Understanding Paint Problems

If you have a fleet of vehicles you manage or own, one cost you must consider is maintenance on your vehicles, which can become expensive, especially if you have a lot of vehicles. Luckily, there are some things you can do to ensure you catch problems early or even before they become an issue. Check out these three tips for effective fleet maintenance.

Don't Neglect Routine Maintenance

One of the most important steps in owning any vehicle is routine maintenance. It's easy to wait until something breaks or starts to show wear and tear. However, think of routine maintenance like medical checkups: if you are proactive, your mechanic can catch costly repairs while they are still a cheap replacement or minor repair. A good mechanic will do a complete examination of all the systems, including the fuel system, cooling system, exhaust system and many others. How often you'll need maintenance depends on many factors, such as the age of the vehicle and how much it is used.  

Get Your Drivers to Help

A common problem with fleet drive managers or owners is that they don't drive the vehicles frequently. This is when you need to get your drivers to help. They are the ones using the trucks or vans on a regular basis, so make sure they know they must report any potential issues, such as strange sounds, alignment issues, problems with the breaks or steering, etc. If you have your own repair technicians, you should also have them frequently inspect the vehicles because drivers may not spot some issues, especially if the symptoms are minor.

Track Repairs and Maintenance

Last, you need to track all your repairs and maintenance. One reason to track is so you know when they were last performed. This way you aren't wasting money by having the trucks maintained too often, and you don't risk a major repair by waiting too long. Another reason to track is to spot patterns. For example, if one truck seems to keep breaking down, it may be more affordable to just replace it. However, if you aren't logging your repairs, you may not know there is an issue and keep throwing money at the problem.

Your vehicle fleet is one of the most important features of your business, so you need to protect it with good maintenance. With these tips, you'll reduce maintenance costs by catching problems soon. For more information regarding commercial fleet repair, contact a mechanic in your area today.