Your business’s cars often make up an important part of daily operations, so keeping them in working order can help save money and time. Regular service and maintenance can keep something more expensive from going wrong. Make a regular habit of inspecting vehicles on a regular basis. This can keep your business’s operations going.
Pay Attention to Tires
One of the top costs of a fleet is good tires. Commercial vehicles are on the move all the time, so pay special attention to your tires. It’s important to understand the environmental factors and roads your cars will come across. Rotate them so they wear evenly and change them before they have worn out. One way you can reduce the costs of tires is by putting a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) in place. It will alert your drivers if the air pressure has reached a level that requires attention. You can use the system to reduce maintenance costs and increase safety. Plus, properly inflated tires can improve fuel economy.
Keep a Checklist
It’s a good idea to have a checklist of information related to the fleet’s cars. This allows your drivers to quickly go over each necessary item before leaving for the day. They can then give the paperwork to the fleet manager. It helps everyone remember to check basic information like belts, hoses, oil levels, batteries, brakes, and air filters. Once everything has been checked over, the driver will understand what condition the vehicle is in and if anything needs to be done before they leave. You might even add an auto expert to the team who can check over the cars if something goes wrong.
Maintain Vehicles on a Regular Basis
It’s important to have a professional inspect each vehicle on a regular basis, especially if you frequently use them to travel long distances. Regular maintenance can keep drivers safe because cars in working order are less likely to break down. Plus, regular inspections can help you ensure it is still fit to do the job. Consider forming a relationship with a service provider in the area. Then you can call them whenever you need some work done.
Plan for Roadside Emergencies
In some cases, you will have an emergency situation, no matter how well you safeguard your vehicles or workers. You can research essential emergency items to place in your car to plan for these situations ahead of time. Ensure every vehicle contains flares, safety cones, reflective vests, and flashlights. If you get snow in the winter, you might want to add emergency supplies in case the driver is stranded, including a blanket, food, and water. You could also put in a shovel and sand or kitty litter.
Once the weather cools down, you’ll want to make sure you have chains or snow tires on each vehicle in the fleet. You may want to have spare tires in each vehicle year-round, as well as jumper cables or a cordless jumper in case something happens to the battery. This is especially common on cool mornings. You should also have spare tires and the equipment to change the tire in the vehicle. All drivers should know how to use these tools in case there is an emergency while they are on the road.