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Preventative Maintenance: A Key Ally in the Pursuit of Safety

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As we’ve been exploring in the previous installments in our “Full Circle of Safety” series, there are many ways a transportation company can reinforce its safety strategy to protect the business and its employees from harm. In this piece, we’re looking at how preventative maintenance can play a key role in ensuring drivers and their vehicles are as safe as possible on the road. 

The last thing any transportation company wants is for their drivers and vehicles to be stuck on the side of the road, especially in situations that could pose a danger to both. This is especially frustrating when it’s discovered that the issue that’s disabled the vehicle could have been prevented. 

A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) study found that vehicle failure was a key factor in about 10% of truck crashes, with poor maintenance of brakes and tires being major factors. These factors and more could be mitigated with the right preventative maintenance program.


Three Major Safety Benefits of Maintenance

Disabled vehicles can’t generate revenue, so of course preventative maintenance makes an enormous impact on the overall quality of a fleet’s performance. But preventative maintenance helps guard against the risks that arise over the course of a vehicle’s use and makes an even bigger impact on safety.  We’ve previously discussed the importance and challenges of keeping up with maintenance programs, but below we explore the top three safety benefits of maintenance programs. 

  • Maintenance Ensures a Safe, Functioning Asset – It seems obvious to mention, but it’s important to remember that preventative and regular maintenance’s sole function is to ensure that your vehicle is fit for purpose. A safe vehicle means a safe trip, and preventative maintenance is the best way to make certain that your business does not suffer because a vehicle is unexpectedly out of commission. By keeping your assets running at their best, your business is protected against lost revenue, damaged reputation and eager competition.

  • Maintenance Keeps the Driver Informed – Regular check-ups and maintenance overviews give the driver a good understanding of their vehicle and its individual requirements. Say your vehicle tends to make a certain unusual sound, regular check-ups can help the driver know what needs to be addressed, and how urgently. By taking into account the daily Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) and keeping an open dialogue between maintenance technicians and drivers, both parties can keep abreast of the vehicle’s needs, increasing driver confidence on the road.

  • Maintenance Protects Everyone on the Road – Not all maintenance issues are something as unassuming as an odd sound, or a light that needs changing. A blown tire, failed brakes or disabled turn signals can all lead to major incidents and cause accidents that result in damage to vehicles, injuries to drivers and possibly even death. The stakes are higher than it might seem at first glance. And should a transportation business suffer such an accident, litigation and fines can cause financial hardship and tremendous heartache.


How Trimble Can Help 

Implementing a proper preventative maintenance program is a complex undertaking. As we recently wrote, a nationwide shortage of technicians, on top of parts shortages and supply chain slowdowns, have all caused numerous challenges when it comes to vehicle maintenance. But Trimble’s TMT Fleet Maintenance solution is designed to keep assets moving and technicians working at their best.  

With TMT Fleet Maintenance, you can view real-time meter information and DVIRs for each truck in your fleet, then schedule preventative maintenance at the right times to keep vehicles on the road. You can also connect your trucks to the shop to receive up-to-the-minute location and fault codes data to better plan repairs. You gain clear visibility of your fleet’s needs and can turn your service center into a true profit center with easy-to-use invoicing, contract management and payment processing tools.

Preventative maintenance is a simple practice that makes a major difference in the efficiency, confidence, and of course safety of a fleet. Why leave your vehicles’ needs up to guesswork and chance? Invest in a solution that will ensure and enhance the success of your business. 

Contact our team to learn more about TMT Fleet Maintenance and how we can help keep your fleet safe.