Does fleeting tracking pay off? Find out below.
Fleet maintenance has a direct bearing on operational efficiency. Fleet managers must ensure maintenance receives enough attention while avoiding cost overruns and bad investments. Planning goes a long way toward curbing costs, leading to the current emphasis on predictive maintenance.
Timely action on data and alerts from fleet tracking can reduce costs and boost efficiencies. This approach to fleet maintenance ensures longer vehicle life and continuous monitoring.
Below, we examine the following:
- Accident prevention
- Fuel savings
- Cost breakdowns
- Aging fleets
- Simple daily checks
Unplanned Outages and Poor Vehicle Safety Lead to Extraordinary Expenses and Customer Dissatisfaction
Avoid losses
Drivers are not always at fault for accidents. You must have a maintenance plan in place to:
- Prevent equipment failures such as engine faults or failing brakes
- Ensure the safety of your drivers and others on the road
Many accidents are preventable with attention to maintaining proper vehicle health.
Cargo could be in peril too. An accident can cause extensive damage to your customers’ goods. Besides having to compensate them, your reputation takes a hit.
Fuel Savings
Vehicles that operate more efficiently save on fuel, reducing fleet operating costs and boosting operational efficiency. According to North Carolina Consumers Council, “If your vehicle has mechanical problems, you could be decreasing your fuel economy by as much as 50%.” A few areas of particular concern include:
- TIRES – Energy.gov states that “A tire that is 20 percent underinflated can increase a vehicle’s fuel consumption by 10 percent.”
- SENSORS – According to the Department of Energy, replacing an oxygen sensor can improve gas mileage by as much as 40%.
- BATTERY CABLES – When battery cables corrode, alternators work harder, requiring the vehicle to use more gas.
- OIL –Cars run more efficiently over time by using the manufacturer’s recommended oil grade and oil change schedule.
Off-the-road cost
A quality preventive maintenance program ensures your equipment runs properly. There are other reasons why commercial fleets must stay on top of vehicle maintenance needs.
- Disruption or delay in service due to a vehicle problem hampers efficient delivery of products and services.
- Frequent disruptions lead to customer service problems.
- Emergency repairs can cost 3-9 times as much as scheduled maintenance.
- Unplanned downtime due to mechanical incidents can increase vehicle maintenance expenses by 53%.
- Reactive maintenance leads to higher production losses and “good enough” fixes that do not address the root problem.
Other vital decisions are often related to maintenance. A detailed record of maintenance activities makes it easier to assess when to replace a vehicle or major component. Without such a record, your fleet could be carrying out uneconomical repairs.
Maintenance records also help when you want to sell a vehicle. The history of vehicle maintenance and repair, along with the odometer reading, is informative and adds value for the buyer. Azuga Maintenance lets you set up service reminders based on engine hours, mileage, or days.
Regular alerts include:
- Engine light notifications
- Off-hours use of vehicle
- Scheduled maintenance reminders
- Diagnostic reports on engine status and other systems
Predictive maintenance keeps fleets highly available and running, providing service and generating revenue. It helps fleets keep vehicles utilized for longer without buying a new truck. Managers now have the ability to be proactive instead of reactive within their fleets. The ability to track a vehicle’s health, location, driving habits, and fuel usage are well-known.
A proactive approach also helps in scheduling the work around periods of lower utilization for drivers, calendaring it, and also for extracting deals and discounts.
—Ananth Rani,
CEO and Co-Founder, Azuga
Drivers may skip post-trip inspections, missing minor issues before they become serious. Before and after a trip, they should look at the lamps, brakes, tires, steering axle, fluid levels, suspension, and the power train. Regular checks are essential for safety and also help in controlling maintenance costs.
A powerful maintenance module is integral to any complete fleet management suite.
