From shipping and transportation to manual trades like construction and landscaping, the list of industries that make use of fleets of vehicles is a long one. If you’re the owner of one of these businesses, you understand that the importance of your fleet cannot be overstated. These vehicles are the foundation of your livelihood, and keeping them in good condition for as long as you can is essential to getting the most out of your investment and keeping your organization operating the way it should.Â
While maximizing the lifespan of your fleet vehicles might seem like a tall order, it’s actually very easy for you and your team members to get into the small habits that will make a big difference in how long your trucks or vans can last you. These are some of the most impactful things you can do to extend the life of your fleet!
Get Regular Maintenance
When it comes to your own physical health, there’s a reason you go to the doctor regularly even when you’re feeling fine. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure, and it’s much easier to prevent problems from occurring than to fix them after the fact. The same is true for your vehicles! Even when no issues are actively presenting themselves, getting regular servicing or maintenance appointments can keep them from arising in the future, and can help find and address silent problems that aren’t easy to notice.Â
Complete Repairs on Time
Every vehicle on the road will undergo some damage during its lifetime, whether from a road accident, an unrelated accident (like a falling tree branch), or simple wear and tear over time. Problems like worn-out belts or hoses, misaligned suspensions, or old tires are bound to arise sooner or later, and many drivers and business owners alike can be tempted to put off repairing these issues for as long as possible, whether to save money or to save time. However, doing this can often cost you more of both in the long run! When you let any problem in a vehicle– even the small, run-of-the-mill kind– go for too long, the issue will inevitably worsen over time, often causing more damage and turning what could be a quick, cheap fix into a complicated repair that can shave time off the vehicle’s lifespan. This can be simply avoided by addressing problems promptly as soon as they arise, nipping the potential for bigger issues down the road in the bud!
Keep Things Clean
Regular car washes might not seem like something that can keep a vehicle running for longer, but they can actually make a huge difference. Because they’re almost always outdoors being exposed to dust, dirt, and debris, trucks and vans are prone to getting dirty and staying dirty. Even worse, being on the road exposes them to all sorts of caustic chemicals, like winter road salt kicked up by tires. These substances can eventually weaken the integrity of a vehicle’s components, especially in the undercarriage where dirt and chemicals are likely to kick up, and can cause rust and corrosion that will shorten a vehicle’s lifespan significantly. Keeping your fleet vehicles clean and regularly washing off anything that might be causing damage helps to prevent this from happening!
Ensure Proper Usage
Every driver on the road has fudged the rules at one time or another, even professionals who drive vans or trucks from a company fleet. However, when it comes to getting the absolute most out of your vehicles in terms of time and function, it’s important to emphasize proper usage and best practice for everyone who gets behind the wheel. Certain common habits, such as driving too fast while plowing snow, can eat away at a vehicle’s potential lifespan over time, and it’s best to kick these habits to the curb to ensure that you can use your fleet to its full potential over the years!
In order to keep up on the important maintenance and repairs that your fleet vehicles will need over time, you need a maintenance and repair partner  you can rely on. Levan Machine and Truck Equipment is that shop! We’ll help you to keep your vehicles in good working order for many years to come, saving you time, money, and effort. You can contact us today to learn more!