It’s not easy to keep up with the maintenance schedules of multiple vehicles. Letting that task fall to your drivers may sound enticing, but it places an unwanted burden upon them and is likely ineffective. In addition, managing maintenance details distracts drivers from doing their jobs and satisfying your company’s needs.
Complicating matters further is that not everyone can access the data required to make the best forward-looking maintenance decisions.
Unplanned maintenance can be shockingly expensive—costing three to nine times more than planned maintenance.
There’s more to preventive maintenance than meets the eye.
“Properly maintaining a fleet requires considerable effort and the appropriate data,” says Jenny Baker-Ford, Manager of Fleet Maintenance at Mike Albert Fleet Solutions. “Without the right attention to all the details, the results can be headache-inducing—and costly.”
To underscore her point, Baker-Ford noted some of the questions that need to be answered when a vehicle needs maintenance or a repair:
- Which shop do you trust?
- Which shop is best for this particular job?
- When is the shop available?
- Is the maintenance or repair truly warranted?
- Is the cost reasonable and in line with fair market prices?
- Does the cost outweigh the vehicle’s value?
- How long will the repair take?
- Will you need a rental?
The key to preventive maintenance: data
Monitoring your vehicles’ data is necessary when making the best maintenance decisions. For example, data can tell if drivers ignore a “check engine” light. It also lets you know if drivers aren’t responding to safety recalls or basic maintenance programs.
The data Mike Albert collects and analyzes for its clients also sheds light on macro matters such as: Is a particular vehicle the right one for the job? Is it time to replace a vehicle rather than invest more in it?
Baker-Ford says a robust preventive vehicle maintenance program requires the following. Use this checklist to evaluate whether your program is up to par:
- Automated data on vehicle health (oil changes, fuel consumption, etc.) and usage (mileage, harsh braking or cornering, etc.)
- A detailed and complete list of OEM recommended safety and maintenance tasks and intervals for each of your vehicles
- An awareness of all safety recalls pertaining to your vehicles
- Pre-approved automotive service vendors with experienced and certified technicians
- Automated payments, clear invoicing, driver write-ups, and service scheduling
- Expert service advisors to act as liaisons between you and maintenance vendors to make sure you’re getting the work done right (assuming it needs to be done at all)—and at the best price
Mobile maintenance can streamline fleet maintenance compliance
The availability of mobile maintenance—when the shop comes to you via a repair van or truck—is on the rise. Mike Albert determines when this is the best option for its clients and makes the necessary arrangements. The benefits include:
- Reduction or elimination of downtime for such things as brake pad replacements or inspections
- Multiple units can be serviced on the same day
“Before deploying a mobile maintenance solution, it’s best to evaluate the extra costs associated with these services,” says Baker-Ford. “You can weigh the costs against the benefits of enhanced driver productivity.”
An attractive solution: maintenance management from Mike Albert Fleet Solutions
Our program is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy for your drivers to manage their maintenance needs. Drivers can locate the nearest in-network maintenance facility, schedule appointments at their convenience to ensure regular oil changes occur, protecting engines, preventing minor issues from becoming big—and expensive—ones. Our ASE Blue Certified technicians, with a combined total of over 250 years of experience, are dedicated to advocating for our clients. We’ll take action when, for instance, we learn of a driver filling up their tires daily due to a low-pressure warning light appearing on their dash or an oil change is past due.
Fleet maintenance is complex. But it doesn’t have to be. Let Mike Albert simplify it for you, and enjoy the benefits of greater productivity and lower costs.
Preventive Maintenance Tips for Fleet Vehicles
- Follow the OEM’s recommended maintenance schedule
- Stay atop scheduled oil changes (and do them more frequently than recommended if your drivers face especially tough road conditions, weather conditions OR if the unit itself has high idle time)
- Address all recall notices promptly
- Rely only on certified technicians and shops
- Ensure that any recommended repair is actually necessary and is priced fairly
- Use data to guide your plans and decisions: mileage or engine hours, check engine warnings, etc.
- Consider the benefits of mobile maintenance services
