How to Prevent Common Fleet Breakdowns?

November 17, 2021 by Hardik K

For the success of any fleet, it is important for all the vehicles to keep running seamlessly. Vehicle breakdown can be a severe problem for any freight hauling business. An increase in vehicle downtime can dramatically impact the capability and efficiency of a fleet. Downtime of vehicles results in loss of productivity and revenue. Hence, fleet owners need to go for automotive fleet services and avoid fleet breakdowns.

Here are the Various Tips for Preventing Common Fleet Breakdowns:

Regular Inspections

Freight hauling businesses should hire a company offering professional automotive fleet services that performs an inspection on a regular basis.
The inspection done must be meticulous and needs to be conducted on a regular basis by the automotive fleet services
On-site fleet services include a comprehensive inspection of the fleet vehicles, which helps identify minor problems.
These services can prevent small problems from becoming major repairs in the long run, which may otherwise lead to unforeseen vehicle breakdowns.

Routine Maintenance

Prevention is better than cure. This is not just true for human beings, but also for the fleet of vehicles as well.
The routine maintenance program that is a part of automotive fleet services helps fleet owners to diagnose and repair minor issues with the vehicles to reduce downtime before any major problems can happen.
Preventive maintenance by an expert fleet service provider at the right time can replace those vehicle components that have reached their lifespan with new components rather than waiting for them to fail on the road.

Check our Complete Guide for Fleet Maintenance

Choosing the Right Vehicles

The choice of vehicles for any fleet depends on the freight-hauling requirements and the individual jobs that the business needs to undertake.
In the auto world, there are so many brands and models with proven track records.
Being a fleet owner, it is important to select those vehicles that need low maintenance.
After choosing a particular vehicle, it is the responsibility of the fleet owner to assign the right job to it.
A major cause of untimely vehicle breakdowns is overloading.
Overloading vehicles can reduce the braking speed and braking distance, thus making the vehicle more vulnerable to accidents.

Changing the Engine Oil and Coolant

The engine oil and coolant are two liquids that keep the vehicle running seamlessly.
Engine oil is the lifeblood of the engine. Coolant helps to prevent overheating of the vehicle.
Changing the engine oil and coolant at regular intervals after the recommended mileage is a key aspect of automotive fleet services.

Training the Vehicle Drivers

Following the best practices while driving is crucial to increasing the longevity of the vehicles.
Proper training of the drivers and encouraging safe driving are indispensable for reducing downtime.

The impact of downtime can be felt by all businesses. Hence, it is crucial to go for automotive fleet services. Urban Lube’s On-site fleet services manage the fleet effectively, reduce downtime, and increase the productivity of businesses.

Get your fleet running smoothly with fleet maintenance service. Book an appointment now!

Why Choose Urban Lube for Fleet Tire Services?

Urban Lube is an expert and professional provider of automotive fleet services
Comprehensive fleet tire services from a professional company like Urban Lube can help you keep the vehicle running smoothly on the road without any hassles.
It also ensures the safety of the driver and passengers inside the vehicle.
Choosing Urban Lube for fleet tire services can help you save a lot of money and time.
Automotive fleet services from Urban Lube take care of the tires at more affordable rates compared to buying a new set of tires.
Fleet tire services from Urban Lube increase performance, longevity, and durability, and at the same time offer better traction on the road.
A possible breakdown in the middle of the road can result in significant expenses. This can be avoided by using fleet tire services from Urban Lube.
With automotive fleet services, the tires of your vehicles will be meticulously examined on a regular basis by expert and professional tire service technicians.

What Does the Fleet Tire Service from Urban Lube Include?

Tire Pressure

Both under-inflated and over-inflated tires will drastically reduce the longevity of the tires.
Also, tire pressure is crucial for the safety of the driver and passengers in the vehicle.
A key aspect of automotive fleet services from Urban Lube is to ensure that the tire pressure is at the right level.
Properly inflated tires consume less fuel and extend the tire life as well.
Filling the tires with the wrong psi will put more pressure on the engine resulting in the combustion of more fuel.
Be it any vehicle that is a part of your fleet, you must get the tire pressure inspected twice a month.

Tire Rotation

Another key aspect of fleet tire services from Urban Lube is tire rotation.
Rotating the tires and changing the position helps to prevent uneven wear and tear.
Tire rotation also helps to increase the lifespan of tires, thus saving time and money in the long run.

Tire Change

If the treads on your existing set of tires have worn out completely, it is time for a tire change.
Automotive fleet services offer tire changes as well.
If you are satisfied with the performance of the existing set of tires, it makes sense to invest in the same brand.
Urban Lube has expert and certified tire change technicians who make the process easy and convenient.
You can opt for low rolling resistance tires to reduce fuel consumption or select a tire model that has high fuel efficiency ratings.

Contact Urban Lube for automotive fleet services to get back your fleet on the road smoothly.

Read Related Blog:

How Much Does Vehicle Downtime Cost Your Fleet?

