Tips for Minimizing Maintenance Cost of Delivery Vehicles
In business, the maintenance cost of delivery vehicles is an important expense you have to incur. It should be an integral part of your operating cost. It is a measure to prevent a major breakdown which could mean bigger losses. Your failure to maintain your vehicles can lead to their early deterioration. This leads to an untimely need for major repairs and replacement of main parts which can be expensive. Furthermore, vehicle downtime can affect your business. It is a major cause of delays in the delivery of goods and services.
The maintenance of business vehicles is an essential investment. You must not avoid it by all means. The only wise option left for you to do is minimize its costs without compromising vehicle performance. This will prolong the useful life of your vans and trucks and prevent the occurrence of unnecessary down times.
Here are some important tips you can consider to minimize the maintenance cost of your delivery vehicles:
1. Use the owner’s manual.
You must make good use of the owner’s manual regardless of whether you bought the vehicle new or used. Read it thoroughly and take notes of the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedules. This will help to prevent a major engine breakdown which can cost you up to $5,000.
2. Replace crank case oil and oil filter every 5,000 kilometers or 3,000 miles.
Your engine oil diminishes in quality the longer your engine runs. This will reduce the lubricating capability of your oil and lessen its ability to protect important moving parts of your engine. To optimize engine protection, you should drain used crank case oil and remove the oil filter for every 3,000-mile run and replace them with new ones. Efficient lubrication helps to make your engine efficient and long lasting.
3. Do preventive maintenance.
Preventive maintenance is the routine job of ensuring that all the major aspects of your vehicle are working. This includes regular replacement of air filters, checking of the brakes and tires, and periodic inspection of the levels of brake fluid, transmission fluid, and coolant.
4. Identify faults as early as possible.
Even if you know nothing about vehicle troubleshooting and repair, you will notice a difference in your van if something is not working properly. You can even use your common senses like sight, smell, touch and hearing to detect them. Early identification of faults facilitates early implementation of solutions. It prevents the problem from getting worse thus major costs are avoided.
5. Establish regular maintenance schedule.
With scheduled maintenance, you will be able to detect a majority of possible faults. This should include thorough inspection of fluid levels, checking of dashboard functions, and engine tune up.
6. Use auto repair coupons.
You can reduce maintenance and repair costs by taking advantage of special offers from auto shops. Special offers like the GMC service coupons allow you to have a lot of things done at a lesser cost.
As a business manager, you should cut down unnecessary maintenance costs of your vehicles. On the other hand, you must not compromise standards to avoid unwanted breakdowns. This will enable you to use your vehicles to the fullest and maximize productivity.
