When managing a fleet of vehicles, keeping costs low is always going to be a priority. There are a lot of outside factors that can affect your bottom line that you have no control over. Things like gas prices, insurance premiums, and component costs are constantly changing and can have a drastic effect on your operation. However, getting regular fleet maintenance can help you control some of these outside factors to the best of your ability. 

Keeping your fleet of vehicles in good condition will not only help your business run smoothly, but it can also save you money. With so many variable costs, doing everything you can to keep your fleet in great shape gives you control over your business’s spending. 

Setting yourself up for success with regular fleet maintenance will help you take charge of your bottom line and keep your vehicles on the road. Knowing some of the money-saving benefits of regular fleet maintenance will give you the motivation you need to stay on top of your vehicle upkeep. 

Better Fuel Economy 

One of the most important factors that you have to consider as a fleet manager is the cost of fuel for your vehicles. With the erratic nature of gas prices, it can be hard to keep your fuel costs steady and predictable. The best thing you can do to offset this fluctuating cost is to keep your fleet maintained and in the best possible shape. If you are doing everything you can to keep your vehicles efficient, you can make up for the times when gas is most expensive. 

If a vehicle is not well maintained, it will not be as efficient as it could be when it comes to fuel. Having the least amount of resistance between the engine and the wheels turning on the road gives you the highest possible miles per gallon. Fleet maintenance such as oil changes, tire rotations, and alignments reduce resistance in the powertrain and drivetrain and will help you make the most of every gallon so you don’t waste a drop of fuel when your fleet is out on jobs. 

Consistent Service 

When managing a fleet, the number one thing that should be avoided is a vehicle that is not in service. If one of your vehicles breaks down, you could be missing out on potential revenue that can’t be regained. Having a vehicle out of commission can be a costly situation, especially if you are working with a relatively small fleet. Getting regular fleet maintenance helps ensure that you can serve your customers efficiently and quickly. 

One of the most frustrating things about having a broken-down vehicle is that it so rarely happens at a convenient time. If one of your vehicles is out on a job and breaks down, you could be losing customers in the short term as well as the long term. 

Plus, it is never good for your brand to have one of your vehicles break down on the side of the road. Getting regularly-scheduled fleet maintenance keeps your fleet looking great and operating reliably so you can be sure that every customer has their needs met. 

Fewer Large Repairs

Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of regular fleet maintenance for your vehicles is the prevention of large, expensive repairs. When you get regular maintenance on your fleet, your odds of having to deal with a complicated repair further down the line are greatly diminished. 

Vehicles that are regularly serviced have fewer big problems, which can be incredibly expensive. The better you care for your vehicles and get preventive maintenance done, the more you can rest easy knowing that you won’t be stuck with a seized transmission or broken axle. 

Fleet maintenance will not only help prevent bigger problems, but it will also help you catch smaller problems early. Mechanical issues almost always have a domino effect in that they start small but then start to affect other areas of the vehicle. This can turn into something incredibly expensive when it could have been caught early enough to be a fairly cheap fix. Getting regular fleet maintenance allows a technician to look over the vehicle and check for anything that might become a disaster later on. 

Better Analytics 

As your fleet business grows, proper analytics and tracking become more and more important. Being able to monitor what your vehicles are doing and how they are performing will allow you to make better decisions for your business. If you aren’t getting regular fleet maintenance, your analytics and telematics hardware won’t get accurate information. This can lead to broken-down vehicles and inefficient scheduling, both of which can interrupt service to your customers. 

When you get regular fleet maintenance, the sensors and hardware on your vehicles will give you the most accurate information possible. Plus, if you can be certain that your vehicles are operating at their top capacity, you can make changes based on your analytics. This helps with scheduling, hiring, and many other aspects of your job. Better fleet maintenance lets you make the most of your management system so your team will be as efficient as possible. 

Lower Insurance Costs 

Insurance is always going to be an important consideration for a fleet manager or owner. Your insurance premiums will depend heavily on things like driving history, accident prevention, and other variables. One of the best ways to keep these costs down is to make sure your drivers are getting vehicles that are in the best possible condition. Proper fleet maintenance gives your employees the best jumping-off point for driving safely and defensively and therefore keeping your insurance costs low. 

If your fleet is in good condition, your drivers won’t have to spend time worrying about vehicle performance issues. With a reliable fleet, they can focus more on their driving and prevent accidents while they are out on the road. 

Plus, maintaining all the vehicle safety equipment ensures that in the event of an accident, injuries will be kept to a minimum and your insurance won’t take as much of a hit. Being able to keep drivers safe and help them drive conscientiously is one of the biggest benefits of getting regular fleet maintenance for your business. 

Stay On Top of Fleet Maintenance and Save Big

If you are going to keep your business running smoothly and affordably, regular fleet maintenance can help. Keeping your vehicles in good condition protects your company and allows you to serve your customers at the highest level. With proper fleet maintenance, you can spend less time thinking about repairs you have to make and more time maximizing your efficiency and generating revenue. 

If you need the best fleet maintenance service available, ServiceUp is here for you. With one easy-to-use dashboard to help you manage your maintenance, collision, and mechanical repair needs and seamless integration with major fleet management companies, it has never been easier to get your vehicles repaired by qualified, experienced technicians. Whether you need simple oil changes or major body work, ServiceUp will take care of everything and get you back on the road. Request a demo today to find out how ServiceUp can help your business thrive!