Time is money, and for fleets, vehicle downtime cuts directly into profits. Adopting a preventative fleet maintenance strategy can reduce expensive downtime, keeping vehicles on task and out of the garage.
Preventative fleet maintenance means using data to proactively maintain your fleet, rather than responding to breakdowns after the fact.
It’s impossible to completely avoid mechanical issues, even with the best proactive strategy. But you’ll be much more likely to reduce downtime with preventative fleet maintenance.
For example, customers in one survey said that after adopting Motive they saw 62% less equipment downtime and 20% saved annually on maintenance expenses.
Below, you’ll find three preventative fleet maintenance strategies fleets use to get these results.
1. Create a data-based maintenance schedule
A fleet manager practicing preventative maintenance doesn’t wait for breakdowns to make repairs. Instead, they set up a data-based maintenance schedule. With Motive, you don’t need a spreadsheet template or an editable plan for preventative fleet maintenance. You can create vehicle maintenance schedules directly in the Motive Dashboard. Instead of relying on maintenance intervals recommended by the manufacturer, you can customize maintenance schedules based on real-time data about vehicle usage. Then, use automated reminders to service vehicles based on time, distance, or engine hours.
Southwind, a home and commercial services provider, used Motive’s maintenance solution to improve vehicle uptime. Within three months of investing in the product, Southwind was able to increase its share of road-ready vehicles from 72% to 90%.
“Right now, 90% of our fleet is fully road-ready, always, every day,” said Dwayne Morrison, Southwind’s senior director of Safety and Compliance.
2. Monitor vehicles in real time
Prevent small maintenance issues from escalating by capturing real-time vehicle performance data. The Motive Vehicle Gateway conducts real-time maintenance monitoring on vehicles, making it easier for fleet managers to keep track of anomalies or signs of wear. Tracking metrics such as engine health and fuel efficiency prevents small issues from becoming larger and more costly.
When a vehicle does have a problem, you’ll know right away: Motive monitors engine fault codes in real time, and users can categorize the defect’s severity. Set up alerts to receive fault code notifications in real time, then use this data to decide whether a vehicle can safely stay on the road or if it should be repaired immediately.
Following are examples of how fleets have used Motive’s Fault Code feature to their advantage.
Duncan Oil notifies the garage before service so they can have parts ready.
If you’re taking your vehicle in for a service and you’re letting them know ahead of time what the fault codes are, then that limits the downtime because they already have the parts on hand. Motive’s preventative maintenance has reduced our average vehicle downtime from two days to one day, very easily.
Prairie Disposal makes smart decisions in the moment.
We’re able to get the notification if an engine light comes on. We can see the code, and understand what’s wrong with the vehicle right away. From the engine fault code, we proactively know how to respond. We know right away if we need to send a tow truck or if the truck is drivable to get it back to the shop.
Aspen School District mechanics keeps drivers and students safe.
Our mechanics can actually pull the engine fault codes right from Motive, quickly determine what’s happening and then tell the driver exactly what to do to stay safe.
3. Analyze maintenance data
Track your maintenance trends to discover areas where you can improve and expand your preventative maintenance program. For example, you might discover that fleet maintenance costs are always higher for certain drivers. This data provides an opportunity to coach drivers on unsafe driving behaviors that can reduce vehicle lifespan or put vehicles out of service.
By reducing the number of trucks we have out of service, we’re saving $150,000 to $200,000 a year in maintenance costs. That’s another area where we save so much money with Motive.
Motive’s Integrated Operations Platform helps you identify areas for continuous improvement. You can analyze metrics like historic time out of service to discover which vehicles are most reliable and review all your service records, as well as any upcoming or overdue service.
Slash downtime with preventive maintenance for your fleet.
Effective preventative maintenance means more than following recommended manufacturer intervals — a modern approach includes precise, data-based schedules, real-time maintenance tracking, and trend-based analytics. With Motive’s all-in-one fleet management, you have the visibility and control you need to run smooth operations, every second of the day.
Frequently Asked Questions about preventative fleet maintenance
What is preventative fleet maintenance?
Preventative fleet maintenance is a proactive strategy that uses data to maintain vehicles before they experience a breakdown. Instead of waiting for a vehicle to fail and then making repairs, a preventative approach involves creating data-based schedules and monitoring vehicles in real time to prevent small issues from becoming major, costly repairs.
What are the benefits of preventative fleet maintenance?
The primary benefits of preventative fleet maintenance are reduced vehicle downtime and lower maintenance costs. By proactively addressing potential issues, fleets can avoid unexpected breakdowns, keep more vehicles on the road, and save money on expensive, reactive repairs.
What kind of data should I track for preventative maintenance?
To implement a preventative maintenance program for your fleet, track data points such as:
- Vehicle usage (engine hours, mileage)
- Real-time engine fault codes
- Fuel efficiency
- Historical service records
- Time out of service
This data helps you make informed decisions about when to service vehicles and where to focus your improvement efforts.
How does preventative maintenance help with my fleet’s uptime?
Preventative maintenance maximizes vehicle uptime by reducing the possibility of unexpected breakdowns. By servicing vehicles on a proactive schedule and addressing minor issues in real time, you’re hoping that more of your fleet will be road-ready at all times.
