Certainly, there are cons to every pro, and there are many reasons why conducting your preventative maintenance in-house carries some downsides. When a trucking company manages preventative maintenance in-house, there is a lot to consider when it comes to accountability and documentation. Who keeps track of vehicle mileage, maintenance dates, and specific maintenance actions taken?
Furthermore, the problem is compounded if there are internal personnel changes within the company or trucks in different locations. When your technicians change and your trucks are scattered around, you might not be able to count on the accuracy of your maintenance reporting. Outsourcing your preventative maintenance needs ensures record-keeping and tracking remain dependable no matter the situation.
Also consider that in most trucking companies the maintenance department is not generally considered an integral part of the fleet’s overall operational strategy. As a result, budget and human resource items can often fall by the wayside. Outsourced maintenance providers prevent these kinds of lapses from happening.
How to Set Up an Outsourced PM Relationship
When you choose an outsourced PM provider, make sure you set it up with a solid contract. Make sure your provider offers flexibility and control along with cost savings and increased operational effectiveness. Consider that every trucking operation is unique, so you need to choose a partner that can accommodate your specific business type.
It is important to note, however, that it isn’t always in a company’s best interest to outsource their PM operation. The cost of operating your shop, parts inventory, technician hiring, and training are all expensive. But you need to make sure your PM vendor checks all those boxes. The benefits of outsourced PM must be carefully weighed against your business type as well as internal costs and operations.
Outsourcing is a good option for trucking companies who have significant budget and cost pressures. Trucking companies that may go through acquisitions or major reorganization may also want to consider outsourcing so that they can focus on the internal changes within the company.
With so many truck drivers and technicians retiring, outsourcing may be a good option. With the employment squeeze hitting every industry, finding qualified workers is not easy. Thus, using an outsourced preventative maintenance company prevents trucking companies from having to deal with those problems.
Should You Take a Hybrid Approach?
Many fleets won’t work well with a one-size-fits-all solution. It may be beneficial for trucking companies to try a hybrid approach, here some preventative maintenance is done in house and the rest done by a third-party vendor.
Here is an example of what that might look like. A trucking company may handle maintenance in house for a subset of their fleet such as light-duty vehicles or specialty equipment but retains responsibility for maintaining the remainder of the fleet.
You can also consider geographic maintenance outsourcing. Do this by giving vehicles at remote locations to a provider while keeping vehicles at central locations in-house. The solution that ultimately is the most effective for the organization depends heavily on the unique situation.
If you are struggling with your maintenance or preventative maintenance needs, consider third-party maintenance outsourcing as a solution. Smart fleet managers utilize these services all the time to ensure their trucking companies operate efficiently and effectively.