In the modern transportation industry, the integration of technology has become imperative for efficiency, safety, and overall operational success. One advancement in the commercial vehicle sector is the use of on-board diagnostics systems. These systems play a big part in monitoring, reporting, and optimizing the performance of commercial vehicles. They provide a complete solution for truck fleets.

Understanding On-Board Diagnostics

On-Board Diagnostics, a.k.a. OBD, is a sophisticated system put in the engine control unit (ECU) of commercial vehicles. Designed to identify and diagnose malfunctions within the vehicle’s components, OBD has evolved into a tool that goes well past simple error detection.

Reports and Fleet Performance Metrics

One of the main functions of OBD for commercial vehicles is the generation of reports and fleet performance metrics. These reports provide valuable insights into the vehicle’s operation, ranging from fuel efficiency to engine health.

Fuel Efficiency Monitoring: These systems continuously monitor fuel consumption patterns, engine load, and driving behaviors. By analyzing this data, fleet managers can identify inefficiencies, figure out fuel-saving strategies, and reduce operational costs.
Engine Health and Performance: OBD systems keep an eye on the engine’s vital signs. Any deviations from optimal performance trigger alerts, encouraging proactive maintenance. This preventive approach helps avoid unexpected breakdowns, reducing downtime and repair expenses.

Fleet Maintenance Reporting and Tracking 

Efficient fleet maintenance is necessary for successful commercial operations, and OBD plays a big part in this process. By providing real-time data and insights, these systems help fleet managers establish proactive maintenance schedules, reducing the likelihood of major breakdowns and extending the lifespan of vehicles.

Predictive Maintenance: OBD systems use advanced algorithms to predict potential issues before they escalate. By analyzing historical data and current performance metrics, these systems can forecast when specific components are likely to fail, allowing for timely replacements and repairs.
Compliance Reporting: With stringent environmental regulations and safety standards in place, OBD facilitates compliance reporting for commercial vehicles. These systems monitor emissions, making sure that vehicles adhere to environmental norms. Also, OBD plays a major role in reporting other compliance-related metrics, like speed limits and driver behavior.

Improving Fleet Efficiency and Safety

Besides maintenance and performance metrics, OBD contributes to increasing overall fleet efficiency and safety.

Driver Behavior Monitoring: OBD systems track and report on driver behavior, including speed, braking habits, and obeying traffic rules. This data is instrumental in promoting safe driving practices, reducing the risk of accidents, and improving overall fleet safety.

Revolutionize Fleet Management with On-Board Diagnostics Solutions

Elevate your fleet’s efficiency with our cutting-edge on-board diagnostics solutions at Track Your Truck. Our GPS tracking systems offer unparalleled flexibility, asset management, and cost reduction. Streamline your operations, monitor resources, and overcome daily challenges effortlessly. 

Catering to small and mid-sized industries, our experienced team collaborates with fleet managers, owner-operators, and heavy equipment leaders. Benefit from personalized solutions and top-notch devices tailored to your operational needs and budget. Contact us at 888-434-3848 or use our online form for a quote. Transform your fleet management experience with Track Your Truck’s advanced on-board diagnostics solutions.

Managing a fleet of trucks requires diligent attention to your maintenance program. From daily inspections to scheduled maintenance to ongoing repairs, fleet managers have many responsibilities to consider. By leveraging fleet maintenance software, managers can drastically improve their workflows.

This guide to fleet maintenance management will help you develop a comprehensive preventive maintenance plan to keep your trucks in safe and optimal working condition. We’ll share some of the benefits of automation and GPS technology that help streamline your maintenance efforts, saving you time and money.

Goals of Truck Fleet Maintenance

To develop a comprehensive trucking fleet maintenance plan, managers need to understand the goals of preventive maintenance. If you’re a fleet maintenance manager, your responsibilities extend beyond the fleet to the company’s entire bottom line. From customer service to employee engagement to brand reputation, fleet maintenance management can have a major impact on the entire business.

Fleet managers have certain key performance indicators (KPIs) they use to measure success, with operating costs, safety records and productivity being a few of them. By getting clear on the biggest objectives of fleet maintenance, managers can position their efforts toward achieving goals that play a major role in the overall company’s vision.

These are the two main goals of truck fleet maintenance for managers to consider.

1. Prevent Downtime

When managing a fleet of vehicles, a team can experience two types of downtime 一 planned and unplanned. Planned downtime occurs when a fleet vehicle is out of order for scheduled maintenance. Planned, maintenance-related downtime can be factored into the operating budget, giving managers room to reschedule deliveries or servicing appointments and implement a backup plan while a vehicle is out of commission. Unplanned downtime is a sudden and unscheduled interruption in productivity due to unforeseen or unaccounted for maintenance issues or accidents.

Downtime is a major resource drain on all businesses that manage a fleet of trucks. Unproductive downtime can quickly rack up costs, creating a ripple effect that eats into other areas of the operating budget. Downtime halts productivity while the vehicle gets serviced and can result in significant replacement or repair costs, which can be especially detrimental to small businesses.

Adequately managing truck fleet maintenance will result in better adherence to service intervals and routine maintenance to mitigate the risk of unplanned downtime. Keeping a high rate of uptime by pre-planning maintenance activities should be the biggest priority for truck fleet maintenance managers.

2. Increase Vehicle Life Span

Investing in fleet vehicles is a massive asset that business owners want to maximize. Getting the most out of your fleet vehicles will optimize your return on investment, allowing you to benefit from your vehicle for as long as possible. The quality and consistency of maintenance greatly determine how long a fleet vehicle will last.

While many businesses choose to liquidate their fleet vehicles at a particular milestone, such as at 100,000 miles, extending your vehicle’s service life for as long as possible is still important. This is especially important during times of economic stagnation when investing in a new fleet vehicle isn’t feasible. Adhering to high maintenance standards for your fleet vehicles will also reduce their depreciation rate and help your assets retain a higher value, which you can leverage at resale time.

Automating your preventive maintenance can help your business achieve these two crucial goals. Learn how to develop a maintenance plan depending on the type of vehicles you have and how Track Your Truck’s GPS tracking technology can help streamline routine fleet maintenance.

Developing a Truck Fleet Maintenance Strategy

Though all fleet managers share the same primary goals of preventing downtime and extending the service life of their vehicles, the strategy used to achieve these goals can differ broadly between fleets. Fleet maintenance managers should develop their fleet maintenance strategy based on the vehicle class and the type of wear and tear most likely to occur to these vehicles.

Discover what to prioritize when developing your truck fleet maintenance strategy for light-duty, medium- and heavy-duty and specialty truck fleets.

