Truck Fleet Maintenance: Tips and Tricks
What is fleet maintenance? It is a necessary part of your routine to keep your commercial vehicles in good condition so they can be used safely and effectively for years to come. Learning how to take care of your truck fleet maintenance can save you time and money as a business owner.
Do you want to learn more about preventative fleet maintenance and how it can benefit your business?
Keep reading these top maintenance tips to keep your commercial vehicle fleet running smoothly!
Prioritize Preventative Maintenance
One of the most important parts of truck fleet maintenance is prioritizing preventative maintenance. It is said that an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure, and this is true for vehicle maintenance as well!
Doing routine maintenance like oil changes, tire changes, and more will help your commercial vehicles run perfectly without any issues. Plus, this proactive maintenance can protect you from having to react to unforeseen situations.
For example, rather than dealing with an expensive tire blowout, you can get your tires regularly rotated, filled, and replaced to prevent this.
To make sure you never forget about your preventative maintenance, you can hire a professional vehicle maintenance provider to take care of this maintenance for you.
Create a Specific Maintenance Checklist
If you don't want to spend money on professional maintenance, something else that can help you with truck fleet maintenance is creating a specific maintenance checklist. Each business will have different needs when it comes to vehicle maintenance, so make sure your checklist has tasks that are specific to your fleet.
For example, you may need to consider the ways you use your vehicles, how many miles you put on your fleet each month, and more.
This will make it easier to create a checklist and develop a schedule that fits your exact needs. Here are some things that you should consider including on your fleet vehicle maintenance checklist.
- Check Fluid Levels
- Check Wheels and Tires
- Conduct a Brake Inspection
- Do an Interior Inspection
Require Regular Driver Reports
Another important part of fleet maintenance for heavy equipment is requiring your drivers to make regular reports. Your drivers are the people who spend the most time with your vehicles, so they will be the first people to notice potential issues with your commercial vehicles.
Because of this, you should have your drivers be in charge of small maintenance tasks on the road, like checking the oil and checking the tire pressure.
They can keep note of these levels while they are on the road and you will have a better idea of how you need to maintain your vehicles.
Train Your Drivers
While you may have a high-quality fleet maintenance plan, you will not be able to benefit from it unless you focus on training your drivers. There are many ways that you can train your drivers to drive more efficiently and safely.
Plus, you can teach them how to do simple mechanical tasks to keep your vehicles well-maintained on the road. For example, you can teach your drivers to check the tire pressure on your fleet vehicles, check tread wear, and more.
Plus, teaching your drivers about the importance of compliant driving will help you reduce the chance of them getting into a car accident. This will ensure that your vehicles will stay on the road for longer and it can even prevent lawsuits from people involved in an accident with your drivers.
Make sure you provide regular training for your employees so they stay up-to-date on important vehicle maintenance rules.
Pay Attention to the Tires
Tires are one of the most important parts of your vehicle. Without the right care and maintenance, it can seriously impact your overall driving experience. In fact, about 78,392 crashes happen each year due to flat tires, tire blowouts, or other tire-related issues.
If your tires are not properly filled, it can lead to extra wear and tear and faster degradation. When you are regularly driving on rough roads, your tires can wear out even faster.
Because of this, you need to have your drivers check your tires on the road, especially if they are driving for an extended time. This includes checking the tire pressure, inspecting the tire tread, and rotating the tires when necessary!
Use the Right Vehicles for the Purpose
When you run a business, it is important that you choose the right vehicles. If your vehicles are not fit for the purpose of your job, they will not be properly equipped to handle your tasks.
This can cause them to wear out much faster and will result in more frequent maintenance and higher costs.
When you are purchasing vehicles for your commercial fleet, make sure they are able to carry out the tasks that you require. Consider your operating conditions, why you need your vehicle, and more.
Invest in Fleet Management Software
Finally, you can improve your truck fleet maintenance by investing in fleet management software. This is also known as fleet tracking software and allows business owners to accomplish specific tasks when it comes to vehicle maintenance.
It helps you maintain an accurate overview of your vehicle diagnostics and will help you stay on top of your fleet maintenance. It will also help you track and identify risky driver behavior, which can cause more wear and tear on your vehicles.
By investing in fleet management software, you can save a lot of time and money while keeping your fleet safer and more efficient.
What is Fleet Maintenance? Learn More Today
What is fleet maintenance? It is something that you cannot afford to skip. Conducting proper heavy equipment fleet maintenance will help you keep your cars on the road for longer, protect your drivers, and more.
Do you want to learn more bout the benefits of truck and trailer fleet maintenance? TATEMS can help We provide fleet maintenance software for trucks, trailers, and other types of equipment.
Check our TATEMS to learn more about our fleet maintenance software, pricing, and more!
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