There are many unexpected costs that can arise in fleet operations, and recently, managers are focusing on the costs associated with downtime. As these costs can add up to cost businesses hundreds if not thousands of dollars, it’s something that needs to be addressed.

Fleet managers all over the world know that fleet maintenance works in two ways: scheduled and unscheduled. Of course, the method that offers the least amount of headaches and expenses is scheduled maintenance, because these fleet repair appointments allow you to fix minor maintenance problems before they become big ones.

Managing the maintenance tasks, schedules and personnel in the transportation industry can be mind boggling. It requires a complete coordinated effort between you and the maintenance team who are located all across the nation.

Last year, Automotive Fleet Magazine surveyed the commercial fleet market to get a sense of the fleet management problems facing the market. Here are some of the issues the magazine identified: Mobile Devices - Fleet managers are under pressure to keep their field employees productive, and that often means plugged into their devices.

Every fleet manager can benefit from installing a regular vehicle maintenance program. Staying consistent and fulfilling maintenance recommendations set by the manufacturer has many benefits, and it is hard to stay on track by running out and checking odometer readings.

It’s well known across the fleet management industry that preventative maintenance (PM) will reduce downtime and save you money, yet so many companies still fail to have one in place. Here’s a quick introduction to setting up a top-notch PM program for your fleet.