Who wants to spend more than you should on maintenance costs? It’s an easy place to cut your budget by simply using steps guided by fleet management software to help reduce fleet maintenance costs.
According to a study, vehicle repair costs are, on average, five times higher after being serviced for over three years. That’s why many fleet managers choose to sell their vehicles after seven years.
But it’s an expensive exercise.
There are other smarter ways to prolong your vehicle’s value and cut maintenance costs with fleet management software.
Here are eight simple ways that fleet management software can save your business money while cutting maintenance costs.
Predictive maintenance management saves money
Fleet managers want to know when each vehicle needs service, for what specific reason, what should be checked out, and how big the problem is.
Preventing costly breakdowns can help your maintenance budget and avoid having a ripple effect when vehicles are out of order for longer periods.
Here’s how managers get a predictive maintenance alert from the software:
How does predictive maintenance management work?
Collecting vehicle data from fleet
First, managers have to enter each vehicle’s details into the system. That includes mileage, usage patterns, and maintenance history.
Set regular maintenance triggers
The fleet management software can be programmed with intervals based on the mileage or specific conditions that signal maintenance needs. Let’s say there is a vibration when the car is braking or the car starts shaking.
This is an indication that brake pads are thinking. If it’s less than 4mm, it only has 20% left and needs to be replaced.
Continuous monitoring of fleet
The fleet management software continues to track the vehichle’s mileage and engine healthn in real-time. It will send a diagnostic as frequently as requested or when maintenance is needed.
Generate alerts for diagnostic
The system creates an alert with all the details needed to understand what needs to be repaired and how big the issue is. This information can help fleet managers make an informed decision.
Send notifications to fleet managers
Managers get notifications via email, SMS, or push notifications. This could either be in the software’s mobile app or the desktop dashboard.
A fleet manager will be given information on the specific vehicle, the troubleshooting, and what should be done for general maintenance.
Reviewing dashboard
With the right information at hand, managers can log in, prioritize tasks, and schedule vehicles for maintenance.
Route optimization cuts wear and tear
The longer a van or a car spends on the road, the more mileage adds up, and the more frequently it has to go for regular maintenance checkups.
With a tracking system, fleet managers can easily plan better routes with a click of a button.
Here’s how route optimization saves fleet managers money on maintenance:
- By determining the most efficient route, vehicles travel fewer miles.
- Route optimization helps to avoid traffic, which results in less idling time.
- When there is less mechanical stress, there are lower maintenance expenses.
Monitor driver behavior with fleet management software
Tracking your delivery drivers’ habits helps identify behaviors that continue to put stress on the vehicles, which results in deterioration.
According to a study by Travelers Companies, nearly half of respondents believe roads are less safe than they were one year ago. Another 78% believe inattentive driving is more of a problem now than it has been in past years.
Here are five top poor driving habits to look out for:
- Ignoring dashboard warning lights.
- Rapid acceleration.
- Excessive idling.
- Harsh braking.
- Sharp turns.
- Avoiding tire pressure monitoring.
Automate maintenance scheduling of fleets
Knowing when upcoming pre-scheduled maintenance is can help fleet managers plan better and manage a maintenance budget better.
This also helps to make sure companies don’t slip up or put off maintenance expenses due to time constraints or budget limits.
The last thing you want is to let maintenance fall during peak season in December when you need all your fleet on the ground and in full force.
You also don’t want major services scheduled for a month before the end of the financial year.
Therefore, automated maintenance scheduling with fleet management software helps companies make the right decision and avoid delaying the inevitable maintenance expenses.
Maintain comprehensive vehicle histories
You want detailed records of each fleet’s maintenance. Fleet management software keeps everything in one place and is digital.
You don’t have to stress about documents going missing or fading.
With a good track record of each vehicle’s history, fleet managers will be able to make better decisions about future maintenance strategies.
Fleet management systems can also give managers better insight into whether some specific vans or cars are costing the company more than they should.
Implementing fuel management programs
Monitoring fuel usage can give you great insight into inefficiencies and operational costs. A car that spends more on fuel costs or oil than it should is an indication of something that is not working optimally.
When a specific driver spends more on fuel costs than his colleagues, it could indicate excessive driving behavior. You might want to check this out.
Ensure regulatory compliance with fleet management software
Complying with vehicle safety standards not only saves you from fines but also from having to pay for costly repairs.
When you ignore compliance rules, vehicles experience more wear and tear and breakdowns.
Fleet management software tracks the compliance needs on your behalf. It can do the following on your behalf:
- Vehicle inspections.
- Emissions testing.
- permit renewals.
- Reminding managers of upcoming renewals.
Fleet management software is like a personal assistant that reminds you to follow the law and save on unnecessary, excessive maintenance costs.
Invest in driver training programs
Training your delivery drivers helps grow your business. If they drive better, your fleet performs better, and the customers are happy.
Your financial officer, who has been on your case tracking maintenance costs, will also be smiling from ear to ear if you can cut down on maintenance costs.
Failing to conduct a thorough delivery driver background check can also expose your business to significant liability, so it’s best to start there.
Make sure you employ staff who have a legal driver’s license or permit for the vehicle or van they will be using.
An educated driver is less likely to damage the company car and driver excessively – and incur maintenance costs.
Fleet management software helps track all of this by making sure there are training records and reports of accidents or incidents, which will help give better direction during training.
Want to learn more about boosting your business with fleet management software?
Read here: 5 Ways Fleet Management Software Can Boost Fuel Efficiency
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About the author
Mia is a multi-award-winning journalist. She has more than 14 years of experience in mainstream media. She's covered many historic moments that happened in Africa and internationally. She has a strong focus on human interest stories, to bring her readers and viewers closer to the topics at hand.