1. Maintenance Strategy for Light-Duty Vehicles

Light-duty fleet vehicles are class 1 and class 2 commercial motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less. These light-duty vehicles typically make up fleets for utility services, plumbers, HVAC techs, broadband providers and landscaping businesses. Delivery vans and trucks and other logistics providers also make up a significant portion of this fleet vehicle category. Regardless of the type of service, light-duty fleet trucks commonly operate in urban and suburban traffic, facing challenges like congestion, construction and frequent stops that increase wear and tear.

When developing a truck fleet maintenance strategy for light-duty vehicles, it’s important to have a reliable way to measure mileage, which is the key indicator that will inform your preventive maintenance plan. Because your team uses these vehicles daily, your priority should be on daily vehicle inspections that allow drivers to act as the first line of defense against symptoms of an impending breakdown.

The combination of daily inspections and consistent servicing will ensure that your light-duty fleet can meet the two main goals of preventive maintenance. To be successful, fleet maintenance managers need to give drivers the tools to perform streamlined daily inspections and report any issues they find. Managers must also leverage fleet maintenance technology, including GPS tracking, to ensure accurate mileage recording necessary for maintenance scheduling.

2. Maintenance Strategy for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles

Medium-duty trucks are class 3, 4, 5 and 6 commercial vehicles with a GVWR of between 10,001 and 26,000 pounds. Heavy-duty trucks are class 7 vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 to 33,000 pounds or class 8 with a GVWR of 33,001 pounds or more.

Medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles are common in deliveries and logistics, meaning that their maintenance strategy must focus on keeping uptime high. Additionally, these heavier duty commercial vehicles face strict Department of Transportation (DOT) regulation criteria, meaning that keeping detailed operator records and maintenance histories is crucial for achieving compliance.

Businesses running fleets of medium- and heavy-duty trucks will also want to prioritize asset visibility 一 the ability to track and locate fleet trucks in real-time to collect accurate mileage data and resolve any sudden issues with an immediate response. Real-time tracking is also a proactive maintenance strategy, allowing fleet managers to direct drivers along the most efficient routes. Maximizing delivery route efficiency reduces unnecessary wear and tear and fuel consumption.

This automated and technology-integrated approach to fleet maintenance can improve compliance, driver safety, vehicle reliability and customer satisfaction. It can also save managers time by automating maintenance workflows for these high-value and high-volume fleets.

3. Maintenance Strategy for Specialized Trucks and Equipment

The third category of vehicle that requires its own maintenance strategy is specialty work trucks or equipment designed for specific purposes. These assets typically belong to public works, private utilities or contracting companies. Examples of specialty trucks include:

Garbage disposal and recycling trucks
Utility installation and servicing trucks
Water pump trucks, concrete trucks and other construction or contracting equipment

The maintenance strategy approach for specialized trucks and equipment is entirely different from maintaining a fleet of light-, medium- or heavy-duty commercial vehicles because these types of trucks have a different operating environment and utilization than your everyday delivery trucks. Significant idle time, frequent stop and go, and off-road driving may be factors in-play for these vehicles.

To develop a maintenance strategy for specialized trucks and equipment, fleet managers need customizable fleet maintenance software that allows them to tailor the maintenance workflows and systems to meet the fleet’s specific needs. This ensures they can meet the unique needs of these specialty vehicles and maximize their productivity. Extending these fleet vehicles’ service life is important because these trucks usually require a massive financial investment, often involving custom upfitting.

Fleet managers planning their truck fleet maintenance strategy can greatly benefit from GPS tracking and the integrated maintenance software available from Track Your Truck.

Tips for Managing Truck Fleet Maintenance

Managing truck fleet maintenance is a lot of work. Service items and inspection reports can easily fall through the cracks if you don’t have a plan and a system for tracking your fleet status.

When looking for ways to improve fleet truck maintenance management, start by assessing where you currently are. Consider your answers to some of these questions about how you manage your truck fleet maintenance:

Do you have a maintenance schedule, and do you stick to the manufacturer’s servicing intervals?
Do you have a way to record and document your maintenance activities?
Are you currently tracking your maintenance and repair costs and assessing your total cost of ownership?
Are you automating as much of your workflow as possible and keeping records digitally?

The following tips for managing truck fleet maintenance can help you create a complete system for executing your fleet maintenance strategy.

1. Adhere to a Maintenance Schedule

To minimize premature wear and tear and reduce the risk of sudden breakdowns that cause unplanned downtime, fleet maintenance managers should ensure vehicles receive service at the required intervals.

Every fleet vehicle, whether it’s a delivery vehicle, a service van or a garbage truck, should have its own maintenance schedule based on its usage. Because different maintenance items need to be done at different times, fleet managers should develop weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual maintenance schedules.

Scheduled maintenance can include items like:

Engine oil, transmission fluid and filter changes.
Brake replacements.
Tire rotation and replacements.
Fluid leak repairs.
Windshield wiper replacements.
Battery replacement.

How often these items get addressed depends on the purpose of your fleet and the amount of driving. Delivery vehicles that are on the road all day making frequent stops and racking up the miles need to be serviced more often than specialty trucks that get dispatched infrequently. Always consult your manufacturer’s service intervals for guidelines on when to perform each maintenance task.

Sticking to a routine maintenance schedule ensures your warranty remains valid. It also helps reduce your total cost of ownership as your fleet vehicles age. Well-serviced vehicles cost less to repair because they’re less likely to require expensive replacements as the vehicle gets older.

2. Develop Tailored Inspection Forms

In addition to planned maintenance schedules, fleet managers should also develop inspection forms for drivers to complete daily. Daily inspections are a significant component of properly managing truck fleet maintenance.

Some of the benefits of daily inspections include:

Identifying small issues early on before they cost more to repair later.
Securing driver buy-in by giving them ownership over asset health.
Ensuring your fleet stays compliant by recording maintenance activities.

Daily inspections should include a checklist of items to look at both before and after operation. These can include safety items like windshields, seat belts, horns and lights, as well as body checks for damage, leaks or new issues. It’s important to tailor your daily inspection forms to your fleet’s unique needs and workflows.

To streamline the inspection process, fleet managers should provide drivers with an easy way to perform and record their inspection findings. The best way is through fleet management software that drivers can access on a mobile device. This is a less time-consuming and more permanent method than pen and paper checklists, especially for growing fleets. Digital inspections help you to standardize the process and easily add to and revise the checklist as needed.

3. Automate Service Workflows

The smartest way to manage truck fleet maintenance is to automate as many maintenance and inspection tasks as possible.

