How GPS Fleet Tracking Helps with Fall Fleet Maintenance
13 Oct 2015
If your business has fleet vehicles, you may already be aware of how GPS trackers work. You likely use this technology for maps, navigation, and alerts. However, you might not have realized that the alerts and other functions of the GPS fleet tracking technology can actually help you with the upcoming fall fleet maintenance. Here are some ways to use GPS technology with your fleet vehicles.
Schedule Reminders With GPS Trackers
One of the biggest benefits to using GPS trackers for fleet maintenance in the fall is to use this technology to schedule maintenance reminders. You can program alerts and reminders into the device that lets you know during different intervals what maintenance tasks are coming up. This could be anything from filling up the fluids in the fleet vehicles to getting a tune-up or checking the brakes. You can have these alerts sent to you via text message or email. This will help keep your trucks in good condition with regular maintenance so you don’t have to worry about winter breakdowns.
Figure Out the Proper Intervals
When you are going to set up the alerts, you first need to determine what intervals maintenance tasks should be scheduled. The best way to do this is check the manual for each of your fleet vehicles. They might not have the same maintenance schedule unless they are the same make, model and year, so create different alerts for each individual vehicle accordingly. Check the intervals and if they are based on number of miles traveled or a certain period of time for the different types of maintenance. You might also need to consider what the trucks are used for and in what conditions they tend to operate.
Get Proper Reporting for Fleets
Some of the more advanced GPS trackers can help you keep track of the condition of your vehicles. You can use your trackers to see what vehicles are driving differently, which is often a sign that their performance is dropping due to needing maintenance or repairs. It can also be as simple as tracking how many miles a certain vehicle has been going before having the tires inspected or the battery replaced.
Know What to Perform Maintenance On
In addition to getting a tune-up and other performance checks for your fleet vehicles, you should also set up the GPS trackers to alert you for more specific issues. Here are some common things you need fall maintenance to be done on to ensure the vehicles continue running properly:
Oil, filter and fluids – It is extremely important that your fleet vehicles have enough oil and other fluids. Something as simple as being low on coolant or oil can cause major issues with the radiator or engine, which means very expensive repairs. Changing the filter is also important as it helps to keep the engine clean.
Belts and hoses – There are certain intervals that hoses and belts need to be inspected and/or replaced depending on your vehicle. Set your GPS tracker to remind you about replacing timing belts every 60,000 to 90,000 miles, and replacing the V-belts every 40,000 to 50,000 miles, or at other milestones recommended by your manufacturer’s manual.
Brakes – The brake pads and shoes should be inspected and possibly replaced before wear causes problems while a driver is on the road. It helps protect your vehicles from major repairs and can help prevent a major accident.
Fall fleet maintenance is important so that company vehicles are in good condition before the cold winter season. Thankfully, GPS fleet tracking can help keep your vehicles in prime operating shape before old man winter rears his ugly head.
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