Drive your business to success with some proven vehicle fleet management principles that really pay off. There are a few tried and true techniques to use for saving money and creating profitability for your fleet. Here are areas where vehicle fleet management has proven to be a cost cutter:
- Maintenance and repair outsourcing
- Maintenance scheduling and cycling
- Fuel management options
Vehicle fleet management that outsources maintenance and repair
It used to be that fleets had their own in-house maintenance teams. But time has shown that very few companies can support the demands in technology, equipment upgrades and training that a top notch maintenance facility needs to keep costs down and maintenance standards high. Best practices in vehicle fleet management are now trending toward outsourced maintenance and repair since highly professional facilities can help cash in on rebates, get special discounts and provide savings and technology beyond the reach of a small shop.
Experts at Mike Albert can monitor and maintain your vehicles to ensure they are safe to operate and cost-effective. Our ASE-certified technicians not only serve as a go-between, but they also possess the technical know-how to ask the right questions of mechanics and other vehicle service providers to ensure your getting the right things repaired for the right costs.
Maintenance scheduling and vehicle cycling
Good vehicle fleet management requires rigorous maintenance schedules. With software monitoring in place, fleet managers can view the repair spend on a specific asset, including repair categories, amounts and recurring issues. With an aggressive maintenance program and automated reporting system, vehicle cycling decisions become clearer, so that assets don’t age beyond their optimum cycling dates.
You’ll need to determine the metrics to track for each vehicle, such as mileage, operating hours, or other metrics. Experts at Mike Albert can help you determine the triggers that will prompt preventive maintenance in your fleet. For maximum cost savings this will be determined by your drivers, the terrain and the type of work. You may find that every 3,000 miles works for you, or instead a certain amount of operating hours could determine the right time to get your vehicle off the road, serviced and — in the long run — more cost effective.
Fleet vehicle management includes the critical component of fuel management
Fuel management is a critical component of fleet vehicle management. Putting a strong, proactive fuel cost reduction plan in place can help stem the bleeding when gas prices rise. It takes work to plan and eliminate wasteful fleet practices, but over time, it pays off beautifully for a variety of reasons including:
- Fraud reduction
- A single convenient method of payment for all your drivers
- The elimination of fuel expense reports
- Fuel limits and insights into where and when your drivers fill up
Driver training, telematics, maintenance programs and proper vehicle selection and cycling, especially when coupled with ongoing reporting, can go a long way towards reducing your pain at the pump.
