Managing fleet maintenance costs is a significant priority for fleet owners and managers. While many things can impact these costs, driving habits can play a significant role in repairs and fleet maintenance costs.
Believe it or not, the way fleet drivers handle their trucks can either extend the life of your vehicles or lead to costly downtime. Here’s how driver habits affect maintenance expenses:
Bad Fleet Driver Habits That Increase Maintenance Costs
Harsh Braking and Acceleration
Sudden starts and stops put extra strain on brakes, tires, and the engine. Over time, this leads to faster wear and tear and more frequent parts replacements and repairs. Smoother driving can extend the lifespan of these components.
Excessive Idling
Idling for long periods wastes fuel and increases engine wear. Diesel engines are built to run, but unnecessary idling can cause carbon buildup and reduce efficiency. Moreover, releasing emissions in this way is harmful to the environment. Fleet managers can implement an idle-reduction policy to help save money on fuel and fleet maintenance costs.
Ignoring Dashboard Warning Lights
Minor issues can turn into major problems if ignored. A check engine light might indicate a minor fix today but could lead to costly engine damage if ignored. Drivers should report any warning lights immediately. Read more about dashboard warning lights on your semi-truck.
Overloading Trucks
Every vehicle has a manufacturer’s weight limit, and exceeding this limit can stress brakes and the suspension system. It also increases fuel consumption and the risk of breakdowns. Drivers can keep an eye on the loading and help ensure proper load distribution. Not only will this help the vehicle drive better, but it will prevent load shifts that cause damaged cargo and truck accidents.
Poor Shifting on Burns Out Transmissions
Improper gear shifting in manual vehicles can prematurely wear down the clutch and transmission. Training drivers to shift properly reduces strain on these parts and extends their lifespan.
Prevent Fleet Driver Habits from Increasing Fleet Maintenance Costs
The best way to reduce fleet maintenance costs caused by bad driving habits is to increase and improve driver training! Teach drivers fuel-efficient and maintenance-friendly driving techniques. In addition, make sure they have thorough checklists for their pre-and post-trip inspections. If they understand what to look for, they can help catch minor issues before they explode into massive repairs and unwanted downtime.
You can also use GPS tracking and other onboard diagnostic tools to monitor driving behavior. Most drivers will pay closer attention to their driving habits if they know they’re being monitored. Additionally, it allows fleet managers to correct bad habits before they start impacting fleet maintenance costs.
Schedule Fleet Maintenance with Motorplex
With proactive fleet maintenance and thorough driver training, fleet managers can reduce downtime, lower expenses, and keep trucks on the road longer. We have shops in Auburn, WA and Spokane, WA. Contact Motorplex for all your fleet maintenance and repairs.
