Effective Fleet Repair in Orange County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 10, 2010 --

1

Effective Fleet Repair in Orange County

Welcome visit Our WebSite:

http://www.santamargaritaford.com/j/i/21590/FleetService.html

For businesses that send technicians, couriers, chauffeurs, public service or any other type of personnel out into field work, fleet vehicles are a crucial tool. These vehicles need to be in optimum operating condition one hundred percent of the time. When a fleet vehicle is needed to transport parts, plans or workers to a jobsite it can be costly if a vehicle breaks down. In the case of emergency fleet vehicles, getting to a destination quickly can be a matter of life or death. However, we’ve all seen school busses, overnight delivery trucks and other fleet vehicles stranded on the side of the road.

Unlike the cars, trucks, SUVs and whatever else we rely on to transport us to our places of business, fleet vehicles are taken for granted. It is assumed that a company vehicle will run perfectly and any damage that is done will be magically rectified by another corporate department or insurance company, overnight. In many fleet based businesses, drivers get behind the wheel of a different vehicle every day. This makes it difficult to identify warning signs, such as a change in engine or transmission performance, or broken parts like turn signal lamps or brake lights. Therefore, thorough fleet vehicle maintenance must be performed regularly.

When selecting a fleet service center businesses should consider a variety of factors.

Cost effectiveness is usually the number one consideration for fleet service. While necessary for meeting budget constraints the price should not be the only determining factor in selecting a service center. Turn-around time is of vital importance. Few businesses have a surplus of fleet vehicles, most have just enough to perform the work to be done. If vehicles remain out of commission for any length of time this can cripple a fleet resulting in delayed response time, poor customer service and/or employee overtime costs. Therefore it is important to consider the size of the service center including the number of service bays, the number of staffed technicians and if the center stocks a wide array of parts and accessories. Something as simple as ordering a part from the manufacturer can slow down delivery time by several days. If a fleet consists of heavy duty trucks or large vehicles it is also important to determine the lift capacity of the service center. Although a center may have 30 service bays, if only a few of these can accommodate heavy vehicles service and repair time will be increased. The number of retail consumer vehicles that are serviced at a facility can be a factor as well. If fleet vehicles are mingled with passenger vehicles (with owners waiting in the lobby) there is a chance that the passenger vehicles will receive top priority. In addition, the attrition rate of service technicians should be considered. Service centers with technician longevity will provide better overall service. Just like a family doctor, the same service technicians can get to know frequently serviced vehicles and will make recommendations based on the vehicle history.

The extent of service to be performed on fleet vehicles is also of major importance. Routine oil changes, fluid checks and tire rotations should be performed on a regular basis but fleet service should not stop there. Service centers should offer an array of specialty services that enable them to fully inspect and repair all types of vehicles. Preventative services such as checking windshields, windows and mirrors for chips or small cracks can prevent more expensive repairs. Testing headlights, taillights and turn signals for burned out bulbs or possible electrical problems increases safety and eliminates the possibility of fix it tickets. Checking the condition of fire extinguishers, spare tires, tire jacks and other on-board tools equips fleet drivers for minor emergencies. Fleet vehicles should also undergo frequent road tests to identify faulty engine performance, transmission or brake problems and to detect any rattling or unusual noises.

Efficient fleet inspection, service and repair will not only save businesses time, money and increase safety but also maximize the lifespan and dependability of some of their most valuable tools.

More information can be found online at http://www.santamargaritaford.com/j/i/21590/FleetService.html

commercial repair     commercial service     fleet repair     Fleet service     Heavy truck     heavy truck service