Vehicle replacement is an essential measure of fleet management, and a clear and concise schedule is necessary for budgeting, planning maintenance, and more.

It’s very important to upgrade your fleet vehicles at certain premeditated intervals in order to preserve the safety of your entire fleet while preventing excessive downtime that can affect productivity. Thankfully, tools like automated fleet management software can track and analyze maintenance and service records for every vehicle in operation, ensuring optimal vehicle use and preventing accidents caused by poorly maintained vehicles.

Reduce Costs

It costs money to replace vehicles as they become damaged, outdated, or obsolete. The average fleet truck is in service for about nine years, with increasing maintenance fees as they age. Over time, your vehicle maintenance plan may start to fall behind or accrue unexpected expenses. It’s not uncommon for companies to keep their vehicles in service until they can’t run anymore—with the assumption that it will be frugal.

Poor or nonexistent replacement strategies result in long-term operating costs that are above industry standards because the repair fees necessary to keep an older truck or van running can be outrageous. To save money, you need to monitor past data and determine the correct time to replace your fleet’s vehicles. By waiting too long to update your fleet, it ends up costing more money than if you had planned ahead and swapped the cars during a determined interval.

Represent Your Image Positively

Outdated or damaged vehicles misrepresent the images of both your company and its products or services. When people see your company logo on a fleet of trucks or vans, they should understand that you are dedicated to investing in your business and providing a great experience for your customers and employees. Don’t let your drivers risk their lives, or your reputation, by driving obsolete trucks that have a good chance of breaking down.

More Predictability

Having a solid fleet replacement plan is an excellent way to prevent unpleasant scheduling and financial surprises. By creating replacement schedules based on fleet usage, businesses can plan and budget for associated expenses. Analyzing previous data will allow companies to have a better idea of future fees associated with their trucks or vans.

By following a routine service schedule, fleet vehicle operators can reduce unanticipated malfunctions and other unforeseen problems. When vehicles are used without routine maintenance and regular rests, breakdowns are more likely to occur and cause equipment downtime.

Incentives

Using incentives to your advantage is a wise decision for many businesses. Logistical and purchasing departments will often negotiate for replacement vehicles to be purchased in bulk each year. It is important to shop around for all of your available options to get the best deal.

Not only will you qualify for numerous dealer and manufacturer rebates, but there is often a large pool of funds from which you could draw money to subsidize the cost of your vehicles. Incentives can help you save thousands on each vehicle, potentially adding hundreds of thousands to your bottom line over the next several years.

Improved Safety

By periodically resupplying your fleet with newer vehicles, you are demonstrating to your customers that you’re serious about safety and security. You’re showing them that you care about the security of your employees and that you want to provide them with the most modern, advanced vehicles available.

Older vehicles may not be equipped to meet federal standards set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or other agencies that regulate vehicle safety. Newer vehicles are safer, more fuel-efficient, and comply with state regulations for emissions control, fuel efficiency, and safety features such as airbags, seatbelts, and anti-lock brakes (ABS).

Trust Efficiency to take care of your fleet needs! Schedule a consult with our team today to find the best fit for your business.