Fleet Management

Vehicle maintenance costs comprise a large part of the overall cost structure of maintaining a company fleet. A good fleet manager is responsible for monitoring these costs and making sure that appropriate work gets performed when required. Costly downtime or vehicle neglect can impact a companies operations and cost structure. Taking a proactive approach to make sure that company vehicles are given the appropriate attention and care, at the required interval, can go a long way towards minimizing your vehicle maintenance costs and maximizing the return and value that a company gets from its auto asset register.

Part of minimizing vehicle maintenance costs involves implementing a systematic maintenance schedule to alert the fleet manager about servicing milestones. This can be conducted by establishing a record on each company vehicle and keeping log records up to date. Computer software can greatly assist with monitoring vehicle maintenance costs. The alternative to this is to outsource to a fleet maintenance care company who can provide a service to alert you about impending service requirements. In some cases, car service agents or dealerships that are responsible for vehicle service requirements retain records and dispatch notices by mail to remind fleet managers when car servicing is due.

The largest vehicle maintenance costs are usually associated with major services. This is when car personnel do a comprehensive vehicle audit. During this stage, fleet maintenance costs can extend to replacing car parts that are worn and damaged. Usually mechanics will provide a detailed report structured according to the urgency of the issue. Fleet managers can then determine the most appropriate course of action based on the advice of the servicing personnel. In some cases, although the replacement work may not be essential, the risk of not getting the required attention can accelerate vehicle maintenance costs at a later date if the vehicle breaks down and repairs become necessary. The risk associated with this, and the potential impact on company operations, requires the fleet manager to consider this when determining the best course of action.

Controlling your vehicle servicing not only reduces long term vehicle maintenance cost, it can also help to maintain your vehicles resale value. Companies that dispose of their fleet vehicles can get a higher price if the vehicle log records, maintenance and servicing documentation has been recorded and kept up to date during the vehicle ownership. This reduces the overall cost of total vehicle maintenance and maximizes the return on the disposal. A good fleet manager is aware of this and takes adequate precaution to ensure this is factored into the overall fleet maintenance cost framework.

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