When it comes to choosing in-house or outsourced fleet maintenance, or a combination of the two, there is not really a correct or an incorrect answer. Fleet managers share a variety of different philosophies, but how do you know which option is best for your fleet? How do you know if you are doing everything right when you choose to service a vehicle in-house?
Consider these factors when making your decision:
Tire and Parts Management
Your maintenance facility should always include repetitive fast-moving tires and parts. Crucial warranty tracking can easily be implemented in our FMIS, or Fleet Maintenance Information System, while it also tracks parts usage and required replenishment levels. A significant amount of money can be saved through these two important components; and, our experience will benefit your company. We do not take any shortcuts as our tire and parts program is implemented and designed from detailed fleet specifications.
The following features are included as part of our parts management program:
- Integrated Warranty Recovery
- Lower acquisition costs through national pricing agreements
- Eliminating obsolete parts
- Supply network inspections for Off-Road, Heavy Duty, or Light Duty parts
- Supply Chain metrics put into place for Reorder points, Lead times, or Min/Max
- Precise inventory tracking and Repair Order level parts assignment
- Allowable inventory carrying costs by Vector Fleet Management
The following features are included as part of our tire program:
- Alignment program
- Wheel reconditioning
- Program management for mounted wheels and tires
- Warranty Recovery, Scrap Tire Examination, and retread tracking
- Lower acquisition costs through national pricing agreements
Skilled Technicians
You might have many technicians as part of your staff, but they may not possess the right skill sets required by your fleet. Retaining and hiring superior fleet mechanics is one of the most important investments you will ever make in your business. Your technicians must be competent enough to get the necessary work done. While technology, tools, and training can be costly, you cannot get by without it. You will have inexperienced people working for you, or you could also lose techs who feel like they are not being challenged enough.
Vector Fleet Management prides itself on fleet maintenance, as that is all we specialize in. Recruitment, hiring, training, and keeping qualified technicians is crucial to the success of our business. Our turnover has remained low for years because we offer the best training, benefits, and compensation for our employees, and we respect the hard work they put in each day. We need our technicians in order to remain successful, which is why we offer our employees a path to a career, along with incentives and professional development goals that are some of the best in the industry.
Sufficient Workshop Space
The last step you need to consider when you are making your decision is your workshop space. Is it enough space to take on the needs of your fleet maintenance while your vehicles are available? Commercial trucks and government vehicles waiting to be serviced could increase downtime, which is why you should consider either outsourcing part of the work to get your vehicles back on the road, or enhancing your workshop space. If space forces outsourced fleet maintenance, you could use a mobile service truck to perform trailer repairs on-yard. This will eliminate extra space, as well as the time it can take to fit each vehicle into your workshop.
Planning Routine Fleet Maintenance
Ensuring that fleets undergo routine maintenance is one of the most important aspects of fleet management. Rather than waiting for an issue to become a problem down the road, Vector Fleet Management has a Shop Maintenance planner to track and schedule preventive maintenance at precise intervals. The planner also sends out upcoming service notifications.
Outsourcing the maintenance of your fleet could significantly improve your company’s overall bottom line.
To learn more about the features and benefits of a comprehensive fleet management program,
contact us today to discuss your specific needs and to get a free cost analysis.
Contact us today for a free cost analysis!
