It’s impossible to eliminate all downtime in any fleet, but there are steps to reduce roadside breakdowns and other issues. Fleets would like to eliminate high fuel prices, taxes, regulations, driver shortages, and the cost of diagnostic equipment – and reducing downtime is high on the list. Although eliminating all downtime is not possible, it is possible to reduce the number of roadside breakdowns by taking simple steps.
1. Emphasis Driver’s Efforts
Drivers are the first line of defense against on-road breakdowns; make sure they understand their importance. Pre- and post-trip inspections are mandated, but their thoroughness may vary.
Periodically review the proper way to complete these inspections, even if they seem basic; getting the basics right is key to keeping trucks operating properly.
2. Emphasize Safety Importance with Technicians
Make sure your technicians take Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIRs) seriously. It should be company policy to give vehicles a complete inspection to look for any signs of failure. Re-emphasize the need for technicians to find the root cause of a problem to prevent a recurrence.
3. Collect and analyze data from all service events
To keep downtime to a minimum, acquire a program that logs information from all maintenance processes, both inside and outside of the shop. Utilize this data to scrutinize the performance of each asset and similar assets (of the same age, brand, etc.) to determine any wear or malfunction patterns. Take the necessary steps to prevent these issues from occurring.
4. Review Vehicle Requirements Frequently
Normally, a list like this would start with the importance of a spec review when ordering new trucks. Recent supply chain shortages have resulted in fleets feeling lucky to get trucks that meet their exact specifications. Once production levels return to normal, fleet managers must be diligent about reviewing specs when ordering trucks.
Speaking to the service manager to get their input on component durability and serviceability can help. In a perfect world, there’d be no roadside breakdowns; while there is no way to make it perfect, the four steps above can help get us closer to perfection.
Sources:
https://www.fleetowner.com/perspectives/ideaxchange/blog/21258936/steps-to-reduce-truck-fleet-downtime
https://www.fleetowner.com/perspectives/ideaxchange/blog/21258503/why-scheduled-truck-maintenance-is-more-important-than-ever
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