Workplace health and safety is a top priority for any company – even if that workplace isn’t in a set location.
Companies that manage commercial fleets approach safety in slightly different ways. And an important aspect of fleet safety is ensuring that all vehicles are well-maintained and in good condition.
Using predictive maintenance to schedule repairs and preventative maintenance will keep team members safe, improve the company’s environmental impact, and even aid professional development. In this article, we’ll go over a few things you should keep in mind when improving your organization’s fleet management practices.
What Is Predictive Maintenance?
Predictive maintenance uses data analysis and predictive modeling software to anticipate when a vehicle will need to be serviced or repaired.
When implemented properly, it results in proactive maintenance strategies that reduce the likelihood of breakdowns and costly repairs. Drivers are safer, companies maximize their investments in each vehicle, teams save money, and the environment benefits from vehicles that operate more efficiently. It’s a win all around.
Benefits of Predictive Maintenance in Commercial Fleets
Any company that manages a fleet of vehicles should understand the value of predictive maintenance. Here are the most significant benefits of using this data-driven approach to scheduling maintenance and repairs.
Continuous Monitoring of Vehicle Performance
Routine checks are part of any commercial vehicle maintenance schedule. Team members may check the brakes and oil levels every few weeks, but the time between inspections leaves room for possible malfunctions.
These mechanical issues happen aren’t just unfortunate events – they also misalign the vehicle with federal laws. Commercial vehicle owners must ensure that specific truck parts remain roadworthy in order to maintain compliance. These parts include:
- Braking systems
- Fuel systems
- Air pressure gauges
- Wheels
- Lamps
Constant monitoring of the vehicle’s performance by team members using predictive software ensures that those crucial elements remain safe and functional.
This also doubles as a professional development opportunity. Workers leading these inspections learn how to operate the monitoring software and make the workplace more efficient, thereby improving their skill sets.
Catching Issues Before They Become Problems
Warning lights exist for a reason. They’re a signal that something in the vehicle is malfunctioning and could make it inoperable. Although that may be sufficient for personal vehicles, commercial trucks face costly downtime when dashboard warning lights turn on.
A truck’s total downtime depends on the specific mechanical issue and how quickly the company can repair or replace the internal parts. Catching issues before they worsen means the problem will be more economical to fix. That’s significant, given that maintenance costs per mile for fleet vehicles have increased by 42% between 2012 and 2022.
Reducing Downtime
Vehicles breaking down less often reduces the downtime for commercial fleets. This prevents shipment delays and keeps the company on track financially.
Using software to monitor fleets reduces human error and catches red flags that might otherwise have been overlooked. This can help eliminate a number of costly schedule disruptions.
Minimizing the Risk of Injury
People drive commercial vehicles with developing mechanical issues all the time. If the tires haven’t been rotated recently, they might take off on a long shipment without realizing that the rubber is wearing thin in a few spots. This increases the likelihood that they will pop on the road, putting the driver at risk of injury.
Predictive maintenance can catch these issues before they pose a safety risk. With this data-driven approach to fleet management, drivers won’t be at risk of getting into accidents because internal parts need attention.
Drivers are also at risk of injury when stopping on the side of the road to repair their truck. Not only from the traffic moving around them, but also from ergonomic hazards like back or neck strain while working on components of the vehicle.
Vehicle-Specific Scheduling
Predictive maintenance software considers each truck’s age, make, model, engine, and previously replaced parts when determining its risk factors.
Rather than relying on the same rule of thumb for maintaining all vehicles (say, scheduling maintenance every three months or servicing parts after a certain number of miles on the road), you can cater to each truck’s specific needs.
Maintaining the Value of Your Fleet Vehicles
Vehicles run longer when they work better. Optimized maintenance helps them stay on the road for more years and require fewer repairs. Predictive maintenance keeps fleets at peak performance, which maximizes the returns on the investment made in each truck.
And when it’s time to sell vehicles from your fleet, their resale value will be higher because they’re still operational. Predictive maintenance ensures that more parts are still serviceable and that you can recoup more of your initial investment.
Predictive Maintenance Tools for Commercial Fleets
Team leaders interested in implementing predictive maintenance can use these tools to make it happen.
Internet of Things (IoT) Sensors
Wi-Fi-enabled sensors are the first step in implementing a predictive maintenance system for your fleet. Internet of Things (IoT) sensors attach to key components of each truck to monitor numerous operational functionalities simultaneously, including:
- Tire pressure
- Engine temperature
- Lubricant levels
- Brake performance
- Battery condition
The sensors track these details during transit and upload their readings to cloud-based software, allowing your team to monitor performance in real time. The software can also alert you when it identifies any issues or maintenance needs.
Internet-connected IoT sensors can also conduct mileage monitoring. The results show when a vehicle isn’t using gas optimally, which is difficult to tell from a human perspective. Understanding when issues like an exhaust system leak are happening allows your team to resolve them faster, ensuring the optimal operation of the vehicle.
Sensors are also a backup way to track each vehicle’s service hours. The hours logged daily are crucial to maintaining compliance with government regulations, such as the electronic logging devices (ELD) rule. Drivers are safer when their trucks meet these requirements. They get more time to rest and their trucks receive maintenance more regularly, both of which can reduce safety risks.
Cloud Data Storage
Capturing IoT sensor information in cloud storage minimizes the possibility of communication errors. Everyone can access the same information and make the best judgment call based on each vehicle’s needs.
Companies with multiple fleet storage locations can also use cloud-based data to track the entire fleet’s operational status, no matter where the trucks are. As long as each sensor has the connectivity necessary for cloud storage backup, guesswork and communication delays won’t keep vehicles from operating optimally.
AI Software
Predictive maintenance software may come with added artificial intelligence (AI) features. These features use algorithms to collect and scan data, check it against previous log history, and proactively alert the team to emerging performance issues.
AI can also automate routine fleet management tasks. For instance, it can send recurring reports to team members, charting each truck’s operational stats over time. The reports could include information like how many vehicles are operational, which have had the most maintenance since the last report, and other data that can be used to achieve peak fleet efficiency.
With AI pulling together reports, interpreting data, and summarizing findings, team members can devote more attention to other essential aspects of their jobs.
Given these and other benefits, it’s no surprise that the AI robot industry is projected to retain 22.1% of its market share for commercial fleet vehicles by the end of this year.
Improve Commercial Fleets with Predictive Maintenance
Predictive maintenance software is a highly effective way to improve commercial fleet operations. It collects data, interprets it, and reduces human error to optimize maintenance schedules.
This makes vehicles more efficient, increases profits, and most importantly, helps keep truckers safe on the road.
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