Fleet management is not an easy job, whatever the size of your fleet. It’s difficult trying to keep costs down while increasing safety, optimizing productivity, and keeping on top of maintenance schedules. Here, we offer seven tips for keeping your fleet organized.
- Choose the Right VehiclesOne of the most important aspects of fleet management is choosing the right type and size of vehicles for the job in the first place. A smaller vehicle might be cheaper to purchase, but can it carry enough to make the most of its better fuel efficiency? With a larger vehicle, you can make more deliveries in fewer trips, but if it’s only half-loaded most of the time, it will impact the productivity of your fleet.
2. Preventative Maintenance List
Preventative maintenance helps keep your fleet running safely and efficiently. Regular checks can detect potential problems early and save more expensive repairs and vehicle downtime in the future. Creating a checklist of daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance helps you and your team know what tasks have been done and when.
3. Define Maintenance Responsibilities
To ensure preventative maintenance is carried out according to the checklist, you need to clearly define who is responsible for which tasks. From daily visual inspections and fluid checks to scheduling major repairs and servicing, each team member from drivers to the maintenance manager should know their role and who to report issues to. Accurate maintenance record-keeping ensures nothing is missed.
4. Collaborate With Your Maintenance Provider
Collaboration with your maintenance provider can provide several benefits. They may offer you discounts for repeat business, they’ll work with you to meet your maintenance requirements, and keep the downtime of your vehicles to a minimum.
5. Driver Education
Your drivers may be highly qualified, but bad driving habits put your vehicles at risk and cost you money. You can encourage good driving behavior through education. Conscientious drivers understand the importance of fuel efficiency, maintenance, and their role in the team. They’ll use less fuel, incur fewer penalties, and are less likely to get in accidents.
6. Streamline Your Fleet With Telematics
Telematics data helps you optimize your fleet by showing you vehicle diagnostics, driver behavior, maintenance scheduling, and more. You can keep track of vehicle utilization and route optimization, and monitor fuel consumption. It also shows you drivers’ behavior, service hours, idle time, and compliance with regulations. Maintenance alerts help you schedule vehicle downtime to suit your business needs.
7. Be Aware of Ownership Costs
As a vehicle gets older, the cost of maintaining and repairing it increases, along with its downtime. Knowing when to continue maintaining a vehicle and when it’s the right time to replace it can save you money on expensive repairs in the long term. Staying aware of the vehicle’s resale value can also impact your decision.
Whether your fleet is large or small, Reeder Distributors offers comprehensive fleet management solutions. Contact us today to see how we can customize our products and services to suit your business needs.
