Wondering how a fleet maintenance schedule can help your fleet?
Well, buckle up — you’re about to find out.
This article will explore four types of fleet vehicle maintenance schedules, why you should have one, and two frequently asked questions you may have.
This Article Contains:
- 4 Types of Fleet Vehicle Maintenance Schedules
- How Does a Regular Fleet Vehicle Maintenance Schedule Help You?
- 2 FAQs About Fleet Vehicle Maintenance Schedules
Let’s get started.
4 Types of Fleet Vehicle Maintenance Schedules
What is a fleet maintenance schedule?
A fleet maintenance or service schedule is like a timetable for a fleet manager or the owner to check their fleet vehicle’s components according to the recommended time or mileage. This will help fix unnoticed vehicle issues, increase vehicle uptime, and contribute towards improved fuel consumption.
Although different vehicles have individual maintenance needs, here’s a general walkthrough of what different fleet vehicle maintenance schedules can be:
1. Monthly Fleet Vehicle Maintenance Schedule
Every month you should check your fleet vehicle for some of these components:
Check:
- Air conditioning
- Air filters – Inspect both the engine and cabin filters.
- Coolant (antifreeze) levels
- Engine oil levels
- Exterior lights
- Tire pressure
- Windshield washer fluid
- Windshield wipers
- Wheels and rims
2. Quarterly Vehicle Maintenance Schedule
Here are some routine maintenance and inspection checks you should do every three months or 3,000-5,000 miles:
Check:
- Automatic transmission fluid and mounts
- Battery
- Vehicle Body
- Belts
- Glass and mirrors
- Hoses
- Power steering fluid
- Undercarriage and frame
Action:
- Perform an oil change
- Change the engine oil filter
- Lubricate the chassis
3. Biannual Vehicle Maintenance Schedule
Ensure you do the routine maintenance and inspection tasks listed below every 6 months or 12,000–15,000 miles:
Check:
- Brake fluid levels
- Brake system
- Electrical and auxiliary systems
- Exhaust system
- Seat belts
- System horn
- Spare tires
- Shock absorbers
- Wheel bearings
- Wheel alignment
Actions:
- Change the cabin air filters
- Change the engine air filters
- Flush the coolant
- Lubricate the door and hood hinges
- Implement tire rotation
4. Annual Vehicle Maintenance Schedule
Schedule the following checklist items every year or 24,000–30,000 miles:
Check:
- Engine mounts
- Fuel filter
- Steering & suspension system
- Transmission service
Action:
- Replace the brakes
But how do you ensure timely fleet service and maintenance?
Since most fleet maintenance and inspection schedules are based on mileage and hour intervals, a fleet manager depends on odometer readings (a device that measures a vehicle’s travel distance) to schedule a maintenance task.
However, fleet managers often have to rely on manual odometer readings and wait for driver updates after a trip — resulting in inaccurate readings.
Instead, you can adopt a fleet management system that offers fleet maintenance software to deliver accurate odometer readings and automate fleet maintenance schedules. Besides fleet maintenance software, a fleet management system should also include fleet operation, fleet tracking, and safety programs for fleet drivers.
Next, let’s see how a solid fleet vehicle maintenance schedule benefits you.
How Does a Regular Fleet Vehicle Maintenance Schedule Help You?
Here are three reasons why you need a fleet vehicle maintenance schedule:
1. Extends Vehicle Lifespan
Your fleet of vehicles may be your company’s most expensive assets, so how do you ensure full use of these assets?
Simple — through an efficient preventive maintenance schedule!
That’s because a fleet maintenance program and schedule helps you find and repair a minor vehicle issue before they become an expensive vehicle repair — extending your fleet’s life.
It’ll also increase vehicle uptime and help make decisions based on your vehicles’ performance during scheduled maintenance checks.
For example, you can send vehicles in good condition on long-distance journeys while using the ones with the maintenance issue for short distances.
2. Reduces Repair Costs
Fleet service and maintenance schedules are designed to find and fix potential vehicle problems before they become costly repairs or cause breakdowns. It also minimizes the possibility of car accidents, helping you ensure the safety of your driver to an extent.
Additionally, as a maintenance task is scheduled early, you can order necessary vehicle parts in bulk for your fleet. This will help you cut down costs of ordering individual parts. Routine maintenance checks can even improve vehicle performance, like decreased fuel consumption.
As a result of all these advantages, a well-designed fleet vehicle maintenance schedule helps you reduce vehicle repair and maintenance costs over time.
3. Decreased Liability
If your fleet vehicle breaks down unexpectedly due to mechanical failure, your company could be subject to investigation to find out the root cause of the issue. And if the investigation points towards negligence of fleet maintenance, it’ll expose your company to serious liabilities since you failed to protect your fleet drivers and the public.
To avoid such issues and emergency repairs, adopt a proactive maintenance program like a fleet preventive maintenance schedule. This will help prevent sudden breakdowns, avoid potential accidents, and fix vehicle issues on time.
Now, let’s answer some fleet vehicle maintenance schedule-related queries.
2 FAQs About Fleet Vehicle Maintenance Schedules
Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.
1. What Should a Fleet Maintenance Schedule Include?
Here are some things you should remember when scheduling fleet maintenance:
- Use a Fleet Maintenance Checklist: A comprehensive maintenance checklist will ensure you don’t miss out on any important fleet vehicle maintenance checks.
- Maximize Available Resources: Your scheduled maintenance checks should ensure that the maximum amount of work is done with the available resources within a specific time budget.
- Prioritize Work Orders: Schedule maintenance according to the highest priority work orders. For instance, doing a transmission service should take precedence over a paint job.
- Implement Feedback: Including mechanics’ feedback while scheduling maintenance work ensures improved maintenance work orders. It’ll also motivate mechanics and fleet managers to work more proactively when they feel their feedback is valuable.
2. What Are the Types of Fleet Maintenance?
Fleet maintenance is broadly divided into two categories:
1. Preventative Maintenance
Preventive maintenance basically means proactively monitoring your fleet and fixing vehicle issues early before it affects your vehicle’s performance and turns into costly repairs.
A preventive maintenance checklist addresses all maintenance needs like fuel filter replacement or transmission service. Ideally, fleet preventive maintenance is scheduled based on two essential factors:
- Mileage
- Date since the last service
When done correctly, the best preventive maintenance schedule will help reduce emergency repairs and maintenance cost, avoid vehicle downtime, and extend your fleet’s life.
2. Corrective Fleet Maintenance
Corrective or emergency fleet maintenance is basically the process of fixing vehicle issues as they come up. For instance, changing flat tires or refilling engine oil after a fleet vehicle breakdown often falls under corrective maintenance.
Unlike preventative maintenance, this is usually an unscheduled maintenance and can put your fleet out of service until the maintenance issue is resolved. As it is unscheduled maintenance, you may even need roadside assistance if your vehicle breaks down.
Note: Although a preventive maintenance schedule helps catch vehicle issues early and prevents surprise breakdowns, you should still have a corrective fleet maintenance schedule in place to address emergency repairs.
Closing Thoughts
Reduced maintenance cost and fleet vehicle downtime may be music to any fleet owner’s ears. And proper fleet vehicle maintenance scheduling will contribute to the long-term health of your fleet.
If you need help with your fleet’s maintenance and repairs, why not contact AutoNation Mobile Service?
AutoNation Mobile Service is a mobile car repair and maintenance solution, available seven days a week. We offer upfront pricing, convenient online booking, roadside assistance, and a 12-Month, 12,000-Mile warranty on all your repairs.
So why wait?
Get in touch with AutoNation Mobile Service and schedule your fleet vehicle maintenance service right away!