When a fleet manager is savvy and knows his onions, he understands why it is important his fleet needs to be operated on set schedules and why he has to utilize standardized best practices. Yet, many people wonder whether the best path to follow would be a truck schedule that is set in stone. Many experts might disagree on several things but they agree on the fact that fleet managers must have flexible replacement schedules for fleets. A fleet consultant states that sometimes having a formal fleet cycle of replacement is important for cutting down on costs such as variable costs, but sometimes this has to be approached on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis. When vehicles need to be replaced outside of a set policy, some of the factors that need to be taken into consideration are the habit of manufacturers to move up build dates, engine failures that occur early and are catastrophic, as well as the current market conditions. When a change occurs in the market, the author states that it is essential that fleet managers should be ready to capitalize on it. Although fleet managers understand the need to be flexible in scheduling fleets, they are constrained by the time factor involved and that limits them.
Key Takeaways:
- A fleet manager who knows the business very well and is a savvy one knows how to set schedules and utilize best practices in the industry.
- People often wonder if a set-in-stone truck replacement schedule is essential in the industry and the author notes that although everyone is different having one is a must.
- Sometimes having a cycle policy that is formalized is good in the fleet industry but other times things have to be considered on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis.
“Truck fleets often see the need to add or remove vehicles due to seasonal operating parameters, business growth cycles, or unexpected events.”
Read more: https://www.worktruckonline.com/332093/keep-truck-replacement-schedules-flexible