Here are some of the maintenance and inspection items you can automate for a more efficient truck fleet maintenance plan:

Automatically schedule preventive maintenance appointments based on truck mileage.
Set maintenance schedule reminders ahead of service date to plan for downtime.
View work orders in real time and track their status.
Trace breakdowns back to inadequate inspection compliance.
Monitor repair costs.

Automating maintenance and inspection workflows helps you achieve your two main goals of truck fleet maintenance. Setting a maintenance schedule with automatic servicing alerts helps you plan for downtime. Additionally, getting your trucks into the shop regularly will help you extend their service life. Automation also helps you keep your maintenance costs in check, reducing your total cost of ownership and maximizing your investment in your fleet vehicles.

Benefits of Fleet Tracking Technology for Truck Fleet Maintenance

If you’re ready to take your fleet truck maintenance strategy to the next level, consider the benefits of fleet tracking technology for automating and recording your maintenance activities across your fleet. Fleet tracking technology uses GPS tracking to monitor your fleet, including the activities and behaviors that directly affect your maintenance responsibilities.

With GPS tracking technology, you can keep automated mileage records, observe driving behavior that causes extra wear and tear, improve fuel economy, plan the most efficient routes and even set up maintenance alerts.

GPS tracking for fleets helps you streamline your scheduled maintenance so you can prevent downtime and extend vehicle service life. Here are five ways GPS tracking can help with managing truck fleet maintenance.

1. Record Accurate Vehicle Usage With GPS

GPS tracking technology allows fleet managers to track actual vehicle use more accurately than tracking mileage. With increased visibility into your fleet’s use, you can create intelligent plans to manage vehicles more efficiently.

With GPS tracking, you can make informed fleet maintenance strategy decisions, including:

Reducing excessive or unauthorized driving.
Recording automated mileage to inform maintenance schedules.
Monitoring excessive idle time that causes wear and tear.

2. Reduce Problematic Driving Behaviors

GPS tracking devices and integrated software are ideal for monitoring driver behavior. In real time, managers can gain insight into problematic driving habits that lead to excessive wear and tear. Fleet vehicles that are properly driven and well-maintained experience far fewer maintenance concerns and reap the benefits of extended service life.

Some of the driver behaviors that GPS tracking can help you identify include:

Harsh cornering.
Sudden braking.
Excessive speeding.

Many of these behaviors can also put the driver at risk of costly accidents, which add to your maintenance and liability costs. GPS technology that records driving behaviors can help you mitigate risk and lower your total cost of ownership.

3. Optimize Route Planning

To maintain high productivity, achieve customer satisfaction and deliver services on time, fleet managers need to take route planning seriously. Planning the most efficient route possible helps your company get more done in one day while reducing fuel costs from needless driving miles.

Efficient route planning is also critical to maximizing vehicle health. The more miles driven, the more wear and tear the vehicle undergoes and the more frequently it will need servicing. GPS tracking helps managers optimize their routes, dispatching drivers along the most efficient route and redirecting them as necessary, drastically cutting back on mileage. When an emergency or unforeseen obstacle occurs along the planned route, managers can reroute the driver to avoid prolonged driving or idle time.

4. Establish Maintenance Schedules

GPS tracking paints an accurate picture of your vehicle’s health. With the data collected through GPS tracking devices and software, fleet truck maintenance managers can easily develop and adhere to routine maintenance schedules.

GPS tracking data can help you optimize your preventive maintenance plan and plan for downtime. GPS tracking gives managers the information they need to schedule maintenance when it will have the least impact on productivity. Automate fleet vehicle maintenance with help from GPS tracking.

5. Set Maintenance and Service Alerts

GPS tracking technology offers a convenient way to automate your maintenance needs and helps ensures that you can adhere to your maintenance schedule. By setting up maintenance and service alerts, you’ll be one step ahead. Customize your alerts so you get the information you want when you need it.

For example, you can set reminders to alert you to maintenance requirements after a certain number of miles have been driven. With the alert system, you can also schedule reminders for upcoming vehicle inspections and repairs so you never fall behind schedule.

Contact Track Your Truck for Truck Fleet Maintenance Automation

Developing an informed and strategic preventive maintenance plan is one of the most important investments fleet managers can make. Staying on top of preventive maintenance, inspections and repairs can reduce unplanned downtime and help your vehicles retain their value and longevity. To stay ahead of planned maintenance, you need the best technology and tools to automate maintenance items and ensure they get done on time.

GPS tracking from Track Your Truck offers you a comprehensive fleet tracking program that’s ideal for busy fleet managers. Find out more about the Track Your Truck features that can optimize your fleet truck maintenance plan. Schedule a demo today or request a free quote.

A shortage of qualified drivers has been plaguing the transportation industry for years, and the trend is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. According to a 2019 American Trucking Association report, the shortage increased from approximately 20,000 drivers in 2005 to roughly 60,800 in 2018. At the current pace, the number may grow to 160,000 by 2028. 

Besides struggling to find enough drivers to transport their loads, companies are having trouble keeping truckers on the payroll. The spike in online deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in drivers bouncing from one company to another to take advantage of higher wages, as evidenced by the 95% turnover rate. The grueling lifestyle that requires long hours on the road can also cause some drivers to burn out and pursue other career paths. 

What Are the Benefits of Improving Driver Retention?

While keeping qualified drivers is challenging, companies that make an effort and achieve successful outcomes can experience numerous benefits.

Better service: When a driver leaves, it creates an open route that can lead to delayed shipments — and unhappy customers. Retaining drivers can prevent this issue and ensure your customers are receiving their loads on time. 
Lower costs: It typically costs a company around $11,500 to hire, onboard and train a new trucker. You can avoid this prohibitive expense by hanging onto capable drivers. 
Boosts morale: Working hard to retain drivers shows you care about them and value their service. You’ll foster a positive attitude that leads to increased productivity. You’ll also create a favorable reputation throughout the industry that allows you to attract qualified candidates. 
Saves time: Higher driver retention reduces the time you’ll need to spend on staffing. You can devote more of your energy and resources to other areas of your operation.

Tips to Improve Truck Driver Retention

Is your business one of the many struggling to hold on to skilled, experienced drivers? Implementing the following driver retention strategies can increase your success rate.

Allow More Time at Home

One of the trickiest parts of the job for many drivers is being away from home for several days or longer. By working with your team to create more accommodating schedules, you can help them attain a more suitable work-life balance. They’ll be happier, experience less stress and family-related issues and reduce their risk of health problems that often result from long hours on the road. 

Route optimization software can prove invaluable when attempting to shorten trip times. You can use this tool to plan routes more efficiently and enable drivers to get home sooner. 

