Challenges for transport fleets: what they are and how to overcome them

Combat downtime, preserve aging vehicles and sidestep supply chain disruptions with management solutions expertly engineered for transport fleets.

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Overtaking fleet vehicle challenges

Transport businesses face significant fleet vehicle challenges that fall under the categories: supply availability, vehicle maintenance and fleet age. These difficulties can take a toll on daily operations, inflating costs, diminishing customer satisfaction and decreasing overall productivity. Implementing smart solutions can help companies circumvent these fleet vehicle challenges. Here we’ll explore how Webfleet tools enable transport fleets to reduce downtime, optimise lifecycles, bypass supply chain issues and boost fleet reliability.

The most crucial vehicle challenges for a fleet manager

Transport fleets can suffer operational disruptions and cost spikes due to:

Vehicle shortages and supply chain delays

When vehicle parts or models aren’t available, downtime gets extended and fleet capacity drops. A fleet supply chain manager needs the tools to adapt fast and maintain operational flow.

Increased maintenance and repair costs

Unable to source new vehicles, roadworthy vehicles must take on workload from those out of use. Their wear-and-tear rises sharply — as do the service costs. Proactive vehicle maintenance should be made a priority to minimise strain on existing LCVs and trucks.

Aging vans and trucks

The older the vehicle, the more worn its components. This puts it at greater risk of failing to meet compliance regulations or even breaking down mid-trip. There are steps you can take to maintain the reliability of aging vehicles.

Unplanned downtime

With vehicles unexpectedly out of action, schedules take a hit. Deliveries can get delayed and, as a result, customer satisfaction could start to dwindle. Managing downtime efficiently is key for maintaining safe, cost-effective operations.

Limited predictive data

It’s harder to make well-informed decisions without sufficient relevant data. With fleet management technology, you get insights into vehicle conditions, their maintenance history and much more. Knowing those, you can predict and prevent potential issues.

How can you overcome transport fleet vehicle challenges?

You can solve common fleet challenges like vehicle shortages, aging vehicles and unplanned downtime with smart technology. Use an all-in-one digital platform to extend the service life of existing vehicles, schedule maintenance proactively and detect signs of faults early.

Reducing the impact of vehicle shortages amid supply chain disruptions

Webfleet’s digital solutions allow fleet managers to optimise their vehicle management by monitoring fleet activity, recording valuable data and comparing different trends. Fleet technology mitigates the challenge of vehicle scarcity by:

Identifying underutilised vehicles so they can be sent to high demand regions.
Planning suitable routes per each vehicle type to prevent unnecessary wear and tear.
Forecasting demand based on historical data so businesses are better prepared for times of market instability.

Protect your business from shortages from the outset by selecting models of fleet vehicles that are readily available.

Extending the lifespan of aging transport vehicles

Keep older vehicles in optimal conditions by using fleet technology to stay ahead of potential issues, control long-term expenses and make data-backed decisions regarding replacements. Webfleet technology helps you:

Schedule regular maintenance for commercial trucks — regardless of whether faults have been reported or not.
Keep a lid on lifecycle costs with data-driven insights.
Plan timely replacements before costly breakdowns happen.

Preventing issues with predictive maintenance

Proactive servicing prevents vehicle problems by repairing any slight faults before they escalate. Webfleet’s predictive maintenance tools reduce repair costs and boost uptime by:

Detecting early signs of component failure
Optimising maintenance scheduling to minimise disruptions

Controlling downtime with a solid maintenance strategy keeps delivery delays and revenue loss to a minimum.

Remember, it’s both the fleet manager’s and the drivers’ responsibility to keep an eye on vehicle conditions. Before every trip, it’s recommended (and officially enforced in UK and Ireland) that drivers complete a walk-around vehicle check to confirm roadworthiness.

Read more about increasing safety with HGV inspections and manuals.