As you continue to make changes and evaluate your goals for 2017 as a fleet, take a few minutes to continue the final few items that will assist you in setting goals and implementing changes to build community and a successful fleet that will sustain time and money saving habits and benefit everyone involved. Here are more ideas for fleet improvement:
- Reduce Idling and Fuel Costs
Reducing idle time is a great way to cut down on fuel costs for the fleet. It will reduce fuel waste, unnecessary vehicle wear and tear, and is a great way for your fleet to contribute to a greener planet. Typically, drivers are not aware of how much time is spent idling so one method is to display idle times for the drivers to see.
Implementation and Benefits:
- Post idle times on the shop’s bulletin board by vehicle number,
- Once drivers see the idle time accruing most will understand the issue.
- Provide incentives to help drivers work toward lowering idle time.
- Promote a sense of community and tackle the problem together.
- Costs nothing to implement and can have a huge impact.
- Promote Team Atmosphere and Enhance Communication
Take suggestions from the team and encourage brainstorming as a part of fleet meetings. Build a culture of community, loyalty, and pride of work by making the team a part of the process. Implement a portion of the meeting to talk about general announcements, fleet vision, training, testing, and safety.
Implementation and Benefits:
- At the beginning of each shift open the floor for individuals to talk to each other and supervisors.
- Focus on a topic of safety provided by the safety manager, including any accidents and concerns.
- Discuss suggestions, review costs, and estimate benefits.
- Help promote an honest, open work environment.
- Find out what is important to your fleet drivers, staff, and technicians and get their input on preventative maintenance programs among other things.
- When employees participate in new protocols and systems they are more invested in making them a success.
- Follow up is critical with discussion of issues from past meetings and follow through on decisions made and important items to the employees.
- Improving Technician Safety
Purchase fall protection equipment for fleet technicians working on trucks. Research what will work best for your facility whether it be a harness system, cantilever ladders with wheels or a scaffolding type platform.
Implementation and Benefits:
- A good product portable with wheels, height-adjustable, adapts to vehicle contours and has non-slip material.
- Provides a steady work surface that does not shake.
- Will promote safety with reducing the risk of a technician fall.
- Technicians feel more safe, respected and understood, improves productivity.
- Try Before You Buy
Work to implement a “Try Before You Buy” Program to determine if new vehicles will perform well and meet the needs of your fleet. If it passes the reviews of various departments a comparison can be done with other vehicles to determine the best new asset to purchase. Be sure to read liability waivers before signing demo contract and protect your fleet.
Implementation and Benefits:
- Secure demo with time built in for technicians to check for any maintenance issues that will arise.
- Fleet drivers can test unit for day to day usage.
- Financial department can check warranty, training costs, emissions testing, structural issues and customer support.
- Vendors benefit from feedback about the unit whether it is purchased or not.
Armed with these tools and suggestions you can incorporate into your fleet and continue to build a culture of safety, community involvement, and loyalty.