Replacing wheels and drums: Preventative maintenance program insight for long service life
Is there any fleet manager who isn’t interested in minimizing his fleet’s operating costs but doesn’t understand that he needs to utilize every bit of service life out of his equipment that’s economically possible? That’s true, of course, for trucks, tractors and trailers, but it’s also true for the parts that make up a fleet’s
Spec’ing engine protection: Lube oil filtration keeps the engine clean
Lube oil, called the life blood of an engine, is called on to do more than most people are aware. We all know that it keeps engines running by reducing internal friction in the engine. It does this by actually keeping moving parts separated with a thin fluid layer. It helps protect internal metal surfaces
Spec and manage fuel efficient tires
If even only one of your trucks is used in an application during which it is at highway speeds and you’re not using fuel efficient tires, you need to take another look at what you have mounted on that truck’s wheels. Paul Crehan, director of product marketing for trucks at Michelin North America, said, “Fleets
Good preventative maintenance can cure CSA headaches
Ever since the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration launched its initiative called Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) there has been increased attention to the condition of over-the-road equipment. Everyone wants to avoid problems during a roadside inspection because every infraction will be reported to the FMCSA and made public via the Internet. According to some fleet
From sleeper to day cab: Cab conversion might be a consideration for fleets
If you need some additional equipment, you might want to look into a retired over-the-road sleeper that is economically capable of a new life as a day cab. If, on the other hand, you need to dispose of some sleepers that are still alive and well but have 800,000 to a 1 million miles on
Improving profitability within fleet repair facilities
Shops can improve their productivity and profitability if these utilize outside repair and refinish sources by inquiring if they provide such Express Scratch Repair (ESR) services. This improves the shop’s productivity by having dents, scratches and other imperfections repaired at the same time other services are performed. It also gets equipment back on the road that
“Managing” can minimize downtime: Why trucks experience unscheduled downtime and addressing remedies
Unexpected out-of-service events, especially when they happen on the road, are always expensive—too expensive to be dismissed as being inevitable. Yet many fleets, in their busy day-to-day operations, too often fail to address how the road breakdowns that they do experience might be avoided in the future. Dick Hyatt, president of Decisiv Inc., a provider
Training: An investment in efficiency
Training technicians on the correct use of shop tools and equipment, from vehicle lifts to diagnostic tools, should be considered an investment—not an expense.
Designed for fuel economy
Engine manufacturers have made great strides in improving fuel economy, but fleet managers must also do their jobs writing specs to take advantage of the fuel saving potential of new designs.
Not your daddy’s tires
Today’s low rolling resistance tires are designed to optimize fuel efficiency while delivering satisfactory traction and durability.
Electrical connections and inverters
Suppliers have introduced new products aimed at addressing lingering concerns due to corrosion in electrical systems
Calculating cost of ownership
Especially for a private fleet, this is a figure that’s important to know, but not one that’s easy to calculate.