Running a fleet is a multifaceted job that requires a lot of communication, organization, and experience. Keeping track of things like driver schedules, vehicle maintenance, and routing is difficult enough with a small fleet and as your business grows, it gets even tougher. Fleet telematics is the best way to get accurate information about your vehicles and keep your fleet running at its peak performance. Knowing how telematics can optimize your fleet maintenance schedule will help ensure that you are using it to its full potential. 

Fleet telematics is a mixture of hardware and software that gives you data for all your vehicles. This includes parameters like mileage, time on the road, fuel efficiency, and much more. Getting this information is one thing but knowing how to use it to stay on top of your fleet maintenance is another. Understanding the ways that you can use these systems to keep your fleet in great shape will help your vehicles last longer and give you more time to expand your business and take care of the things that matter most. 

Real-Time Data 

With a high-quality fleet telematics system in place, you can get real-time data for your vehicles throughout the day. This data will give you an idea of how much time your vehicles are spending idle and how many miles they are typically driving throughout the day. In turn, you can use this information to schedule fleet maintenance at the right time according to each individual vehicle’s needs. This prevents overscheduling maintenance and helps your vehicles last as long as possible in serviceable condition. 

Real-time data from your telematics system also helps you know when it is time to schedule service outside of regular fleet maintenance. For example, if one of your vehicles isn’t getting the same gas mileage it usually does, this is a surefire sign that something needs to be repaired. Getting this information as soon as it starts occurring will help keep repair costs to a minimum. The sooner you can get a vehicle in for service, the less likely it will be to turn into a more expensive repair. 

Odometer Readings 

When you install a fleet telematics system, you will be alerted when your vehicles reach certain milestones. Odometer readings are an excellent way to know when the time has come to schedule fleet maintenance. Relying on your drivers to mark their mileage accurately by hand isn’t going to be nearly as dependable as an automatic alert on your fleet management system. Knowing when each vehicle has reached its next scheduled mileage marker for fleet maintenance is the best way to stay on top of it. 

Using your telematics system, you can set up all kinds of alerts and reminders for certain fleet maintenance procedures. When one of your vehicles gets an oil change, you can set an alert for when the odometer rolls over to the next 3,000 miles. This lets you track when the time has come for another oil change so you don’t accidentally skip one. With a solid system in place, you’ll never miss a scheduled fleet maintenance procedure.

Diagnostic Codes

One of the best things about modern vehicles is the onboard diagnostic system, also known as the OBD-II. The OBD-II is constantly scanning your vehicle’s sensors and CPU information to recognize issues as soon as they start. If something goes wrong with the engine, ABS, emissions, or other area of the vehicle, a warning light will be triggered. However, it can also trigger your fleet telematics system to let you as the fleet manager know that an issue has come up. 

Using a combination of your telematics system and the OBD-II on your vehicles, you can schedule fleet maintenance and service quickly and easily. Knowing that a problem needs to be fixed as soon as it occurs is crucial if you are going to prevent it from becoming worse, and therefore more expensive. As soon as an OBD-II code is triggered, your telematics system can alert you and even automatically schedule fleet maintenance and service. This prevents worsening problems and keeps your fleet on the road. 

Automated Scheduling 

As a fleet owner or manager, you have a lot on your mind. Even with a small number of vehicles, tracking fleet maintenance and getting vehicles into the shop is a big job. Every vehicle will have its own maintenance schedule that you have to abide by and trying to do everything on your own is a recipe for missed fleet maintenance appointments and serious problems. With fleet telematics, you can eliminate this job and automate everything so you never miss a scheduled service. 

Because your telematics system can track things like odometer readings and fleet maintenance schedules, it can also automatically book service for your vehicles. By working with a good fleet repair service, your system can have appointments ready for all your vehicles as soon as a scheduled maintenance procedure comes up. This takes work off your plate and gives you the time you need to focus on your business and serving your customers. 

Visual Reports

When figuring out the best course of action for the week, you have to know everything about your fleet and each vehicle’s performance when it is out on the road. With a fleet telematics system, you can get visual reports every day of how your fleet is performing and which vehicles are running the most efficiently. Using this data, you can properly route the vehicles and drivers that are best suited for every job. Having this data in an easy-to-read visual report lets you make the most important decisions at a glance and keep your business moving. 

Visual reports are also crucial when it comes to understanding your fleet maintenance needs. Having the numbers in front of you can be helpful but being able to visually map out all the performance parameters and see which vehicles are falling behind is essential. With a good visual representation of your business’s efficiency in its daily operation, you can schedule fleet maintenance where it is needed most and bring your numbers up to where they should be. 

Keep Your Business Running With Telematics and High-Quality Fleet Maintenance

Being able to track your fleet and know how every vehicle is performing is a crucial part of your job as a fleet manager or owner. A telematics system can give you the information you need to schedule fleet maintenance on time and keep your drivers and customers happy. A fleet that is well-maintained will perform to the highest degree and if you can stay on top of upkeep and repairs, your business will flourish. 

On top of accurate telematics, you need the best service and fleet maintenance for your vehicles and 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!