The primary goal of any transportation and trucking company is to ensure freight is delivered on time. In order to deliver goods, a company’s fleet of trucks must be fully operational so that the risk of delays caused faulty engine parts or a vehicle breakdown is substantially reduced.
Fleet maintenance professionals are the ones responsible for keeping trucks in good condition so that transportation companies can continue to distribute freight efficiently. They work with other members of the transportation team like dispatchers, truck drivers, and mechanics to keep day-to-day operations running smoothly.
If you’re considering a career in transportation and logistics, read on to learn more about the dynamic fleet maintenance role—how these professionals work with truck drivers, and which software they are using to get the job done.
Fleet Maintenance Duties in Transport Operations
In the transportation industry, the size of a fleet maintenance team depends on how large a company’s fleet of trucks is. Roles in this area range from fleet maintenance officers to fleet maintenance managers (who play a supervisory role). All fleet maintenance professionals are familiar with provincial and federal safety compliance regulations for transportation vehicles.
A fleet maintenance career might involve different duties, depending where you work. Here are a few ways that you might contribute to successful transportation operations in this role:
Vehicle acquisition: Many fleet professionals make decisions about the trucks that are bought, and how they are financed. Some small companies, which only have a few trucks, might decide to purchase them flat-out, whereas companies with more trucks may find it easier to lease their vehicles.
Scheduling: To keep trucks running at peak performance, fleet maintenance officers or managers schedule regular maintenance and repair for the vehicles. Some transportation companies have mechanics on-site, while others don’t. It’s up to the fleet maintenance team to schedule regular servicing and repair, or emergency repair, as needed.
Documentation: Fleet maintenance workers also make sure that all vehicle registrations and licences are up to date. They keep track of vehicle service and inspection records, and they also maintain documents that prove the fleet meets provincial and federal standards.
Monitoring Driver Behaviour in this Transport Operations Career
Everyone knows that truck drivers and professionals with dispatching training communicate regularly regarding route information and delivery schedules. However, fleet management experts are responsible for something that’s equally important—monitoring driver behaviour.
Poor driver behaviour like speeding, braking abruptly, and erratic driving can affect fuel costs and require more maintenance and repair work to be done on trucks. Fleet maintenance workers continuously monitor driver behaviour using a vehicle’s on-board computer and fleet management software. If they notice any excessive driving behaviour, they can speak with the drivers or their supervisors to get things back on track.
Why Industry Pros Work With Fleet Management Software
Many of the tasks we’ve looked at so far can be automated by fleet management software. Monitoring vehicle performance is much easier when trucks can send updates directly to a fleet maintenance professional while they’re out on deliveries.
Not only does fleet management software help reduce costs associated with truck maintenance; it can also help with administrative work. Some software programs are capable of automatically updating driver timesheet, and they can also notify fleet maintenance professionals when regulatory compliance paperwork needs to be updated. Other features you’ll find in fleet management software include GPS tracking systems for trucks, and route planning capabilities that are also very useful for dispatchers.
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