Managing a small or mid-size fleet is expensive. Maintenance and repairs make up a large part of your total operating budget. Therefore, fleet managers must look closely at how they handle vehicle service. There are three main styles of maintenance. Moving from one style to the next can save your construction, landscaping, or delivery company a lot of money and reduce costly downtime.

Reactive Maintenance: The Breakdown Trap

Reactive maintenance is the simplest style. It means you only fix a vehicle after it breaks down. For example, a plumbing van might suddenly fail on the job site. This is often called “run-to-fail.”

This style is a major problem for profitability. First, the repair bill is usually very high because major components have often failed. Second, the cost of unplanned downtime is even worse. In fact, a breakdown can cost your business hundreds of dollars in lost service time. Consequently, no profitable fleet should rely on this style of maintenance.

Preventive Maintenance: Staying on Schedule

The next style is preventive maintenance, or PM. Most small fleets use this approach. PM means servicing vehicles based on time or mileage, like changing the oil every 5,000 miles. This method is much better than waiting for a breakdown.

PM successfully prevents many common, small failures. However, it still has limits. It costs money to take a healthy truck off the road for a planned service. Also, a part might fail before the next scheduled check. Therefore, fleet managers should use PM by following a rigorous, documented schedule. You can find excellent planning resources and PM checklists from groups like the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC).

Predictive Maintenance: Smart Technology Wins

The best style for the future is predictive maintenance. This method uses technology to predict when a part is about to fail. Telematics systems and onboard vehicle diagnostics are key to this style.

These systems constantly monitor engine performance, battery voltage, and fluid levels. The system alerts the manager when a specific reading looks bad. For example, if a truck’s charging voltage is dropping slowly, you can schedule it for service before the battery dies completely. This technology helps the business avoid taking healthy trucks out of service. Instead, you only service trucks that actually need it. Consequently, this shift maximizes vehicle uptime and prevents almost all expensive emergency repairs.

Finally, moving to a predictive style is the most effective way to fight rising labor costs and technician shortages. Your shop time becomes focused only on necessary work, keeping your valuable trucks on the road longer.

Also read: Fleet Safety Technology Return on Investment