Upgrading your fleet

What Is the Right Time for Upgrading your fleet?

Every vehicle has a limited lifespan and that includes fleet vehicles as well. They have a relatively lower short span as compared to normal consumer vehicles. Thus, upgrading becomes the only option, and that too promptly. 

Any trucking company that is using its equipment regularly will witness wear and tear on those items. The efficiency only depends on the fact how smoothly the business is going to run. This is why efficient automobiles and a sound fleet management system are inevitable for better outcomes. 

There are times when it is very tough to get the output from the vehicles. Well, is there any possible reason for that? 

The fleet is going to become rusty due to high usage and you will see a dip in their performance.

There are some warnings or signs that will enable you to know if this is the right time to upgrade your fleet and one must not ignore them. 

You need to decide whether these warnings and issues are going to need an upgrade or repair. You would want to hire an experienced mechanic who can guide you regarding the wear and tear or employ the fleet management software that can highlight one of the most maintenance schedules, the usage, and the real wear and tear of the vehicle. 

Let us read about those signs and issues.

Upgrading your fleet

What is the right time for you to upgrade your trucking fleet?

If the vehicle is more than 5 years old.

When a part of your fleet is more than 5 years old, then you can easily feel a noticeable difference between that vehicle and the newer vehicle. Well, the best possible and visible sign is the onboard technology.

When old vehicles are upgraded with the latest technology such as TMS, then it can be a cost-effective method to reduce the overhead costs and avoid any wear and tear costs. The five-year-old vehicle is generally going to be out of warranty. 

This only means that the maintenance and repair costs are going to add up. This further will reduce the fuel efficiency when compared with the new vehicles. In the simplest terms, the only cost-effective thing here would be to replace the vehicle. 

Repeated breakdowns.

The machinery is going to malfunction at a point in time. It is also just impossible if you can avoid it. The main worry arises when the number of breakdowns increases. Some fleet vehicles might face technical glitches once in a while and that can be saved with regular maintenance. When the vehicles are poorly maintained or if the vehicle is maintained poorly, then you will face breakdown issues very frequently. 

The companies however are going to face an extended downtime to bear such huge expenses. Well, this is the reason you need to check how deteriorated your machinery is and then upgrade it timely.

Employing outdated technology.

In modern logistics operations, the updating of technology is very necessary. It is crucial as the current fleet management system cannot be integrated with obsolete vehicles. They must be equipped with an alarm system and a diagnostic for better operation.

When your vehicles are using old technology that cannot be aligned with the modern telematics requirement, then upgrading them is the only choice. When you are selecting new ones, you must ensure that they have features that help in facilitating and monitoring the drivers. 

High-fuel consumption.

In fleet operations, fuel usage is a crucial factor for ensuring profitability. When fuel consumption is high, then it means fewer profits and high expenses. It is also an integral part of the business that will help in minimizing fuel expenses. But this task is impossible when the vehicle is inefficient.

The modern fleet is going to come with various features that mean less fuel consumption. When integrated with the fleet management software, it monitors the driver’s efficiency and will help in keeping the consumer in control. 

The 65,000-mile clock. 

Well, if there are 65,000 miles on the clock, then it has been put to great usage. Even if the truck is under the warranty, the warranty is only going to cover the issues related to manufacturing. What you need is to cover regular maintenance and repairs and these costs are likely going to be on the rise significantly. 

The maintenance and repairs are also going to take time. Thus, you can expect the vehicle to be on the road lesser than before. When it is on the road, you are going to deal with the breakdown issues. Thus, it is the best time that you to upgrade the vehicle. 

In the end. 

Sometimes, it is more costly to continue with an outdated fleet. Well, updating the fleet can result in great savings from fuel costs and maintenance. Make sure that you take a close look at your fleet and ensure if some tricks need to be upgraded.  

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