How to Keep Your Delivery Fleet on the Road, Your Team Safe, and Your Customers Happy

Does your fleet of delivery vans benefit your business if it isn’t on the road making deliveries? The answer seems obvious, but it’s worth considering if you ignore delivery van service and routine maintenance. Without proper attention, your fleet can hinder your business, skyrocket operating costs, and put your employees at risk. So, what’s the solution? 

We’re invested in your business and its success because, like you, we know the demands and responsibilities of running a company. We’re here to partner with you by helping you proactively maintain your fleet, reducing its downtime and operating costs. Our work begins now as we highlight everything you need to know about fleet maintenance, from why it matters to the role your drivers play in proactive maintenance to the services we offer. 

Fleet Maintenance: Why It Matters

Would you put your significant other or a family member behind the wheel of a car with bald tires, faulty brakes, or sludge-like oil? Would you expect the same from your employees? The first and most important reason for maintaining your fleet is keeping your drivers safe. Routine fleet maintenance ensures each van has everything it needs to operate safely, from the right type and amount of oil to the tread depth of the tires. 

Beyond keeping your drivers safe, maintaining your fleet impacts every aspect of your business. Your fleet is an investment and a lifeline, meaning any downtime from a van that’s out of service can negatively impact your operations and threaten your profits. Likewise, ignoring routine maintenance can lead to more costly repairs, increased wear and tear, and diminished fuel economy. These issues trickle down to your customers, who may turn to another company because of ongoing delays or delivery issues. 

Delivery Van Maintenance: Maximizing Your Fleet 

How can you ensure your fleet is well-maintained and ready for the road? What can your drivers do to help with proactive maintenance? What services are crucial for maximizing your fleet? 

Create a Maintenance Schedule 

Maximizing your fleet starts with creating a maintenance schedule. This often includes three types of maintenance: preventative, seasonal, and mileage-based. For example, oil changes, brake inspections, and tire rotations are preventative maintenance, while transmission fluid changes and suspension checks are mileage-based. As the name implies, seasonal maintenance prepares your fleet for the upcoming season, whether installing winter tires, checking the heater, or servicing the air conditioner as summer approaches. 

Optimize Delivery Routes 

Delivery vans experience extensive wear and tear, much of which is unavoidable, like adding miles to the odometer. Yet mitigating excessive or unnecessary mileage is critical to maximizing your fleet. For example, you can assign drivers dedicated delivery zones or use software to plan efficient routes, which can save you money on operating costs and fuel. In turn, your fleet logs fewer miles, stretching those intervals between mileage-based services and preventative maintenance. 

Conduct Daily Vehicle Inspections 

Did you know your drivers play a pivotal role in maintaining your fleet? While you likely don’t have time to inspect every vehicle before the business day begins, your drivers can handle the task. Moreover, they’re familiar with their van, which ensures they’re more than capable of handling these routine inspections. 

Have your drivers conduct an initial inspection of their delivery van at the beginning of their shift. This inspection should include checking the lights, tire pressure, tread wear, wiper blades, and fluid levels. Throughout their shift, they should also be mindful of how the brakes respond and note any areas of concern, such as an air conditioner that isn’t cooling properly, a broken headlight, damage to the windshield, or a ‘check engine’ light on the driver display. 

These daily inspections provide vital feedback about your fleet and let you plan maintenance as needed. For example, if a driver notes that the tread on the tires is wearing unevenly, you can proactively plan to have the van serviced before the issue worsens. Additionally, these routine inspections give your drivers more responsibility, solidifying their critical role in your day-to-day operations and holding them accountable for responsibly managing and knowing their delivery van. 

Fleet Maintenance: Types of Services

Think about the routine service your personal vehicle needs and extend that service to your company’s fleet of delivery vans. Your car needs oil changes, tire rotations, and brake tune-ups, which are preventative and mileage-based services. Now, consider those needs relative to the daily demands placed on your fleet of delivery vans. There’s no question why these services are critical. 

Oil Changes and Tire Rotations 

Routine oil changes and tire rotations are essential for maintaining your fleet of delivery vans. The engine in every van relies on oil to lubricate, clean, and cool its many moving components. Without the right amount of oil, the engine works harder, which leads to increased wear and tear and heightened fuel consumption. 

When you bring one of your delivery vans in for an oil change, we’ll also inspect and rotate the tires. Rotating the tires promotes even tread wear, which is critical to your drivers’ safety on the road. This service also gives us the chance to inspect the tires for damage or areas of concern, helping you plan for new tires or other needs, like an alignment or balancing. 

Battery Diagnostics and Replacement

Imagine the demands placed on each van in your fleet, from the miles traveled daily to how often the engine is started and stopped. The last thing you need is a dead battery that prevents your fleet from making deliveries. Because of this, we conduct a multi-point inspection on every vehicle that comes through our service center. 

This inspection includes checking the battery and running diagnostics as needed. You can also bring your fleet in for battery diagnostics, whether a driver noticed the engine is slow to start or saw an alert on the dashboard. Whatever the case, we’ll diagnose the issue and oversee the replacement, quickly getting your van back on the road. 

Brake Tune-Ups, AC Servicing, and More 

Routine maintenance for your fleet stretches to more complex needs, like brake tune-ups, suspension checks, air conditioner service, and more. Our brake services are essential for fleets because they ensure your delivery vans have optimal stopping power. 

During this service, our technicians will assess the brake system, from the lines and hoses to the brake fluid, rotors, calipers, pads, and discs. They can find and repair brake leaks, replace brake pads, and resurface the rotors; in other instances, it might be time to have the transmission or air conditioner serviced, replace the timing belt, or diagnose a more complex drivetrain issue.

Why Choose McCluskey Chevrolet for Your Fleet’s Maintenance 

As a full-service automotive center with a state-of-the-art service department, McCluskey Chevrolet is here to help your fleet stay on the road. Our commercial team can help you build your fleet and establish a maintenance schedule that mitigates any downtime that threatens your daily operations and impedes customer satisfaction. When it’s time for service, you can rely on our factory-trained and certified technicians to handle the task efficiently and maintain communication regarding your fleet’s needs and the anticipated repair costs and timeline.

You won’t find a better team to maintain your fleet than ours. We’re renowned for treating our customers to a world-class experience, including our commercial clients. This experience is one you deserve because it instills peace of mind as you bring your professional dreams to life, knowing you have a dedicated partner by your side.