Maintenance costs are one of the most significant expenses that come with managing a fleet. A vehicle that’s not out in the field working can critically impact productivity and in turn, profitability and customer service.
Today, technological advancements are inspiring an equipment maintenance evolution. Keep reading to learn how tech is steering companies away from reactionary measures and pushing them towards proactive strategies.
Moving fleets from reactive to preventative maintenance
It seems like a no brainer that fleets would move from reactive maintenance, which involves fixing equipment after a failure, to preventative maintenance that focuses on regular inspections and servicing to prevent breakdowns in the first place.
However, keeping track of vehicles and their service needs was a time-consuming, manual process until recently.
Technological advancements in fleet tracking, such as automated monitoring and custom alerts and reminders, has made it much easier for busy fleet managers to stay on top of scheduling and take a preventative maintenance approach to servicing their fleets.
These technologies help managers take action to avoid potential issues before they become major problems.
What are the key benefits?
When a vehicle has a mechanical issue on the road, it can put your technician’s safety at risk. It will also derail the day’s schedule and could lead to unhappy customers and canceled appointments, affecting your profits. It’s often more expensive to repair a vehicle than it is to service it before a problem occurs, and if fuel costs are a concern for your company, a properly maintained vehicle wastes less fuel.
This is why fleet managers need to shift from reactive to preventative maintenance. When fleets use preventative maintenance to detect and fix issues before a breakdown occurs, they may see benefits like reduced unplanned downtimes, lower repair costs, increased equipment reliability, and enhanced efficiency, which ultimately leads to cost savings in daily operations.
In 2022, clients using Lytx® fleet tracking maintenance features saved an estimated $402 million on vehicle maintenance. Such strategies can increase cost-effectiveness across the transportation industry.
How does preventative maintenance help prevent equipment failure?
Creating a consistent maintenance schedule for each vehicle is key to the health of your fleet. Preventative maintenance involves setting up custom alerts and reminders to stay on top of vehicle inspections and repair. Timely detection minimizes breakdowns and helps keep a vehicle road ready.
The Lytx fleet tracking application includes diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) and other preventative maintenance features so you can make decisions based on real data.
Meet industry standards
Continuously monitoring vehicle conditions and performance helps fleets ensure safety and meet regulatory compliance.
Fleet tracking combined with engine control module (ECM) data provides a holistic view of the health of your vehicles. This technology detects vehicle non-compliance with a company’s policies early, allowing for timely corrections. Regular automated checks with DTC notifications and adherence to maintenance schedules can help organizations fulfill all necessary requirements.
These measures combine to keep vehicles on the road and your fleet running smoothly.
Technology to help you stay ahead of problems
No more relying on memory or keeping a spreadsheet—Lytx Preventative Maintenance is included as part of our fleet tracking solution and makes it easy to know what your fleet needs, and when they’ll need it.
Managers can create and customize automated alerts based on service type, distance driven, and how far in advance you want to be notified. It’s easy to assign services to specific vehicles and see what’s upcoming on your dashboard. Advanced planning means parts can be ordered and ready when it’s time to do the repairs, getting your vehicle back on the road faster. Each vehicle’s service history is saved and can be exported to give to a potential buyer if you decide to sell a vehicle.
Preventative maintenance helps you keep vehicles operating smoothly and prolong vehicle life so your techs can conduct business as usual.