September 8, 2021 by Hardik K

When a vehicle breaks down unexpectedly, the real problems have just started for a fleet manager. It results in unforeseen expenses for your fleet, which may put a dent in the overall budget of the fleet operations.

A single incident of vehicle breakdown can seriously impact the business.
Vehicle downtime is part and parcel of every fleet operation. However, fleet managers must take steps to lower the risk of unscheduled vehicle downtime.
When a vehicle suddenly becomes unavailable for use, it can negatively affect your entire business.

Vehicle downtime can significantly hit the bottom line of your business as unscheduled repairs involve both hard costs and soft costs.

Cost of Repairing the Vehicle

To get the vehicle back running seamlessly on the road, you have to spend a lot of money on automotive fleet services getting it repaired if you already don’t have a contract with any reliable company.
On site fleet services involve the use of labour to fix the vehicle plus purchasing the replacement parts as well.
If the vehicle cannot be fixed by on site fleet services, it needs to be sent off site which means even higher expenses.

Expenses for Towing

If your vehicle breaks down suddenly in the middle of the road, far away from any repair station, you will have to get it towed to the nearby repair centre offering automotive fleet services.
Expenses for towing directly impact your fleet budget as towing a vehicle is not cheap.

Loss of Revenue

When a vehicle breaks down, it is unable to perform the tasks that it usually does – transportation of goods, and passengers, and making scheduled deliveries.
This results in tremendous revenue loss for your business.

Delayed deliveries

Repeated delays in deliveries will create a negative impact on the customers.
Late deliveries due to vehicle breakdowns and ineffective on site fleet services will decrease the customer’s lifetime value.
Late deliveries also negatively impact the customer retention rate.

Loss of Productivity

When your vehicle is off the road and your drivers are waiting for the completion of automotive fleet services, that time is completely wasted.
If the driver is unable to cover the routes that were assigned to him, it would mean a significant loss of productivity and paying a driver for an unscheduled time off.
This would result in additional pressure on other fleet vehicles to cover for the vehicle breakdown.

How Can You Reduce the Downtime for Your Fleet?

The answer is simple. By approaching an expert and experienced company offering site fleet services and automotive fleet services.
Automotive fleet services from a professional company can put your vehicle on the road again in minimal time.
On site fleet services deliver the right kind of support that every fleet needs.
Automotive fleet services can help save a lot of valuable time for fleet managers through speedy repairs and maintenance.
Approaching a certified and approved on site fleet services provider will provide you with exceptional service at an affordable price.

Timely visit Urban Lube for exceptional automotive fleet services. Book an appointment now!

Read Next Blog:

How to Avoid Fleet Downtime

5 Tips for Improving Government Fleet Service

March 30, 2021 by Hardik K

Managing a government fleet is not an easy task. It requires several things to be taken care of. Each vehicle in the government fleet is different and has to be dealt with differently. Some may require an oil change, tire change, battery boost, while some may need replacement of key components.

5 Things to be Kept in Mind While Managing a Government Fleet

If you are offering automotive fleet services keep in mind that the usage of vehicles that are a part of the government fleet is quite high.
Vehicles must be repaired and serviced within the shortest possible time.
With the government department, the budget is always a constraint.
High-performance standards of the vehicles need to be met.
Comprehensive support and vehicle care must be provided during emergencies.

Preventive maintenance service checklist for government fleet:

Engine oil change
Air filter change
Coolant change
Braking system
Battery boost
Tire change
Fleet tire services
Wheel alignment/ balancing
Exhaust system
Fluid leakages
Fuel system
Interior and exterior lights
Windshield and wipers

Here are 5 tips for improving and effectively managing the government automotive fleet services.

Understanding the Requirements of Government Fleets

Managing government fleets is quite different from managing other commercial fleets.
There is so much to handle within minimum time and a tight budget of course.
One needs to be conscious of the cost and time factor while not compromising on the quality of services like fleet tire services.

Keeping the Overall Government Fleet Maintenance Cost Low

Managing a government fleet always has budget constraints.
The cost of repairs and maintenance like battery boost, oil change, etc. always needs to be kept as per the budget.
The worn-out parts need to be repaired in-house rather than relying on any third party.
As far as possible, the focus must be on repairs and not the replacement of parts.
Components must be procured from local vendors instead of vendors located at far-off locations. This will help lower the shipping costs significantly.

Making the Vehicles Accessible to the Department as Soon as Possible

Government vehicles often experience downtime mainly due to the way they are driven.
It is crucial to reduce downtime and get the vehicles back up and running on the road in the least possible time with automotive fleet services in Calgary.

Focus on Preventive Maintenance

Even though the budget is low and time is less, preventive maintenance is what will help the vehicles in the long run.
For example, an oil change today will ensure that the engine holds good for at least 5000 miles more.
Similarly, a battery test would make sure a vehicle does not suddenly stop midway.

Not Compromising on Safety

It is crucial to ensure that all government vehicles are safe to be driven on the road.
For example, in fleet tire services, it is essential to make certain that all tires of the vehicles are in good condition and there is no safety issue while driving.

