Whether it is due to vehicle collision or emergency breakdown, downtime fleet management is quite inevitable if you have a fleet vehicle. Since most of your fleet vehicles are running round the clock, checking on them on a regular basis becomes mandatory.
But sometimes when we rush and neglect some factors, we increase the possibility of vehicle downtime. This causes stalled operations, unsatisfied customers, jobless employees, and even your revenue take a hit. So tackling vehicle downtime is quite crucial in any type of fleet-based business.
Whether you are a plumbing, electrical, security, moving, painting, or landscaping company that owns a fleet, keeping customers satisfied through uninterrupted fleet functioning must be your goal.
Here are a few methods and habits that you can implement in order to reduce vehicle downtime and increase productivity. See how downtime fleet management serves:
In a fleet, if the management decides to leave the drivers free and unmonitored, the system can get out of hand pretty quickly. When the fleet drivers are left ungoverned, the system can run into anarchy in no time.
It not just puts vehicle and driver’s safety in jeopardy but also affects the quality of service. It might be hard to digest but vehicle drivers play one of the most important roles in any fleet-oriented business.
Your fleet vehicles might be in proper condition and serviced routinely but in the end, it’s the person behind the wheels that determines your vehicle’s longevity. Knowing how the vehicle is handled or implementing downtime fleet management can help you in reducing vehicle downtime.
As a manager, keeping track of unethical driving behavior like idling for long, overspeeding, harsh braking, and careless cornering can help you tackle vehicle downtime. Sometimes unethical driver behavior also includes vehicle misuse and fuel theft.
Using trackers and sensors, managers can get a warning about various misconducts. This way, they can take the necessary actions accordingly like conducting driver training and workshops.
Vehicles are the most important assets in any fleet-dependent business. You should not be expecting a top-notch performance from your fleet if you keep on neglecting routine maintenance and servicing. Performing preventative maintenance programs not only allows you to take care of minor issues but also prevents them from turning into major ones.
Performing fleet vehicle inspections on a regular basis can help the management eliminate downtime and unscheduled maintenance. Without proper attention to the vehicle’s condition and its maintenance, employees’ safety and customer experience remain at high risk.
The probability of costly emergency repairs and unplanned downtime also skyrockets. And this can make a big impact on system efficiency, profitability, and customer experience. A timely maintenance program can also help you know about the replacement of components at the end of their expected life cycles, rather than waiting for a failure.
A pro tip is to schedule your maintenance program during off-hours to make sure that the vehicle isn’t in the auto shop when it should be out there working.
The choice of your fleet vehicle must correlate with the purpose you are using it for. For example, compelling a lightweight and less-powerful vehicle to ferry heavy objects can result in more wear and tear which increases downtime.
This means your expenses will skyrocket and the vehicle will spend most of its time in the auto shop. Similarly, every vehicle you use must be equipped with the latest technology.
Newer vehicles require less maintenance and their advanced technology can alert you whenever a problem begins to develop. While replacing an old vehicle with a new one can be a major issue regarding your budget, you must acknowledge the fact that in older vehicles, breakdowns are quite common.
Implement A Cloud-Based Downtime Fleet Management System
Fleet management is a process that fleet managers use in order to manage all fleet and necessary information, from access to disposal. This enables companies to reduce their costs, improve fuel efficiency and create a better customer experience by creating compliance.
When a business relies on a large fleet, it becomes mandatory to keep precise track of everything, from temperature, time of arrival/departure to driving traits like overspeeding, harsh cornering, etc.
Since people nowadays rely on online services and expect products to be delivered at their front door, the demand for fleet management has increased. A downtime fleet management system binds a group of vehicles for a sole purpose through cloud-based software and hardware like GPS trackers.
Fleet management software stores all the relative information on fleet performance and driver behavior. It uses a huge sophisticated database that allows managers to fetch data and take actions accordingly.
As already mentioned above, drivers are the most responsible personnel for successful downtime fleet management. When your drivers act more accountable and responsible, downtime reduces significantly.
Managers can do several things to make their drivers feel more accountable. Programs to reward the drivers can be conducted i.e. “most responsible driver”. Accountable drivers thoroughly inspect the car before heading out and starting their journey.
They tend to observe traffic rules and they are less likely to cause accidents. Moreover, they take the vehicle to the auto shop on time. Being able to develop such an attitude in their drivers is a big feat in itself for any fleet-based company.
When you have accountable drivers, you don’t have to worry about fuel theft, vehicle misuse, and other misconducts that will harm your company in any way. Contact e-fleet care for more information about downtime fleet management.
What is downtime fleet management?
Downtime in fleet management refers to the period during which a vehicle is unavailable for use due to maintenance, repairs, or other unforeseen issues.
How does downtime fleet management software help reduce downtime?
Downtime fleet management software helps reduce downtime by enabling proactive maintenance scheduling, identifying potential issues before they become major problems, and streamlining repair processes.
Can downtime fleet management software predict maintenance needs?
Yes, some advanced downtime fleet management software uses predictive analytics to forecast maintenance needs based on vehicle data and usage patterns, helping to prevent breakdowns and minimize downtime.
What role does preventive maintenance play in reducing downtime?
Preventive maintenance involves scheduled inspections and repairs to catch potential problems before they cause breakdowns. Fleet management software helps automate and track these tasks, reducing unplanned downtime.
Can downtime fleet management software help with emergency breakdowns?
Yes, downtime fleet management software can provide real-time vehicle location data, making it easier to dispatch assistance quickly to vehicles experiencing breakdowns, thereby reducing downtime.
Remember that effective downtime reduction strategies require a combination of proactive maintenance, careful planning, and the use of technology such as fleet management software to maximize vehicle uptime and operational efficiency.
