Fleet preventive maintenance: the cost of skipping it

The lack of preventive maintenance in transportation fleets can lead to serious problems, from increased costs to the premature loss of vehicles.

These losses not only pose a challenge for the manager but also compromise operational efficiency and safety, affecting the company's services as a whole.

A well-structured preventive maintenance plan is an important way to address these issues, reduce exposure to risks and better organize corrections before problems get worse.

Here is a closer look:

• What losses result from a lack of preventive maintenance;
• How to avoid a lack of preventive maintenance in the fleet.

What losses result from a lack of preventive maintenance?

Increased repair costs

The lack of preventive maintenance means neglecting small repairs over time, resulting in wear, breakdowns and failures that can significantly affect how a vehicle operates.

Problems such as engine overheating and wear on shock absorbers and springs often lead to a false sense that there is no need to worry about the vehicle, since it keeps running despite these symptoms.

However, it is important to stress that the costs associated with corrective maintenance, which consists of making repairs after damage has already occurred, generally far exceed the costs of preventive services or scheduled corrections.

Therefore, the lack of preventive maintenance not only increases overall repair costs but can also lead to unplanned interruptions in fleet operations.

Longer unavailability

The lack of proper vehicle maintenance control leaves vehicles subject to unexpected failures. In addition, the worse a problem gets, the harder it is to correct, increasing the time vehicles are unavailable for fleet operations.

This not only affects daily operations but also affects the reliability of the services provided, harming the company's reputation.

This problem also leads to another loss from a lack of preventive maintenance:

Lower productivity

Frequent vehicle unavailability due to mechanical problems reduces operational efficiency. Delays in deliveries and meeting schedules compromise productivity, directly affecting fleet performance.

Higher fuel consumption

Fleets with a poor maintenance routine often operate at reduced efficiency, which can result in a significant increase in fuel consumption.

Efficient fuel combustion depends on properly adjusted mechanical and electrical systems, and the lack of preventive maintenance can lead to inefficient engines and inadequately lubricated systems, among other problems.

As a result, the vehicle has to work harder to maintain performance, which not only worsens fuel consumption and increases refueling costs but also has a negative environmental impact by emitting more greenhouse gases.

Excessive pollutant emissions

Dirty engines or compromised exhaust systems contribute to air pollution, harming the environment and increasing harmful gas emissions.

In addition, in a context where sustainability is becoming increasingly relevant, the lack of preventive maintenance runs counter to responsible and environmentally conscious practices in transportation operations.

Keeping the fleet in good condition, complying with emissions regulations and promoting environmental responsibility is essential to meet current standards and expectations.

Premature wear on vehicle components

Parts and components that are not replaced or handled according to manufacturers' recommendations may suffer accelerated wear.

The frequent need to replace these items ends up causing additional costs and operational interruptions.

Greater risk of accidents on the road

The lack of preventive maintenance can result in sudden mechanical failures, such as in the braking system, putting cargo and the safety of drivers and other road users at risk.

Besides the braking system, various other failures can arise, compromising road safety.

Prioritizing vehicle safety is extremely important, making inspections at departure and return from each route essential to identify and correct potential problems. This routine does not eliminate all risks, but it helps reduce the chance of a known failure going out on the road without being addressed.

Vehicle depreciation

When a potential buyer finds that there is no complete preventive maintenance history, they are more likely to offer a lower amount for the vehicle, since they have no assurance of the truck's condition and reliability.

This factor can result in financial losses for the company, affecting its ability to invest in new vehicles or fleet improvements.

Therefore, preventive maintenance not only keeps vehicles in good condition but also helps preserve their market value, ensuring a better long-term return on investment (ROI).

How can you avoid a lack of preventive maintenance in the fleet?

Checklist and regular maintenance schedule

Establish a preventive maintenance checklist for each vehicle in the fleet.

In addition, set regular inspection schedules, maintenance procedures and scheduled services to help keep vehicle components in good working condition.

Maintenance history

Keeping accurate records of all maintenance activities, including inspection dates, repairs carried out, parts replacements and preventive maintenance, is essential to keep track of and better plan the fleet's preventive maintenance routine.

Effective documentation helps trace the maintenance history and accurately schedule future interventions.

Driver training

Educate drivers about the importance of preventive maintenance and encourage them to promptly report any vehicle problems or concerns. Drivers play a crucial role in identifying mechanical problems early.

To speed up and simplify this work, departure and return checklists are a good alternative, especially when carried out with digital formats that organize records and allow work orders to be opened after the inspection performed by the person responsible.

Using a preventive maintenance system

A maintenance management system can help schedule inspections, keep track of maintenance history and generate alerts for scheduled maintenance. This helps prevent preventive maintenance from being forgotten in the fleet's daily routine.

Working with reliable workshops

Establish partnerships with reliable, qualified maintenance workshops. This helps increase confidence that inspections and repairs will be carried out by experienced, trustworthy professionals.

Keeping track of performance and maintenance indicators

You need to keep track of the amounts spent on corrective, preventive and predictive maintenance. This lets you understand where spending is highest and better direct investigations to reduce maintenance costs.

In addition, keep track of fleet performance indicators such as fuel consumption, tire wear and breakdown history.

This way, you will be able to identify trends that may indicate maintenance problems and generate insights into the improvements that need to be applied most urgently.

Want to deepen your knowledge of fleet maintenance management even further and ensure the success of your transportation operations?

Join us for the course ‘Fleet Maintenance Management: Your First Steps’ and start on the path to more efficient, economical operations. Sign up now and advance your management career (in Portuguese)!