Book an appointment for automotive fleet services.

March 27, 2021 by Hardik K

If you own a car rental company, managing the fleet of cars is not a cakewalk. Cars require regular servicing to ensure that they are running seamlessly on the road. For your car rental business to run smoothly and profitably, it is essential that you take proper care of all the cars.

What is Fleet Vehicle Service?

Fleet vehicle service includes servicing all cars that are a part of the fleet at timely intervals to keep them well maintained and in top-notch condition. On site fleet services include on-premises services. You don’t need to take cars to the garage.

What does the Fleet Vehicle Service Include?

Oil change
Oil filter change
Coolant check and flush
Tire change
Tire patch
Tire pressure checks
Battery boost
Air filter check and replaced
Cabin filter check and replaced
Wiper blades check and replaced

As a car rental company owner, it is crucial to ensure that all fleet cars are serviced regularly to avoid any major issues in the long run.

5 Benefits of Adopting a Proactive Approach in Fleet Vehicle Service

1. Reduced Maintenance Costs

Investing time and capital in maintaining and servicing the fleet cars using reliable automotive fleet services will help to lower the maintenance costs in the future.
Proactive maintenance is much better than reactive maintenance at a later stage.
For example, if a fleet vehicle requires an oil change, it is better to get it done immediately rather than risk the entire engine and spend thousands of dollars on repairs.

2. Improved Productivity

A well-serviced and maintained fleet of vehicles translates to reduced breakdowns and downtime.
This enhances the productivity of the car rental company since there won’t be any rescheduling or cancellation of trips.
Business operations can go on seamlessly without any problems for the customers.

3. Increases the Longevity of your Car

When the fleet of cars is serviced regularly with on site fleet services, the vehicles will be in well-maintained condition.
Fleet tire services ensure that the tires of your vehicles are maintained properly and run at the perfect air pressure.
Similarly, a battery boost service makes sure that the car’s battery is healthy. Otherwise, you may end up getting your battery replaced by a new one which is quite expensive.
Regular automotive fleet services help to extend the life of your commercial car.

4. Ensures Complete Safety

In the car rental business, the trust of customers is everything.
Frequent servicing ensures that the cars are running optimally on the road without any safety issues for both the driver and the passengers.

5. Superior Fuel Economy

Engine oil change and filter changes during servicing will ensure that the cars give better mileage.
This means reduced fuel consumption, which ultimately adds to the bottom line of your company. Of course, it is beneficial for the environment too.

If you don’t have the time to take your cars to a service company, you have the option of onsite fleet services, too.

Book an appointment today!

Complete Guide for Fleet Maintenance

August 27, 2020 by Hardik K

Automotive fleet maintenance refers to the process of using regular automotive fleet services and ensures the vehicle will give optimum performance on the road. Investment in automotive fleet services ensures the following:

Reliability
Good condition
Safety
Excellent performance
Reduce expenses on the breakdown and similar events
Fuel efficiency
And more

Top Tips for Automotive Fleet Maintenance:

There are many benefits to investing in regular automotive fleet services to ensure fleet maintenance. To leverage related benefits, follow these tips:

Follow The Fleet Maintenance Schedule

One can use on site fleet services as well as its alternative based on the needs and condition of the vehicle. Some also use this service during off-hours, so productivity isn’t impacted. Following a specific schedule provides some additional benefits such as:

All operational requirements of the vehicle are met
Increase overall fuel efficiency
Detect issues, which can be bigger and more expensive later
Keep the vehicle in prime working condition

While following a regular fleet maintenance schedule, you will know when the right time for taking automotive fleet services is and you will leverage these advantages.

Use Service From The Experts

Automotive fleet maintenance is not a task anyone driving a vehicle can do. To leverage the real advantages of investing in automotive fleet services, you need to appoint experts. It is necessary to check the qualifications and experience of the technician who will manage the fleet maintenance of your vehicle. Always give preference to the quality of service over cheap on site fleet services. A technician who will take care of fleet maintenance must have the following skills:

Expertise to inspect vehicle completely
Take the required repair steps to keep the vehicle in good condition
Experience in taking preventive actions

Use Quality Standard Tools and Parts

As mentioned earlier, fleet maintenance also needs occasional repair and replacement of different parts. It is necessary to use high quality and standard parts to reap the right results from automotive fleet services. Support your technicians with the following:

Use only standard and high-quality parts
Always keep the required tools and parts in stock
Follow the strict schedule of automotive fleet maintenance

Read To Next Blog: How to Avoid Fleet Downtime

Keep Vehicle On The Road

Vehicles can be inspected within your fleet if you are using the best automotive fleet service. To make sure downtime can be prevented and the vehicle always stays on the road, you need to schedule maintenance hours accordingly. Check for the pricing of on site fleet services and use that if it fits in your budget to make sure your drivers – and you! – do not need to sit idle while the vehicle is in the garage for fleet maintenance.

These are the major tips to be followed to receive excellent results from regular automotive fleet services. It is necessary to make fleet maintenance a priority.