Any time your fleet is depleted as a result of a truck being off the road and awaiting repair is going to hurt your delivery performance and impact your bottom line.
The aim always has to be on finding ways to improve commercial fleet uptime so that you experience minimal disruption and enjoy high performance levels in every aspect of your operation.
How do you achieve this aim?
One of your priorities would be to develop a relationship with an international truck dealer who can source the parts you need in the most expedient way possible. Here is a look at some proven ways to keep your fleet on the road for as many hours as possible.
Be proactive when it comes to maintenance
Some breakdowns are unforeseen and are part and parcel of running a fleet. However, when you keep on top of preventative maintenance tasks it often helps you avoid a breakdown and helps identify issues before they become a problem.
There are some key components that need regular attention and periodic maintenance to keep everything running smoothly.
These include brakes, lights, exhaust components, and tires.
If you arrange to have a supply of replacement components and tires in stock, or ready to be delivered at a moment’s notice, it will almost certainly improve your fleet uptime numbers.
Driver responsibilities
A high percentage of roadside breakdowns are preventable. The answer to reducing the prospect of this happening revolves around good driver awareness and training combined with a disciplined approach to pre-trip inspections.
When you compel drivers to carry out an inspection report as part of their driving duties it will help improve safety and improve the prospect of finding a problem and fixing it before setting off on their journey.
Diesel problems that can be prevented
Most fleet operators are committed to cleaning diesel particulate filters but that doesn’t always go far enough when it comes to preventive maintenance.
Diesel after-treatment systems are often overlooked and the impact of that decision can usually be costly and prove detrimental to overall fleet performance levels.
Cleaning all of the sensors and components that are integral to this part of your truck’s engine system is essential if you want to avoid a more costly system repair.
Using diesel after-treatment systems can make a substantial difference to your running costs and performance. It also helps reduce the prospect of a major breakdown.
Make the most of technology
Modern engines rely heavily on computerized systems and components. It also means that you have the ability to plug into these systems and use fault-monitoring diagnostics to spot a problem.
Using engine fault monitoring and remote diagnostics is almost certainly going to save your fleet time and money in the long run.
Fault codes give you a valuable insight into whether a problem can be fixed quickly and what action you need to take to keep the truck on the road.
If you embrace these practices as part of your fleet maintenance protocols it should help ensure that your fleet uptime is as good as it can be.
