Hired to turn a crumby fleet around! suggestions or advice please!

What trucks? Engines?

Some are self explanatory, tires 2/32, brakes etc.

PM every 10k miles etc.

Off the top of my head, I'd replace, all belts and hoses to baseline each truck and go from there.

 

Are the drivers turning in DVIRs?

 

Lot more to this than just regular pm's.

Oil analysis will save your butt for major issues.

Talk to you local tire guys and learn a cost benefit for recaps.

Learn you limits and what must go to a major shop. Find a good independent you can work a deal with to do your heavy work. Can you replace body parts for a deer hit?

Parts houses for cheaper parts, etc.

How are you going to track your mainttenance? Computer? Paper?

How much can you push back to the drivers? Fluid and lights type stuff for sure. Seriously consider a cat eyes or crosse fires for tires.

Look for ways to standardize the fleet. Keeps spare parts inventory down. Ask for fleet mileage reports too.

What is the maintenance history on the fleet?

Start a baseline on all the equipment? And figure out what the service life is on hard componets and backplan off those based on mileage amd engine hours.

Consider pm on how the fleet runs. If they have pto pumps, you may want to base oil cjanges on hours and oil samples instead of miles.

 

You need to get in compliance with this ASAP because now it's your responsibility .
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=396.11
You should have investigated compliance before accepting the job .

 

DVIR is an office issue. NOT a maintenance issue.

Does maintenance need the DVIR, yeah, they do, but it's not his job to worry about the paperwork being completed.

But you DO need to get up to speed on this chapter:
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrguidedetails.aspx?menukey=396

Along with these:
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrguide.aspx?section_type=V

You've got a long road ahead of you there. Start here will be the best place to begin. It gives you forms you can simply photocopy to start working on things.
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-security/eta/index.htm

 

Good on ya. God speed and good luck in this job....

 

Well you have 8 trucks, six drivers?

Get your records that you can as soon as possible.. then rotate the trucks threw, do the dot inspections, do services and and oil tests.

Take serious look at each truck, leaks, seals, leaf springs, ect. Run the valve racks and adjust the cluthes. When you get each truck go over everything you can think of and make each truck new records. Make the fleet your! Make records of each truck, problems things to watch ect. It will help you later.

Tell the drivers that hey, this is my plan and we are going to get your trucks running great.

Most of us drivers are dumb, but we know when something is out of place and if we have gotten used to driving junk, we will never know the difference.
Go the extra mile from the get go and talk to the drivers, your drivers will be your eyes and ears... we are idiots but dont ignore them.