Adjust Your Compensation Package

Because the labor shortage has increased the demand for their services, competent, experienced truckers are in the driver’s seat — literally — regarding compensation. If you’re not paying your freight haulers as much or more than your competitors and offering them a comprehensive fringe benefits package, it’s only a matter of time until you lose them. 

Don’t wait until it’s too late to sweeten the pot for your drivers. Besides increasing their mileage rate, you can also offer more health plan options and extra paid time off. You can also get creative by providing bonuses for safe driving and reaching specific service time milestones. 

Make Training a Priority 

While spending more time training drivers might create an additional upfront cost for your company, it can generate a significant return on investment by improving driver retention. Training demonstrates to drivers that you care about and have invested in their success, increasing the likelihood they’ll stay with you longer. It also helps cut down on mistakes that can lead to costly accidents. 

Your driver training program should be ongoing — even experienced drivers can benefit from a refresher. You’ll also have more opportunities to interact with them and exchange valuable feedback. 

Keep the Lines of Communication Open

It’s crucial to communicate as much as possible with your drivers. The job’s solitary nature can sometimes make truckers feel isolated. By regularly keeping in touch, you can determine if they’re encountering any problems while on the road. Communication also eliminates guesswork, preventing confusion and enabling drivers to execute their routes more efficiently. 

What’s more, reaching out to drivers makes them feel like the valued team members they are. When retaining skilled workers, this matters nearly as much as money and working conditions. 

Maintain Your Fleet

Operating trucks that underperform or frequently break down is frustrating for drivers. If it happens too often, they’ll likely seek employment at a company that takes better care of the equipment. 

Implementing and adhering to a regular maintenance schedule can minimize repair issues that take truckers off the road and make their work lives less enjoyable. It also leads to safer vehicles and fewer accidents and disruptions to your customers’ crucial deliveries. 

Hold Drivers in Higher Esteem

The public — and in some cases, the businesses — that employ truckers sometimes take an “out-of-sight, out-of-mind” attitude toward drivers or don’t treat them like the professionals most of them are. You can make your drivers feel more wanted — and more likely to stay around — by treating them respectfully. Include mentions of your driving team in marketing materials and other promotional publications when possible. 

Use the Latest Technologies

These days, transportation companies and drivers have access to numerous technological tools and resources to make the job easier and increase productivity. They can help drivers adhere to the new ELD mandate, which requires them to use electronic logging devices to record various operational and driver activity data. 

Mobile apps are also available to assist drivers with the various tasks required for maintaining compliance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration guidelines. And you can use fleet management systems that can assist drives with start-of-day inspections, generating and submitting fuel reports, recording delivery proofs and much more. 

Your drivers will benefit by investing in advanced, easy-to-use technology solutions that meet their unique on-the-road requirements. They’ll also have more confidence that your company has their best interests in mind. 

Contact Track Your Truck to Learn More

Track Your Truck offers an innovative GPS fleet truck tracking system that will help your drivers improve performance and enjoy a safer and less stressful work environment. You’ll have happier, more productive drivers, which will reduce costly turnover in your organization. 

Contact us today to learn more about how our solutions can positively contribute to your driver retention strategies. We’ll also be happy to provide a no-obligation quote. 

With the amount of time your trucks spend on the road, you never know when a mechanical issue will occur. If you’re a transportation company operator, fleet manager or owner of any business that relies on trucks, fleet maintenance isn’t something you can take for granted. Following a regular preventive maintenance schedule ensures your technicians can detect and correct minor problems before they become expensive repairs that put a truck out of commission for a long time. 

The Role of Diagnostic Testing in Fleet Maintenance

As truck engines and other components become more technically complex, it’s also more challenging to determine the cause of a mechanical issue. These days, sophisticated computer systems control most truck functions. Diagnostic testing, which entails a detailed digital analysis of these systems, has become an essential element of any reliable fleet management and preventive maintenance program. 

What Are the Benefits of Vehicle Diagnostic Tests for Your Fleet?

Because truck diagnostic testing gives you more insight into the vehicle’s overall performance and condition, the process can provide numerous benefits for fleet owners and managers.

Finding Issues Sooner

Some mechanical problems start small, like a tiny, undiscovered roof leak. It might not cause much damage at first, but eventually, it can lead to an entire roof replacement. Detecting and fixing these minor issues early on prevents a more expensive project down the road.

Likewise, a problem like a loose radiator hose may go unnoticed for many miles. However, it can ultimately lead the engine to overheat and leave a driver stranded. 

Timely diagnostic testing can reduce or eliminate these headaches and minimize unproductive downtime. 

Predicts Future Maintenance Needs

The data generated by a diagnostic test enables technicians to pinpoint signs of wear and other malfunctions that can help predict failure points in the future. Intuitive fleet management software makes it possible to track and monitor these issues and plan a more aggressive maintenance schedule if needed. 

An analogy would be when your doctor determines that you have slightly high blood pressure. While your condition might not be a cause for immediate concern, a health provider may want to schedule more frequent checkups to ensure your blood pressure remains under control. 

Reduces Vehicle Downtime

There’s an adage in the trucking industry — “If the wheels don’t turn, you don’t earn.” When you consider that the cost of vehicle downtime can range from $448 to $760 per day, it’s easy to see a truck that’s off the road for even a short time can create a substantial revenue loss. 

Vehicle diagnostic tests can prevent problems that mechanics can often correct on the spot before the truck returns to service. It’s much less costly for a company to be without a truck for an extra hour or two instead of several days or weeks. 

Increases Customer Satisfaction

What happens when a truck breaks down in the middle of a route? Besides the extra repair costs and hassles, it also means your customer won’t receive their delivery on time. Even one late shipment can be enough for a valued customer to take their business elsewhere. 

If you take a more proactive approach to maintenance, including conducting scheduled diagnostic tests, you’re less likely to experience interrupted routes and late deliveries. You’ll enhance your customer retention efforts and gain an edge in today’s highly competitive business climate. 

Lowers Operating Costs

How much is your company spending on fleet repairs each year? It’s no mystery that more involved repair jobs are more costly to transportation companies and small businesses than minor adjustments or routine maintenance.

By using vehicle diagnostics to maintain your fleet, you’ll reduce your overall repair costs, which can lead to substantial long-term savings for your company. While purchasing the diagnostic equipment and software requires an upfront investment in technology, you’ll realize a significant return on investment in the form of lower repair bills, fewer fleet management expenses and a healthier bottom line. 

