Ways to Increase Your Fleet’s Productivity

  • Industry News
  • January 22, 2020

In an increasingly competitive marketplace, fleet professionals are continuously looking for ways to increase performance and maximize profits. Fleet productivity is a key factor that cannot be ignored in this pursuit, as utilizing a vehicle to get more done in less time with the lowest possible cost provides a significant boost to an organization’s performance.

According to a recent survey conducted by PEAK Commercial & Industrial, eighty percent of fleet organizations already have a formal place in plan to measure fleet productivity. However, successful fleet professionals recognize that there is always room for improvement and that continued examination and adjustments to fleet programs are especially valuable.

 

As part of the new Lifeblood program to support fleet professionals in day-to-day responsibilities, PEAK Commercial & Industrial has shared the following tips for maximizing fleet productivity.

 

  1. Incorporate driver safety and training programs into your productivity plan. Driver habits and performance can have a significant impact on productivity. Educate drivers on the importance of preventive maintenance and encourage them to do a daily walk-around of vehicles. Regular examination of tires, fluids, filters, windshield wipers and lights allows drivers to note potential issues before they become time-consuming and costly incidents.
  2. Select reliable products from trusted supply partners that enable your machines to operate at maximum efficiency. More than three quarters (79%) of fleet managers rate the importance of the products they select as very important or extremely important to a fleet’s overall productivity. The selection of high-quality critical fluids and products with longer change intervals is a critical choice that enables you to extend service intervals and reduce maintenance costs. PEAK FINAL CHARGE® Global Extended Life Coolant/Antifreeze provides total cooling system protection for heavy duty engines without the need for supplemental coolant additives, minimizing the amount of time vehicles spend in the shop and maximizing their productivity.
  3. Implement regularly scheduled checkups as part of larger preventive maintenance programs. When asked to identify the engine issues affecting productivity, fleet professionals noted corrosion as the leading issue (as reported by 42% of respondents), followed by scale (33%) and cavitation erosion (24%). Routine examination by well-trained technicians helps to identify these hazardous causes beyond routine wear and tear early on, so they can make necessary adjustments and keep vehicles on the road as long as possible.
  4. Stay up to date on the latest technology. Fleet professionals with plans in place to update productivity programs plan intend to invest in a variety of measures to increase efficiency, but the leading updates are focused on technology: 52% plan to automate inspection and check-in processes, 38% will utilize a paperless work order system and 33% will use telematics systems. Innovative programs, tools and resources are introduced to the transportation industry at a rapid pace, and fleet professionals must be open to adapting new technologies to maximize performance.

 

Existing productivity programs have yielded the greatest benefits in the form of increased customer satisfaction, decreased driver hours and expenses and reduced fuel costs due to more accurate routes. By following the above tips and continuing to recognize the importance of productivity, fleet professionals will be able to maximize future fleet profitability, ensuring customer satisfaction through on-time deliveries and limiting additional costs through driver downtime and vehicle repairs in years to come.

 

Originally posted on Trucking Info and Work Truck