We bet you did not realize that there is an effective way to minimize your total cost of ownership (TCO) without compromising on safety, improving overall site performance and enhancing truck driver engagement.
Managing a fleet of trucks is an extensive job. The permits, licensing, driver education, and then the cost of maintenance. Routine maintenance can be hard enough to stay on top of let alone try to plan. However, with the right accessories, you can eliminate some of the most common operation interference and keep your trucks on the road
Fortunately, you can improve your overall fleet performance and image with the right accessories. And even better, you can do it without breaking your bank or annoying your back office staff. But now we want to show you how.
TCO in Back of Mind
Managing equipment with total cost of ownership (TCO) in mind means keeping costs in check and getting the best value out of equipment. Fleets are making purchasing decisions based on cost of vehicle, fuel economy and maintenance costs— and they continue to look for ways to reduce total cost of ownership. To do this they must wisely manage vehicles—which includes specifying the right equipment for their applications and buying components that are durable and add safety and value.
The right selection can save fuel and maintenance costs. The wrong selection can be catastrophic. These days, fleets must also manage increasingly more sophisticated maintenance and repair issues, which can be challenging.
Truck accessories not only provide a performance and aesthetic function, they serve on the form. When it comes to specifying exterior accessories, such as truck fenders and mud flaps, carriers need to make sure that these items improve performance, provide functionality, durability, and enhance the overall appearance of the trucks.
While appearance may not be top-of-mind when considering maximizing TCO, fleets need to remember that the look of their over-the-road assets—right down to the wheels—is a direct reflection of brand, perception of service and quality of the trucking company that owns them. Just because you think no one pays attention to how dirty your trucks are does not mean that they aren’t. In fact, a filthy commercial motor vehicle might significantly turn off potential customers. It could also prevent future partnerships if another shipper or client deems you too ugly to do business with.
The better the trucks look, the better the overall perception shippers have of the company that operates them. And that is not conjecture, that is a fact.
Clean and Well Maintained
The FMCSA’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program scores carriers and drivers on seven Behavior Analysis Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs). BASIC scores were meant to identify poor safety performers, who are then subject to interventions by FMCSA. It is interesting to note that the FMCSA data indicates that as much as 82% of CSA violations are in the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC sector.
Trucks, which are well maintained, and carry that positive image down the road, are less likely to receive CSA citations. Not only do fewer CSA violations mean less time and money wasted, but also it has been suggested that fleets that have good CSA scores are less likely to have their vehicles stopped for additional inspections.
How is this possible? Well, to many law enforcement officers, whether on the road or at an inspection station, are good looking big rig is a sign of a well taken care of heavy hauler. If the truck looks well maintained, the chances are it is, and you may head off a random inspection simply by ensuring your commercial motor vehicle is in clean, presentable, and shiny as new.
Additionally, good maintenance practices mean that fleets trucks break down less often. That makes managing delivery schedules easier and helps to eliminate added maintenance costs related to unscheduled repairs or road calls, and can reduce other costs such as those related to equipment rentals, adding spare vehicles, or rerouting other vehicles to fill in for a vehicle sidelined for repairs.
Unexpected maintenance costs are some of the most biting costs that trucking companies must deal with. When you are trying to keep profits high and costs in check, you can’t afford to let unexpected maintenance issues derail your finances.
Maintenance, Safety, and Good Looks
Trucks, which are well maintained, and carry that positive image down the road, are less likely to receive CSA violations. It is simply a fact of life. There is a lot more to a good-looking truck then a simple maintenance profile. And while good looks are important, you also want to look at added safety is also important for the interior of the truck cab— especially when it comes to attracting and retaining good drivers.
Truck drivers look for attractive, clean and safe rigs. One of the easiest ways to add safety is to purchase custom floor mats—not only do they help protect the driver from slipping, but also, they can help protect the cab floor to keep the cab interiors cleaner. Since most trucks can see thousands of hours of entries and exists, you need accessories that will help keep the cab in shape.
But what does it mean to choose the right accessories? When it comes to choosing the right accessories, fleets look for the lightest, most durable and the longest lasting products. When choosing fenders, take into consideration that they should protect loads and equipment, improve fuel efficiency, and add to a truck’s appearance and lifespan.
The right supplier and accessories can make all the difference. Look for a vendor partner or supplier that offers poly fenders for most heavy-duty trucks and many trailers. The fenders not only look great and fit like a glove, but also are nearly indestructible and stay looking great for years.
Does your vendor partner or supplier proud itself of its rigorous testing of all its products, which for fenders includes driving a tank over its most popular fender models, freezing fenders and then hitting them with sledgehammers? Also look for a complete line of poly and metal fender mounting brackets, which hold up in the toughest work environments.
When choosing mud flaps, fleets look for mud flaps, the same criteria holds true—they need to provide value—be durable and long lasting. Fleets often forget about these critical truck accessories. The fact is, poly or rubber materials are strong and stay stiffer on your trailers. They can also add value if motor carriers choose to use them to provide more information about the fleet. Find a vendor who can put fleet logos, telephone numbers or websites on the flaps. The company should have complete graphic services available for fleet designs and should work with someone who provides typesetting or proofing needs. It’s a good use of space when you consider that most trucks average 10 million views per year per truck driving down the road.
From Wheels to the End of the Road
Finally, you want to ensure your wheels are protected and looking good. Maintenance is a critical component of ensuring reliability and safety of fleets, their truck drivers and others on the road. Steel wheels require refurbishing, as well as rust removal, re-painting, touch up or other steps. It is important to keep them properly maintained, clean and well painted to avoid damaging rust contamination.
In addition, well-maintained wheels not only last longer, but also enhance fleet image. While painting heavy-duty truck rims can be a tedious, time-consuming task, the job can be made easy with specific tools and sprays available to your technicians. You can even invest in tire mask kits. With a tire mask that protects tires from paint and primer overspray.
These devices install on the outside of the rim, covering the tire, so technicians can spray the entire rim with a primer and paint. Additional options include a rim shield and hubcap protector to ensure a precise paint job on all wheel components. The process will deliver the same quality and dependability that people have come to expect from the company. The new product is a perfect heavy-duty aftermarket accessory that will add value to any truck.
We are living in a time of intense competition among fleets. As fleets come and go and businesses try to stand out in a crowded marketplace, something like a dirty truck with no accessories could be exactly what a potential client sees to not become an actual client.