Maximizes Fleet Lifespan

A brand-new truck can cost anywhere from $130,000 to $200,000, a significant expense for any organization. Timely preventive maintenance with the help of comprehensive diagnostic testing can lengthen the time between vehicle replacements. By uncovering and correcting mechanical issues early, you can reduce wear and tear that ultimately shortens a truck’s lifespan. And if you decide to trade or sell a vehicle at some point, you’ll get a higher resale value if it’s in better condition. 

You can invest the money you save by not replacing trucks as frequently into other areas of your business operations — like hiring qualified drivers. 

Common Fleet Diagnostic Tests

Here are examples of the fleet diagnostics you should be using.

Battery: Ensures the truck’s battery has the appropriate amperage capacity voltage so the vehicle will start reliably. 
Primary and secondary ignition: Checks all points of the ignition system to ensure proper connectivity.
Emissions: These tests are essential for staying compliant with increasingly stringent EPA pollution control standards. 
Cylinder and compression: These verify the truck’s engine is maintaining the correct balance and the cylinders can handle the desired pressure.
Alternator: Ensures the delivery of the appropriate voltage and amperage levels to the battery. 
Pressure: Checks all essential cooling system components, including the radiator, hoses and coolant.
Starter draw: Prevents premature battery failure by ensuring the starter isn’t drawing excess amperage. 
Fuel system: Measures the fuel pressure and volume as it travels through the system. 

How Often Should You Perform Diagnostic Tests?

Several factors determine the appropriate frequency of conducting vehicle diagnostic tests for your fleet. If your trucks accumulate miles quickly or operate in challenging road conditions, you could need to check them more often. Also, your state might have specific guidelines regarding emissions inspections, which may require annual or semi-annual testing. 

Fleet managers should work closely with their maintenance teams to determine which tests are suitable for their vehicles and the timeline for conducting them. It’s also crucial to maintain the schedule to prevent unexpected mechanical failures. 

Maintenance Schedules And Alerts From Track Your Truck

A truck tracking system from Track Your Truck removes the burden of remembering to perform these diagnostic tests. You can set up alerts so you’ll know when it’s time to perform specific tests and other preventive maintenance tasks for every vehicle in your fleet. You’ll never have to worry about missing tests that could impact your fleet’s performance and lead to costly downtime.

For those that have more complex maintenance needs, the system can integrate with a number of partners. 

Contact us to learn more about the benefits of vehicle diagnostic tests for your fleet and request a no-obligation software quote.

Did you know that with GPS tracking solutions, you can automate fleet maintenance and create a safer, more convenient job experience for drivers? Automation has taken over the competitive market, helping workers tackle both simple and complex jobs with greater accuracy. 

Modern tracking software includes features to streamline many tasks, letting you manage inventory, set scheduled alerts, and keep detailed reports with ease. Automated maintenance strategies will simplify the whole process, and you’ll be confident that every vehicle in your fleet meets quality and safety standards.

Preventative Maintenance in Commercial Fleets

If you have mobile employees, you’re probably already looking for the best fleet management options. The age of digital fleet tracking is here, and making the most of it is the best way to succeed. 

Although one of the most crucial parts of managing a fleet is creating and sticking to a regular maintenance schedule, keeping up with that schedule can be a challenge. This is especially true for managers who are responsible for bigger fleets. It’s easy to let best practices fall to the wayside when your drivers are constantly on the road to deliver goods or services.

Failing to keep up on fleet maintenance can drive down fuel efficiency, increase operational costs and even put employees at risk. That’s why you need to implement high-quality tracking devices.

How You Can Use Tracking to Streamline Vehicle Maintenance

GPS tracking allows you to keep a close eye on the vehicles in your fleet from almost any location. With this power, you can streamline maintenance and optimize productivity. Some of the ways to automate vehicle maintenance through GPS tracking include:

• Setting up alerts: Many of today’s tracking solutions offer an option for setting up and customizing maintenance alerts. For instance, you can set the reporting to alert you after a certain number of hours or miles driven. Most programs will also let you put in date reminders for vehicle inspection and repairs, which prevents you from falling behind.
• Keeping records: GPS tracking provides real-time data that you can use to create effective strategies and manage vehicles more efficiently. These software solutions make it easy to build and store relevant reports that might come in handy for maintenance reminders and records. Monitoring and analyzing live data will help you find inconsistencies or issues that may need to be addressed. 
• Tracking driver habits: Driver habits can have a significant impact on vehicle health and efficiency. With tracking, you can cut down on side trips, idle time and other behaviors that might speed up wear on the machine. Using this ability will lower the frequency of unexpected repairs, saving you both time and funds.
• Establishing schedules: With fleet tracking devices, you can get a big picture about your fleet, where your trucks are and when they’re needed most. You can use the data to determine your optimal maintenance schedules, helping you perform services when they’ll have the least impact on your fleet operations.

The Benefits of Automatic Fleet Maintenance Tracking

Automating fleet maintenance with the aid of tracking devices delivers significant advantages no matter how many vehicles you manage. These solutions are simple to install and monitor, and they make it easy to get summarized data that will help you make smart decisions.

Some of the best benefits you can expect to gain by incorporating this technology into your day-to-day operations include:

Better Fleet Safety

Safety is the most important consideration for any fleet manager. It affects virtually every aspect of the business, including vehicle condition, employee health, community impact, liability risk and insurance costs. Performing fleet maintenance when it’s due will help keep vehicles operating in peak condition and moving safely down the roadway.

Increased Fleet Reliability

When your drivers get behind the wheel, proper maintenance makes sure the engine turns over and helps them get where they’re going on time. When you automate maintenance using GPS tracking devices, you decide when your vehicles go down for service — not the other way around. Regular care will help you manage your operational schedule.

Improved Regulatory Compliance

Fleet vehicles are subject to state and federal regulations. Staying on top of vehicle maintenance requirements with proactive care is one of the best things you can do to remain compliant. Your drivers will benefit from the added confidence they have going into an inspection, and your company will benefit from a higher CSA (Compliance, Safety and Accountability) score.

Reduced Maintenance Costs

Preventive maintenance helps you avoid unexpected downtime and failure — surprises that can quickly get expensive. It also prevents unnecessary wear on vehicle components and enables you to get the maximum operating life span from your fleet. As an added advantage, it will also be easier to predict regular maintenance costs, making it easier to create a budget.

Lower Fuel Costs

Fleet tracking devices can help you eliminate unnecessary fuel expenses by shaving miles, correcting behaviors and eliminating idle time. They also help you save on fuel costs by optimizing consumption. Keeping the fleet maintained with clean fuel filters, fresh oil and adequate tires will help your vehicles achieve the maximum miles per gallon.

