What are the steps?

Following these 8 steps will result in lower total cost, improved fleet performance, and enhanced customer satisfaction no matter who your service provider is. 

Tested systems. Proven results. Guaranteed savings.

EMBRACE FLEET PARTNERSHIP PRINCIPLES

Fleet Partnership is an operating philosophy using proven systems to lower total costs, improve fleet performance, and enhance customer satisfaction. Fleet Partners experience improved driver and vehicle productivity, reduced business interruption, and extended vehicle life.

Lowering total cost starts with preventative maintenance. The Fleet Partnership Philosophy distinguishes maintenance as an investment to keep assets productive. While repairs are expenses needed to fix what is broken as a result of neglect, misuse or misapplication. Long-term commitment to a robust maintenance system is the foundation for effective fleet performance.

Fleet Partnership Principles includes:

• Focus on extending asset life
• Results in fewer repairs & breakdowns
• Reduces expensive & time-consuming repairs
• Improves uptime while lowering costs
• Company is able to meet customer’s expectations

SELECT A GREAT SERVICE PARTNER

You’re only as good as who you surround yourself with. Selecting the right service partner is a serious decision with serious benefits. Use clear evaluation criteria and interviews to make an objective assessment of available vendors. Pick a great service partner and commit to working with them in good times and bad. Long term, win-win relationships allows your partner to become familiar with your expectations, equipment, and business needs.

Benefits include:

• Better diagnosis and faster repair
• Improved workmanship and less rework
• Quicker response time and better customer service
• Lower overall costs and more uptime

Remember – problems occur in all meaningful relationships. Good business partners hold each other accountable, communicate effectively, and solve problems quickly.

DESIGN A MAINTENANCE PLAN
SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Your business is unique and so is your fleet. Successful preventative maintenance programs require proper upfront design and periodic evaluation to determine effectiveness.

Properly developed PM Programs take into account:

• amount of engine idle time
• needs of special equipment
• application of the vehicle
• operating environment
• age of equipment

Time, mileage, and engine hours are potential measurement systems to trigger the next service. Reduce complexity when first implementing a PM Plan and be sure to have a whiteboard or a computerized system to track when the next PM is due.

ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE ABOVE 90%

PM Compliance measures how many trucks are current (not overdue) according to the PM schedule. Attaining 90% or above will be challenging for fleets less than 10 units. In that case, the goal should be to not have more than one unit overdue for a PM.

Resist the temptation of stretching PM schedules to save a few dollars and time. Being overdue just 30 days on every PM will cause you to miss a year’s worth of maintenance in just five years. That’s a sure way to drive up future breakdowns and repair costs.

GET DRIVERS INVOLVED

Drivers are best positioned to detect small changes in vehicle performance and the Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) process is the best way to get driver’s involved in identifying problems early. Implementing a DVIR process requires training to help drivers understand federal regulations, liability, and how their work experience will improve. The best DVIR systems use technology to capture and track meaningful data.

USE TECHNOLOGY

Telematics technology is a great tool for detecting issues that cannot be identified by a driver. Low pressures, high temperatures, and electrical issues left unchecked can result in progressive damage, catastrophic repairs, and breakdowns. Real-time fleet monitoring creates visibility for proactive measures and problem avoidance.

While easy to implement, using telematics data to identify problems and cost-saving opportunities takes time and expertise. Rely on a solid service partner if you don’t have the time or staff to manage the data internally.

DEVELOP A REPLACEMENT PLAN

The useful life of a commercial truck can range from 5 to 20 years depending on the application. Select the desired lifecycle for each type of truck in your fleet.

Build a multi-year, forward-looking capital plan using the estimated cost of future purchases. Include maintenance, repair, and reconditioning costs based on past experience. Use this plan to drive future maintenance decisions and to ensure the appropriate capital is allocated to fleet operations. Don’t worry, you can always change it as you learn more.

REVIEW MAINTENANCE RECORDS
BEFORE PURCHASING NEW EQUIPMENT

Maintenance systems should be easy to access and provide meaningful information about fleet spend and performance. This information is a powerful tool when making new vehicle purchasing decisions. Upfront investments in automatic transmissions might pay for themselves with lower clutch and transmission failures. One brand of engines could be more cost-effective in a certain application than a competitive brand. Higher axle ratings and changes to suspension types could lead to fewer drivability issues down the road.

Be sure to get feedback from drivers as well as your service partner. They will have valuable insight and feedback.