Vehicle breakdowns cost your company more than just repair costs. One commercial vehicle out of service can cost the business more than $500 a day. In addition, you have to pull people off their scheduled responsibilities to transport a stranded employee to a job site, schedule automotive repairs, or adjust routes to accommodate the non-functioning vehicle.

Using a series of checklists to help keep your commercial vehicles in top condition will help prevent repairs and accidents.

Scheduled Maintenance Checklist

While no one wants to pull out the owner’s manual for their new commercial trucks, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep for sale, you will need it to identify the timeline for scheduled maintenance. Scheduled maintenance includes engine tune-ups, oil changes, tire rotations, and transmission fluid changes.

Performing these maintenance activities protects your vehicle and keeps your warranty valid. For commercial vehicles, use a certified automotive technician to perform the maintenance. Semi-annual vehicle inspections can help you make minor repairs before they become intense service jobs.

On-Demand Maintenance Checklist

Have on-demand repairs performed by a certified automotive technician. You will be replacing parts as they break down. You can typically wait a day or two to replace blown light bulbs or torn seat cushions. However, a failed battery, blown engine, or damaged window typically needs immediate maintenance.

Vehicle Inspection Checklist

Employees should perform daily and weekly vehicle inspections. Similar to a pilot’s pre-flight checklist, this is a list of items to review to minimize the risk of an accident. The driver or co-driver of the vehicle should be responsible for performing the analysis and signing off on the checklist daily before leaving for the job site.

If there are any concerns about the automobile, they should bring them to the fleet manager’s attention. The fleet manager can look at the vehicle and authorize its continued service or call a repair service. All parties involved should sign off on the vehicle inspection checklist.

The most common things to check are:

• Oil
• Transmission fluid
• Tire pressure
• Tire wear
• Emergency lights
• Brake lights
• Spare tire
• Windows

Internal Office Checklist

Depending on the size of your organization, your fleet manager may be responsible for reviewing these checklists and ensuring the vehicles stay in operation. However, smaller business owners may ask employees to handle automobile maintenance. If employees schedule maintenance, you will need to give them time in their day to do those tasks.

Automotive Partnership

Work on building relationships with an automotive service shop. They are more than willing to help an existing customer experiencing vehicle problems that keep your business sidelined. Many repair shops work with local business owners to pick up and repair vehicles during the company’s off-hours.

Use These Strategies to Keep Your Fleet Vehicles on the Road

The fewer hours your commercial vehicle is in the shop, the more money it can make for your business.

Taking the time to implement these tools can help you keep your vehicles in good working condition longer. You will take full advantage of your financial investment in your capital and focus on the demands of your business.

Jane