Higher Driver Morale

Hiring and training new drivers is costly in terms of time and money. Providing them with vehicles that are reliable, safe and well-maintained will let them know you care. You’ll also help drivers avoid frustrating, time-consuming issues like breakdowns, excessive stops or poor handling. They’ll be happier on the road, making them more satisfied in their job.

Climbing Satisfaction Rates

The benefits of automating fleet maintenance through GPS tracking devices extend to your customers. Having reliable vehicles will help you stick to the schedule and deliver prompt, dependable products and services. Happy drivers are also more pleasant to engage with and will help boost your company image during customer interactions.

GPS Tracking Preventative Maintenance From Track Your Truck

Emergency repairs and maintenance can cause enormous strain on your workers and finances. Prevent these issues by automating your fleet maintenance strategies today. If you’re interested in learning more about GPS tracking preventative maintenance or trying out a solution of your very own, contact Track Your Truck for a quote.

Summer is coming, and with it will come hot weather and new hazards for your trucks and your drivers. While you won’t deal with icy roads and salt trucks, you may be dealing with overheating vehicles. 

Engines produce plenty of heat on their own, and when the temperature outside increases, the risk of overheating and overall engine breakdown is much higher. A driver who is stranded in these conditions is also at risk, as a vehicle cab will heat up quickly on the side of the road.

10 Tips for Summer Fleet Maintenance

Routine maintenance for your fleet is crucial at all times of the year, and in summer that maintenance may change a little in scope. Here are some ways that you can ensure your fleet is running at its optimal level, even when temperatures start to rise.

1. Test Your Air Conditioner

Driver safety requires a cool cab, especially on long trips during summer. Before summer weather hits, have the air conditioner checked in your trucks, and recharge any that need more refrigerant. Low levels of refrigerant are a common problem found at the start of summer after a winter when the system was not in use.

2. Maintain the Cooling System

In the summer, heat can cause the engine to malfunction, and overheated engines are one of the top causes of vehicle breakdowns in summer. Check coolant levels from time to time as part of your summertime fleet maintenance. If the coolant has not been flushed in the past 24 months, have it flushed at the start of summer to ensure that it can handle the extreme heat of the coming months.

3. Adjust Tire Pressure

Changes in temperature will alter the pressure in your tires, as hot air expands and takes more space than cold air. At least once per month, check the pressure in the tires on all of your fleet vehicles, and make adjustments as necessary to account for the changes in temperature.

4. Check Tire Quality

Having the right tires and enough tread depth to support your vehicle will help you reduce fuel and maintenance costs and help your drivers avoid accidents. Check to make sure the tires on your vehicles are properly rated for the job. Also, measure how much tread depth you have and check for uneven wear. If you have a concern, address it now as a preventive measure.

5. Change Air Filters

Engine air filters stop dust, bugs, pollen and other debris from getting into the system. After a while, they become clogged. The engine will work harder to compensate, leading to increased wear and higher fuel consumption. Most filters last about 12,000 to 15,000 miles, depending on the vehicle and environment. Summer is a great opportunity for your annual change.

6. Replace Wiper Blades

Wiper blades are another component that makes sense to replace annually. They are only made to last six to 12 months from the start, and a winter season full of snow, wind, rain and salt usually finishes them off. Fortunately, these are some of the most affordable consumable vehicle components, and they’re easy to replace.

7. Inspect the Brakes

Fleet vehicles put in a lot of mileage, and some drivers can be harder on trucks than others. As a result, fleet vehicles’ brakes can wear faster than the national average, creating the potential for safety issues on the road. Have a professional inspect your brakes before the summer season to make sure your pads will last until your next recommended brake service six months down the road.

8. Test the Battery

Car and truck batteries will generally last between two and five years. They can lose voltage even sooner if your vehicles put on a lot of miles. If the battery dies, your drivers will be stranded and need a jump, tow or roadside assistance. Testing the battery, checking connections and cleaning any dirt, grease and corrosion will help improve current flow.

9. Change the Oil

Yes, oil changes happen more than once per year, but if you can get yours on a regular schedule, you will be much better off for it. Even a fast oil change represents downtime. Building a routine that has services completed outside your normal operating hours will help you get the maximum value from your assets.

10. Perform Other Regular Maintenance as Scheduled

Oil changes, filter changes and transmission fluid checks need to continue as usual, even during summer. Check the vehicle owner’s manuals to see when these important tasks are due. Many services are based on recommended mileage. Be certain that you are taking into account the length of trips your drivers take in the summer. Keeping your system in good repair will limit the chance of a dangerous breakdown on a hot summer day.

What You Stand to Gain

Going into the hottest part of the year with your fleet in peak condition will provide you and your drivers with added confidence in your vehicles and peace of mind on the road. You will enjoy many benefits that you can measure based on how productive, efficient and profitable you become.

Some of the top advantages you stand to gain by performing dedicated summer fleet maintenance include:

• More vehicle uptime.
• Improved fleet safety.
• Better customer service.
• Lower maintenance costs.
• Reduced fuel consumption.
• Increased workforce morale.
• Simplified fleet maintenance.
• Enhanced vehicle performance.

Put Maintenance on Auto Pilot With Fleet Management Software

One way to ensure you are not overlooking crucial fleet maintenance is to make it automatic. Track Your Truck offers fleet management software that will send maintenance alerts when your vehicles are nearing an important maintenance check, so you will never forget to change the oil or check the tire pressure again. Contact Track Your Truck today to learn more about our easy-to-use fleet tracking system, and let us demonstrate how our software can make your maintenance duties easier.

When your fleet of trucks is on the road, you need to know your vehicles are safe and reliable. You want to be sure they’ll get to their destinations safely without causing accidents or becoming delayed. 

You also need your trucks to be a smart investment for your business. Knowing that the parts and accessories you choose for your fleet are durable and fuel-efficient gives you peace of mind. It ensures your financial success and lets you pursue new growth opportunities with confidence. 

Regular tire maintenance is an excellent solution for both of these concerns. Comprehensive fleet management for tires saves you money, increases your fleet safety, and makes your operations more efficient overall.

What Is Fleet Tire Management?

Fleet tire management involves developing a strategy to monitor and maintain your fleet’s tires. By checking on your tires regularly and performing routine maintenance, you can keep them in good condition and help them last longer. You’ll also boost safety for your drivers and other people on the road. 

What to Include in a Fleet Tire Maintenance Program

When creating a tire maintenance strategy, you need a clear plan to see the best results. Here are a few key elements to include in your plan: 

1. Monitoring Tire Inflation

Underinflated tires are bad news. Tire underinflation causes more of the tire to come into contact with the road. That extra contact increases friction, which can lead to premature wear, low fuel economy and tire blowouts. Overinflated tires are equally problematic because they cause uneven wear, which can also facilitate dangerous blowouts. Companies should maintain targeted pressures for their tires, perform periodic air pressure checks, use calibrated air pressure gauges and train drivers to check their tire pressure frequently. 

