Uptime is critical. Utilizing aggressive preventative maintenance programs with trained technicians and the most up-to-date technology maximizes uptime.
There are many important aspects of regular maintenance and several types of maintenance styles. The most common are reactive maintenance and preventive maintenance.
Reactive Maintenance
Reactive maintenance is fixing something when it breaks down, and it can cost thousands more per year in repairs and downtime. This type of maintenance can be detrimental to driver retention. No one wants to drive a truck they are not comfortable with mechanically.
Trucks transport heavy loads every day, experiencing extreme wear and tear in all conditions, which can range from extreme heat to frigid cold. The miles driven in these conditions can add up to big repairs and mechanical problems if not maintained correctly. This is why having a maintenance schedule is so important.
Preventative Maintenance
Fleets perform preventative maintenance to prevent a break down and service interruption from occurring. Preventative maintenance is key to keeping your trucks mechanically sound. A good preventative maintenance schedule will include:
- Regular oil changes
- Chassis lube
- Fuel filters
- Air filter replacement
- Brake and air system inspection
- Suspension and steering components checked, lubed, and replaced, all slightly prior to wear out
With today’s emissions, it is also important you have a maintenance schedule that includes routine DPF cleanings and emission system services.
Cost of Downtime
A good maintenance schedule will keep your trucks on the road where they belong. With the current hours of service mandates, it is important that drivers are spending their time delivering product, and not waiting at the dealership for repairs that could have been avoided with a little preventative maintenance.
There are all kinds of numbers and estimates on what downtime costs. A good rule of thumb is to take whatever that truck earns per day and multiply by four, as that is the average time a truck is in the shop when it has a mechanical failure. Add in the driver’s downtime pay, lodging, and the cost of towing. It is easy to see how it adds up to a big loss every time that truck breaks down.
Being diligent with maintenance and having a dedicated maintenance schedule is so important to your business. Whether you are managing maintenance yourself, or working with your full-service maintenance team, you can increase uptime with a good maintenance schedule.
Talk to your local MHC dealer today and learn more about optimizing your truck!