forms of care, each vehicle should be treated individually and not with a “one size fits all” form of maintenance.

2) Involve Drivers
Drivers spend the most time with fleets vehicles, so why wouldn’t he or she be involved in its upkeep?

While technicians have a great grasp of what to look for, they only see a particular vehicle for a few hours. By involving the driver, techs can make better improvements and correct problems they would otherwise be unaware of.

3) Don’t Ignore The Data
There is a wealth of information available when a vehicle is being serviced, but only if someone is looking in the right place.

By collecting and processing data when a fleet vehicle comes in for a maintenance request, fleet managers can gain valuable insight into trends across the entire company.

The key is finding a way to use the data that is available to identify what is and isn’t working, and then develop a plan to address those widespread issues throughout the entire preventative maintenance program.