2. Checking Tire Treads

Bald tires are also dangerous. If your fleet’s tire treads become too worn, the tires won’t have enough traction to grip the road. They’ll become slippery and dangerous, especially in bad weather. Your trucks may hydroplane in the rain or slide and jackknife on snow and ice.

3. Rotating Tires Regularly

The wear and tear on vehicle tires don’t generally distribute itself evenly. Tires tend to wear differently at different positions because no vehicle can ever be perfectly balanced in all directions. Therefore, it’s important to rotate your fleet’s tires to avoid creating uneven wear patterns. Decreasing wear patterns by rotating tires also helps them last longer and saves you money.

4. Maintaining Correct Wheel Alignment

Improper wheel alignment causes various truck performance and safety issues, from uneven wear to stress in the suspension to trouble with the steering and braking. Regularly checking and adjusting the wheel alignment helps your fleet perform better and avoid accidents. 

5. Inspecting Tires Before and After Every Trip

Ideally, your fleet drivers should check their tire pressure and treads every day before heading out on the road. They should also perform similar inspections at the end of each day. Truck tires encounter hundreds of obstacles every day, from potholes to nails to tiny pieces of grit. This means the condition of a vehicle’s tires can change without warning. If drivers monitor their tire conditions, they can avoid situations where a blowout or accident could occur. 

6. Matching Tires to Fleet Goals

With so many tire types and brands on the market, it’s worth making sure you get the tires that are right for your trucks, their duty applications and the conditions they drive in. Consider the load types, mileage, weather and climate your fleet will likely encounter on each trip. Then you can choose the tires that will perform best under your specific route conditions. 

Benefits of Effective Tire Management

Proper tire management requires a little extra time and planning. It’s worth every minute, though, because of the benefits you gain from a good maintenance program:

Cost savings: Replacement tires are the third-largest operating cost for most fleets. Proper tire maintenance can give your fleet tremendous cost savings over the long term. Say you’re replacing the tires on your fleet roughly every three years. And, say you implement a robust maintenance program that extends your tires’ life span to an average of about five years. The expanded life span means you’ll be purchasing new tires less frequently. Over time, and with a large fleet, those cost savings rapidly add up.
Safety: Correct management also gives you enhanced fleet tire safety and peace of mind. Poorly maintained tires are hazardous on the road. Regular maintenance keeps your tires in good condition to reduce the risk of blowouts and loss of control. It also enables you to spot small, manageable problems before they become larger, more dangerous ones.
Boosted fuel economy: Properly maintained and inflated tires get more miles to the gallon and save money on fuel costs. Some low-resistance tire types are more fuel-efficient. The resistance associated with a truck’s tires can often cost a business five times the tires’ initial price in fuel expenses. Low rolling resistance (LRR) tires require less force to keep the tire moving, so your trucks will use less fuel as they travel. LRR tires include all wide-base tires and many dual tires, so consider these options as you develop a plan to maintain your fleet. 
Lower environmental impacts: Many customers these days want to know the companies they work with are doing their part to protect the environment. Effective tire maintenance makes your fleet more eco-friendly. If you take proper care of your tires and make them last longer, you decrease the need to burn more raw materials to make more new tires. The diminished fuel consumption you’ll see with the right maintenance strategy also reduces carbon emissions. You’ll be helping to keep the air clean and slow climate change. 

Work With Track Your Truck for Reliable Fleet Tracking Solutions

Providing the right fleet management and tire maintenance allows you to streamline your operations and make them safer and more efficient. To take that safety and efficiency to the next level, consider investing in a GPS fleet tracking system as well.

Fleet tracking devices and software offer several advantages for your business. They enable you to control fuel waste, reduce speeding, gauge driving behaviors and efficiency, enhance safety and ensure your loads get where they need to go. You can also configure the software to tell you when you need to perform tasks like rotating and inflating tires, so your tire maintenance program becomes simpler and more reliable.

Request a quote today to see what Track Your Truck’s fleet tracking services can do for you.

Preventive maintenance is one of the most important parts of managing a fleet. Breakdowns and last-minute failures can lead to major profit losses, and ongoing maintenance is the key to keeping these losses to a minimum. Planning this maintenance ahead of time saves both time and money in the long run.

Fortunately, modern technology makes it easier than ever to manage preventive maintenance schedules and details. The preventive maintenance software from Track Your Truck is a highly efficient program that helps you plan and monitor fleet maintenance and implementing it is a great way to keep your fleet competitive in the current market. Among the many benefits of our preventative maintenance software are providing a centralized repository for data and reducing your reliance on tedious paperwork, making it a powerful solution for managing your fleet.

The Basics of Fleet Maintenance Management Software

Fleet maintenance management software offers an easier way to organize your preventive maintenance data including schedules, service histories, fuel consumption, and costs. Instead of having to keep track of multiple vehicles by hand, you can use tracking devices and software to determine the best times for maintenance or repairs.

It can be easy to let these requirements fall to the wayside when your employees are constantly on the move. Luckily, maintenance software helps you stay current with important appointments and dates to prevent equipment failure. Automated alerts can let you know when it’s time for regularly scheduled maintenance such as oil changes, inspections, and part replacements. With software that connects to each vehicle, you can record service histories, track fuel usage and monitor costs. It also sends you automatic weekly reports alerting when a vehicle needs an inspection based on driving hours, mileage or other relevant factors. This can be one of the most essential tools for preventing downtime and keeping your fleet on the road and productive for as long as possible.

Key Features of Maintenance Software

When looking for fleet maintenance software, managers should watch for a few key features:

Service schedule creation: Keeping an automated schedule of regular maintenance tasks makes it much less likely that any will be overlooked or forgotten.
Mileage and hour tracking: By recording these metrics, maintenance teams can make better-informed decisions about equipment lifespan and service intervals.
Parts inventory tracking: Maintenance technicians shouldn’t be caught off-guard by unexpected stockouts that keep vehicles in the garage longer than they should be.
Work order management: This feature prevents duplicated efforts and keeps maintenance work on track to be completed when it needs to be.
Reporting: With automated alerts, fleet managers will always know what needs to be done and how soon it will be finished. Detailed reports also support compliance efforts.
Fuel tracking: Monitoring consumption and costs ensures vehicles will always be optimized for maximum fuel efficiency and productivity.

