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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Managing a fleet of trucks is an extensive job. The permits,\nlicensing, driver education, and then the cost of maintenance. Routine\nmaintenance can be hard enough to stay on top of let alone try to plan.\nHowever, with the right accessories, you can eliminate some of the most common\noperation interference and keep your trucks on the road<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fortunately, you can improve your overall fleet performance\nand image with the right accessories. And even better, you can do it without\nbreaking your bank or annoying your back office staff. But now we want to show\nyou how.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TCO in Back of Mind<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Managing equipment with total cost of ownership (TCO) in\nmind means keeping costs in check and getting the best value out of equipment.\nFleets are making purchasing decisions based on cost of vehicle, fuel economy\nand maintenance costs\u2014 and they continue to look for ways to reduce total cost\nof ownership. To do this they must wisely manage vehicles\u2014which includes\nspecifying the right equipment for their applications and buying components\nthat are durable and add safety and value. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The right selection can save fuel and maintenance costs. The\nwrong selection can be catastrophic. These days, fleets must also manage\nincreasingly more sophisticated maintenance and repair issues, which can be\nchallenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Truck accessories not only provide a performance and\naesthetic function, they serve on the form. When it comes to specifying exterior\naccessories, such as truck fenders and mud flaps, carriers need to make sure\nthat these items improve performance, provide functionality, durability, and\nenhance the overall appearance of the trucks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While appearance may not be top-of-mind when considering\nmaximizing TCO, fleets need to remember that the look of their over-the-road\nassets\u2014right down to the wheels\u2014is a direct reflection of brand, perception of\nservice and quality of the\ntrucking company<\/a> that owns them. Just because you think no one pays\nattention to how dirty your trucks are does not mean that they aren\u2019t. In fact,\na filthy commercial motor vehicle might significantly turn off potential\ncustomers. It could also prevent future partnerships if another shipper or\nclient deems you too ugly to do business with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The better the trucks look, the better the overall\nperception shippers have of the company that operates them. And that is not\nconjecture, that is a fact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Clean and Well Maintained<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The FMCSA\u2019s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program\nscores carriers and drivers on seven Behavior Analysis Safety Improvement\nCategories (BASICs). BASIC scores were meant to identify poor safety\nperformers, who are then subject to interventions by FMCSA. It is interesting\nto note that the FMCSA data indicates that as much as 82% of CSA violations are\nin the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n How is this possible? Well, to many law enforcement\nofficers, whether on the road or at an inspection station, are good looking big\nrig is a sign of a well taken care of heavy hauler. If the truck looks well\nmaintained, the chances are it is, and you may head off a random inspection\nsimply by ensuring your commercial motor vehicle is in clean, presentable, and\nshiny as new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, good maintenance practices mean that fleets\ntrucks break down less often. That makes managing delivery schedules easier and\nhelps to eliminate added maintenance costs related to unscheduled repairs or\nroad calls, and can reduce other costs such as those related to equipment\nrentals, adding spare vehicles, or rerouting other vehicles to fill in for a\nvehicle sidelined for repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unexpected maintenance costs are some of the most biting\ncosts that trucking companies must deal with. When you are trying to keep\nprofits high and costs in check, you can\u2019t afford to let unexpected maintenance\nissues derail your finances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maintenance, Safety, and Good Looks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Trucks, which are well maintained, and carry that positive\nimage down the road, are less likely to receive CSA violations. It is simply a\nfact of life. There is a lot more to a good-looking truck then a simple\nmaintenance profile. And while good looks are important, you also want to look\nat added safety is also important for the interior of the truck cab\u2014 especially\nwhen it comes to attracting and retaining good drivers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Truck drivers look for attractive, clean and safe rigs. One\nof the easiest ways to add safety is to purchase custom floor mats\u2014not only do\nthey help protect the driver from slipping, but also, they can help protect the\ncab floor to keep the cab interiors cleaner. Since most trucks can see\nthousands of hours of entries and exists, you need accessories that will help\nkeep the cab in shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But what does it mean to choose the right accessories? When\nit comes to choosing the right accessories, fleets look for the lightest, most\ndurable and the longest lasting products. When choosing fenders, take into\nconsideration that they should protect loads and equipment, improve fuel\nefficiency, and add to a truck\u2019s appearance and lifespan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The right supplier and accessories can make all the\ndifference. Look for a vendor partner or supplier that offers poly fenders for\nmost heavy-duty trucks and many trailers. The fenders not only look great and\nfit like a glove, but also are nearly indestructible and stay looking great for\nyears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Does your vendor partner or supplier proud itself of its\nrigorous testing of all its products, which for fenders includes driving a tank\nover its most popular fender models, freezing fenders and then hitting them\nwith sledgehammers? Also look for a complete line of poly and metal fender\nmounting brackets, which hold up in the toughest work environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When choosing mud flaps, fleets look for mud flaps, the same\ncriteria holds true\u2014they need to provide value\u2014be durable and long lasting.\nFleets often forget about these critical truck accessories. The fact is, poly\nor rubber materials are strong and stay stiffer on your trailers. They can also\nadd value if motor carriers choose to use them to provide more information\nabout the fleet. Find a vendor who can put fleet logos, telephone numbers or\nwebsites on the flaps. The company should have complete graphic services\navailable for fleet designs and should work with someone who provides\ntypesetting or proofing needs. It\u2019s a good use of space when you consider that\nmost trucks average 10 million views per year per truck driving down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From Wheels to the End of the Road<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, you want to ensure your wheels are protected and\nlooking good. Maintenance is a critical component of ensuring reliability and\nsafety of fleets, their truck drivers and others on the road. Steel wheels\nrequire refurbishing, as well as rust removal, re-painting, touch up or other\nsteps. It is important to keep them properly maintained, clean and well painted\nto avoid damaging rust contamination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n