{"id":2631,"date":"2021-03-02T00:40:26","date_gmt":"2021-03-02T00:40:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/?p=2631"},"modified":"2021-03-02T00:40:28","modified_gmt":"2021-03-02T00:40:28","slug":"is-it-time-to-revamp-your-fleet-part-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/is-it-time-to-revamp-your-fleet-part-i\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Time to Revamp Your Fleet? Part I"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Well, 2021 is here and I think we are all pretty happy about it. Still, the wreckage of 2020 is still with us and for many trucking companies, now is the time to consider a total revamp. After all, when something catastrophic happens and you pick up the pieces, there is never a better opportunity to build your company back better than it ever was before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Just like people, it isn\u2019t difficult for a motor carrier to\nlose their touch. Oftentimes, fleet managers may become complacent and like to\nstick to doing things a certain way for the sake of convenience and perhaps\neven because of the fear of trying something new. However, just because\noperations are currently running smoothly, does not mean that there isn\u2019t room\nfor improvement. That\u2019s why we wanted to discuss this important topic in\ntoday\u2019s blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giving Your Fleet a Makeover<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are probably thinking, \u201cI am not in a beauty salon! Why\ndo I want to give my fleet a makeover?\u201d Well, we aren\u2019t talking about hair and\nmakeup. We are talking about how you do business in the modern era. It may be\ntime to take a hard look at how you do business and find areas where you can\ntighten up your operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the question is: How do you do that? Well, you do it by\nconducting a proper investigation of all your operations. Look at areas you\nmanage every day and actively decide to look at them with a new perspective or\nfresh eyes. Whether you examine safety protocols or specific policies and\nprocedures, taking a forensic eye to every aspect of your operation will not\nhurt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can be easy to focus solely on executing the daily processes\nyou\u2019ve already established and putting out fires arise. The problem is that\nthis can make you blind to the fact that your fleet\u2019s needs may have changed\nsince establishing these processes, and that you\u2019re potentially missing out on\nways to do things more efficiently. With 2021 here, it may be time for some\n\u201cspring cleaning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, where do you start? Consider that there are four\nessential factors that you must focus on when evaluating how effective your\noperation is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Vehicle Acquisition<\/li>
  2. Maintenance<\/li>
  3. Health and Safety<\/li>
  4. Compliance<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    When you consider what outside factors impact your business\nthe most, the list above generally takes the cake. These four factors,\ndepending on how you manage them, can make, or break your business. So, let\u2019s\ndive right in and start talking about the first \u201cspring cleaning\u201d item you\nshould address. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Evaluate Vehicle Acquisition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You aren\u2019t always buying a rig. So, even though you may not\ncurrently be in the market to acquire new vehicles, it may be time to address\nthe policies governing them. When was the last time you had a look at whether\nthe vehicles you own and manage are truly the best for your fleet\u2019s current\nneeds and whether some of them can either be replaced or removed entirely?\nBusiness conditions may have changed since you purchased your current vehicle\nfleet. Is it time to make an adjustment?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Taking a fine-tooth comb to vehicle acquisition is important\nfor many reasons, but it is especially important if you plan to freshen up your\nfleet. Consider that vehicles are a large cost for companies and bringing down\nthat cost can free up money that can be used elsewhere to greater effect. Not\nonly will your bottom line thank you but others within your organization will\nthank you as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, how should you proceed? The best thing you can do is\nstart at the bottom. Take a good look at the primary tasks your fleet needs to\ncomplete daily and what your vehicles are currently being used for. This will\ngive you an idea of whether you have enough of the right type of vehicles to complete\nthese tasks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Look at Vehicle Utilization<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Additionally, you need to ask yourself if the vehicles you\ncurrently own are being properly utilized. If some vehicles are being\nover-utilized (leading to unnecessary damage from overuse and a shorter vehicle\nlifespan), this may mean that you need to acquire another vehicle. On the other\nhand, if a certain type of vehicle is severely underutilized, it may be time to\nsimply put it on the market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here are some appropriate questions to ask yourself as you\naddress vehicle utilization:<\/p>\n\n\n\n