Keeping your fleet in top condition is crucial for your bottom line. Without fleet management procedures in place, you run the risk of costly maintenance issues and repairs.

Losing a vehicle can impact your company’s ability to meet deadlines and exceed customer expectations. Whereas, efficient fleet management can ensure driver safety, keep all of your fleet vehicles on the road and uphold profitability.

In this blog, we’re going to share our fleet management tips to help you stay on top of your fleet vehicles.

Introduce A Preventative Maintenance Plan

Having a preventative maintenance plan in place is the most effective way to keep your fleet in its best condition. A maintenance plan will feature scheduled check-ups that need carrying out and signing off. These may include:

  • Oil and filters
  • Transmission fluid
  • Screenwash
  • Tyres (including pressure, tread and trims)
  • Interior and exterior lights
  • Windscreen wipers
  • Overall condition of the vehicle

As part of this preventative plan, meticulous records should be kept. This includes records of the vehicle maintenance history, mileage before and after journeys and routes taken etc.

Ensure Driver Reports Filled In Regularly

Having a preventative maintenance plan in place is useless if your drivers are not doing their part. Communicate with your drivers regularly and ensure they understand the importance of carrying out and recording maintenance checks. Introduce driver reports that must be signed off as regularly as you see fit, this could be after each journey, or at the end of a week.

Take Advantage Of Modern Technology

To make life easier, perhaps invest in apps or software to keep track of driver reports, maintenance checks and vehicle history. Having data and records online reduces the risk of key information being lost. Plus, you will always have easy access to the data and information you require. This is particularly useful if a vehicle has to go in for repairs.

Carry Out Regular Inspections

To ensure that the preventative maintenance plan is being carried out effectively, you should be carrying out regular inspections of each vehicle. If you have a large fleet, it could be beneficial to hire a Fleet Inspector. 

Ensure Fleet Vehicles Are Fit For Purpose

Sending a vehicle out on a job when it is not the correct spec could lead to unnecessary maintenance costs. When assigning a fleet vehicle to a specific task, you should consider the mileage involved, type and weight of the loads it is going to carry, external conditions (such as the weather) and the specifications of the vehicle.

Track Your Fleet

Using GPS software to track your fleet vehicles can help streamline productivity by allowing you to optimise routes and analyse performance and engine diagnostics. GPS trackers are also beneficial for keeping fleet vehicles (and the assets they carry) safe when on the road.

Hire Experienced Drivers Or Offer Additional Training

As with any job, hiring the best of the best is not always easy. However, if you settle for inexperienced fleet drivers, it could lead to problems further down the line.

When hiring drivers for your fleet, ensure you carry out extensive background checks including DBS checks and reference checks. Speaking to previous employers will give you a first-hand account of skill level, credibility and attributes.

Finding drivers with experience in the field and a steady employment history can be challenging. This is why it is also a good idea to offer training to your new and existing drivers, especially if they do not have a lot of experience.

Clean Your Fleet Regularly

When it comes to fleet management, fleet cleaning should never be overlooked. Your vehicles are seen by thousands of people (and prospective clients) when on the road. Ensuring your fleet vehicles are regularly cleaned will increase brand visibility and demonstrate professionalism.

Plus, removing the build-up of dirt, grime and oil will prevent damage to your fleet vehicles and save on maintenance costs. Outsourcing your fleet cleaning is the most efficient and cost-effective way to go. Professional fleet cleaners have high-quality tools and products required to clean your vehicles quickly and efficiently.

Get In Touch

If you are in the UK and you require professional fleet cleaning, get in touch with LPW Europe.

Our Mobile Fleet Wash team will come to your site and return your fleet to its former glory. Our experienced team bring all the equipment and high-quality products they need, including a water containment disposal system.

Alternatively, your drivers could head to one of our Truck Wash sites dotted across the UK. Find out more about LPW Europe and our range of Fleet Cleaning Services here.