Maintaining a fleet of machinery or vehicles can be a time-consuming task, but with more and more data available with electronic documentation systems, it can be easier than you think to analyze your fleet and determine needed fleet maintenance or other changes to improve your fleet and its return on investment. Some of the areas you will want to focus on include shop operations, fuel usage and vehicle service schedules.
As you plan your fleet maintenance schedule, you will want to consider the following areas:
- Purchasing: When choosing which vehicles or equipment to add to your fleet, you will want to look at similar ones you already own. What are current operating or maintenance costs for these units? Do you want to invest in more similar vehicles or look for alternatives?
- Preventative maintenance: Regular fleet maintenance can reduce the average downtime for your fleet and improve productivity. It can also extend the useful lifespan of your equipment, giving you a better return on investment in the long term.
- Inventory: When you have multiple vehicles in your fleet that are from the same brand or the same make and model, you can often save money by purchasing replacement parts in bulk. You will want to find the right number of vehicles for your needs so you can operate effectively without having vehicles sitting.
- Fuel: Analyze each vehicle’s performance and fuel usage to look for less-than-optimal performance.
- Safety: Well-maintained vehicles are safer vehicles.
There are many ways to calculate fleet expenses – by miles, hours, vehicles, and users. Looking at the data in multiple ways may allow you to best plan for effective fleet maintenance.