Monthly fleet inspections are an important part of keeping your business running smoothly and profitably. Without them, your vehicles could develop problems that could lead to costly repairs or even accidents.
In fact, vehicle accidents account for $230.6 billion in damages annually in the US alone. Many could have been avoided with proper care. As a fleet manager, you have to be on top of things. Here are six reasons why monthly fleet inspections are essential to your business.
1. They help you avoid costly repairs and replacements
Regular monthly fleet inspections are important to keeping your vehicles on the road and avoiding unexpected and costly repairs and replacements. During a monthly inspection, a mechanic will check the engine, transmission, brakes, lights, tires, and other systems to make sure they are all working properly.
Any issues that are found can be fixed before they become bigger problems. For example, if a brake light is out, the mechanic can replace the bulb. But if the issue is not found and fixed, the brake light could eventually stop working entirely, which could lead to an accident or citation.
Regular inspections can also help you avoid expensive repairs. If a small oil leak is found during an inspection and fixed right away, it will cost much less than if the leak is left untreated and causes serious engine damage.
Monthly fleet inspections are important for both safety and financial reasons. Keeping your vehicles in good condition will help you avoid costly repairs and replacements down the road.
2. They improve your drivers’ safety on the road
Monthly fleet inspections help to ensure that truck drivers are operating vehicles that are in good mechanical condition. This helps to reduce the risk of breakdowns and accidents while out on the road.
Additionally, monthly inspections help to identify potential safety hazards that can be addressed before they cause an accident. By ensuring that trucks are safe and sound, monthly inspections help to protect both truck drivers and the motoring public, who travel in much smaller automobiles and are thus at greater risk of injury or death.
3. They help you stay compliant with regulations
A monthly fleet inspection helps keep your company compliant with regulations by ensuring that vehicles are safe and roadworthy. By conducting regular inspections, you can ensure that your vehicles are up to date with the latest safety standards.
This helps to protect your drivers and other motorists. These inspections also keep your insurance premiums low. That’s because insurers who know of your compliance rightly assume your company is less of a risk.
4. They boost your fuel efficiency
Monthly inspections help to improve fuel economy by ensuring that the engine and other key components are functioning properly. They help to identify potential problems early before they have a chance to cause major damage or reduce efficiency.
Regularly inspecting the engine, fuel system, and other key components enable technicians to spot these small issues and make any necessary tweaks along the way. As a result, monthly inspections help to keep big rigs and other heavy-duty automobiles running smoothly and efficiently, saving money on fuel costs in the long run.
5. They protect your reputation as a business
Any business that relies on heavy-duty vehicles knows that those vehicles need to be in top condition at all times. Not only are they expensive to operate and maintain, but they also play a vital role in the company’s operations. Checking for problems and addressing them quickly, on the regular, gives businesses less downtime and expense that comes with breakdowns.
Furthermore, monthly inspections send a message to employees and customers that the company is committed to safety and reliability. In today’s competitive marketplace, that kind of reputation can be the difference between success and failure.
6. They save you money in the long run
Preventative maintenance on a particularly active big rig costs between $500-$750 per month. This includes the cost of oil changes, tire rotations, and other routine maintenance tasks.
While this may seem like a lot of money upfront, it’s important to remember that the goal of preventative maintenance is to avoid more expensive repairs down the line. It’s also about keeping your trucks moving. Unexpected breakdowns can cost thousands of dollars in repairs as well as thousands in lost revenue.
Fleet managers and transportation businesses should not overlook the importance of monthly fleet inspections. These inspections are essential to keeping your business running smoothly, avoiding costly repairs, and maintaining a good reputation.
If you’re not already doing them, make sure to start incorporating them into your routine today. And if you need a reliable partner to help you get started, contact J&A Fleet Maintenance today.