Research compiled for the National Transportation Energy Data Book identified nearly 3.7 million fleet vehicles in 2018. Slightly more than half of those vehicles left were reportedly used in the commercial and government sector. Though the average annual miles driven by commercial fleet vehicles varied by type, each class exceeded more than 21,000 miles per year.
All that is to put into context what we already know: most fleet vehicles get plenty of use. With that use comes normal wear-and-tear. If the company isn’t on top of things, this leads to malfunctions and downtime. We’ve talked a lot about preventive maintenance in the past, but we’re shifting gears slightly. Today, we tackle the top three reasons why post-trip inspections are important for fleet vehicles.
As mentioned, we’re big fans of preventive maintenance. In fact, it’s one of the best things you can do to ensure your fleet vehicles remain in peak condition and for as long as possible. This is great news, especially when a vehicle is running 20,000+ miles per year.
Post-trip inspections ensure that problems are promptly found and fixed. While catching the same problem during a pre-trip inspection is helpful, it could still result in downtime.
Alignment that slightly pulls to the left. A sticky door handle. A leaky left rear tire. These are all minor maintenance issues that are likely to happen at some point in a fleet vehicle’s lifetime. The big concern with these types of problems is that they’re all largely forgettable. That’s where a post-trip inspection comes in handy.
Experienced drivers will always recognize when something feels off, even small issues like wheel alignment. Performing a thorough post-trip inspection when the experience is fresh on a driver’s mind is paramount if you want to keep your fleet vehicle malfunction-free.
While it’s always in the best interest of your company and its vehicles to perform a post-trip inspection each day, it may also be a legal requirement depending on the type of vehicle and work performed. Where required, drivers must complete daily vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs) for record-keeping. Field service software can assist with these reports by digitizing paperwork and alerting drivers and supervisors when reports are missing or incomplete.
One area that must be covered in this evaluation includes functionality. Vehicle brakes, lights, windshield wipers, tires, and steering keep the vehicle operating properly. These functions also protect the driver from danger due to faulty vehicle components.
As part of our comprehensive and customizable fleet service software, EnSight+ provides a fleet management module that can help your business better track its post-trip inspections. We’re able to automate tasks related to maintenance and can track driver behavior to ensure compliance with safety regulations and expectations. To learn more about what we can do for your fleet vehicles, book your demo today.
All monitored by you, in real time. Are you ready to take control?