Implementation and Integration

Key to the success of any preventive maintenance software is how it is implemented and integrated into a fleet’s existing processes. Here are some tips for successfully choosing and integrating a preventive maintenance platform into your operations:

Choose a vendor that can meet your needs: Not all platforms are created equal, and your business has unique requirements. Be sure to do your research to find the vendor that offers the best set of features and functionalities.
Use standardized data: Your system can’t be successful if you’re using competing data standards. Make sure to standardize all your information as you migrate it over to the new platform.
Configure schedules based on your fleet: Taking a one-size-fits-all approach to scheduling preventive maintenance tasks means there are sure to be some gaps in your maintenance that will make their presence painfully obvious in due time.
Onboard your staff as soon as possible: It isn’t enough to install and integrate a new software platform. Your employees need to understand how it works and why it’s necessary to have any hope of realizing the benefits.

Cost and ROI Considerations

There are bound to be some costs involved with implementing a new maintenance software platform. In addition to the cost of the software itself, there are usually also costs related to scaling it to the size of your fleet, any customizations you require, and receiving technical support. Even if you’re apprehensive about the upfront costs, it’s important to remember that there can be substantial ROI that comes with this type of software.

With routine maintenance carefully managed through this software, you can extend asset lifespans and deal with fewer emergency repairs. You’ll keep your vehicles on the road for as long as possible, resulting in less unplanned downtime and lower costs overall. If you’re still not fully convinced this kind of software could be of benefit for your business, it’s recommended to start with a pilot preventive maintenance program that allows you to try it out in one small area of your company. That way, you can see the savings with your own eyes before you make the decision to roll it out to your entire fleet.

Best Practices and Common Pitfalls

Although preventive maintenance software can lead to major improvements when it comes to fleet management, they aren’t guaranteed. Far too many fleets slip up during the implementation process, which leads to them missing out on getting the full benefit. Some of the biggest mistakes they make include:

Under-training staff: If employees don’t have a strong handle on how to use the software, chances are they’ll fail to use it properly — if they choose to use it at all.
Ignoring data quality: The saying in software engineering goes, “garbage in, garbage out.” Incomplete, incompatible, or inconsistent data must be ironed out before it goes into the system or else it will lead to major issues and inefficiency.
Failing to review reports: When managers and technicians don’t pay attention to the reports this software generates, they lose out on all the insights they could be using to guide their decision-making.
Leaning too much on the software: A software platform can only do so much. Ultimately, it’s a tool that drivers, mechanics, and managers should use to coordinate their efforts with greater efficiency and precision. It should facilitate collaboration between co-workers, not substitute for it.

How Can Preventive Maintenance Software Benefit Your Company?

Preventive maintenance technology gives you more control over the way you run your fleet. The range of features creates a convenient, customized experience that meets the requirements of your business. Fleet maintenance management software offers a range of benefits, including:

Better fuel efficiency: A vehicle that’s behind on maintenance and repairs can lose fuel efficiency. You may start to notice this as fuel costs increase. While there are many factors that can affect fuel costs, one of the best ways to improve expense management is to keep a regular maintenance schedule with monitoring software. Keeping your fleet more organized with inventory management and tracking will help ensure that each vehicle burns fuel normally.
Increased fleet uptime: As a business, your goal is to stay active as much as possible, reducing inefficiencies and maintaining a productive workflow. Preventive maintenance software streamlines the management process so your vehicles stay up and running longer. It takes less time to schedule maintenance than it does to respond to an emergency.
Safety improvements: Letting your employees drive vehicles that are falling behind on maintenance is risky. The good news is that you can reduce safety risks by making sure all your trucks are up to date 100% of the time. Set alerts using preventive maintenance software so you know exactly when it’s time for the next oil change or engine inspection.
Reduced maintenance and repair costs: Instead of having to stop for maintenance or repairs after a breakdown happens, you can prevent incidents altogether while saving loads of time and money. Keeping maintenance costs to a minimum with the latest software will help you stay competitive and give your business room to grow.

Contact Track Your Truck for a Demonstration

Track Your Truck helps trucking and delivery companies manage their fleets more efficiently. Our solutions are intuitive and affordable, so enhance your maintenance strategies today with Track Your Truck. Contact us for a quote to learn more.

In the day-to-day operations of your company’s fleet, maintenance is easy to overlook. It’s far too simple to neglect oil changes, brake system maintenance, and other important checks and maintenance tasks. Yet if you are not properly maintaining your vehicles, your company productivity is suffering. Here are some benefits you are missing if upkeep is not a priority for your fleet.

Save Money

While there is a cost associated with fleet maintenance, over the long term it saves far more than it costs. Vehicles that are properly cared for will run more efficiently, lowering fuel costs. Your fleet will also suffer fewer on-the-job breakdowns, which lead to costly delays. A well maintained fleet will help your drivers avoid penalties and fines when stopped by law enforcement personnel for safety checks. If you are not maintaining your vehicles, you are likely wasting money instead of saving it.

Decrease Risk

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 40 percent of fatal workplace injuries occur because of transportation incidents. While driver behavior accounts for some of these problems, faulty vehicles can also be a cause. When vehicles are not maintained, they are mobile time bombs. Brakes that fail, steering systems that malfunction and engines that stall can all lead to catastrophe.

You have a responsibility not only to keep your workers safe, but also to provide a measure of protection to others who share the road with your drivers. Paying attention to maintenance is the first step in protecting both groups. Well-maintained vehicles are obviously safer to drive.

Reduce Downtime

Downtime for fleet vehicles has a great impact on your productivity and budget. When a vehicle is out of commission, you either have to pay for a replacement rental or incur the obvious expense of losing a valuable resource for your business. Downtime sidelines a driver and impacts your customer service. Carefully scheduled maintenance that occurs during off-road hours can help reduce unexpected breakdowns without impacting the overall usefulness of your fleet.

Proper Maintenance Makes Your Fleet Look Professional

Your fleet is often the first thing the community sees that is connected to your business. When your trucks and vans are out in the community, they are a testament to the quality of your business practices. If you are not taking care of your vehicles, you may be putting forth the wrong impression. By focusing on maintenance, you can ensure that your trucks and vans are working well and looking the part.

Make Upkeep Easier with GPS Vehicle Tracking

Fleet management software makes it easier to stick to a proper maintenance schedule and enjoy the money savings and image protection that comes from well-maintained vehicles. Track Your Truck’s GPS vehicle tracking system has built-in maintenance reminders triggered by hours of service or mileage which are both accurate measures for preventative maintenance purposes. It is the proper approach for preventative maintenance notification.

If you understand the importance of well-maintained vehicles and all of the benefits that they bring, contact Track Your Truck’s team for a free demonstration of our fleet management software.