Survey Says Maintenance, Costs, Location are Major Challenges for Fleets
Chances are you are far from alone in the challenge department.
Some 93% of respondents to Teletrac Navman’s annual Mobilizing the Future of Fleets report say they’re experiencing problems with operational efficiency and maintenance management.
“Whether it’s the high cost of repairs, difficulties in maintaining regular service schedules, or simply the challenge of locating equipment onsite, the impact on total cost of ownership is clear, so much so that almost all respondents indicate that these issues are directly affecting their ability to control costs,” said Alain Samaha, the company’s CEO.
Let’s delve into some snapshots of the findings.
Costly fixes affect TCO
Forty-seven percent of managers struggle to keep a maintenance schedule, and 45% have a hard time with maintenance expenses.
As the total cost of ownership (TCO) of equipment is a key metric, these inefficiencies have a direct effect on financial performance. What’s more, these cost pressures are heightened by practical difficulties in keeping up with routine servicing, as nearly half of all respondents reported struggling to adhere to scheduled maintenance programs.
This suggests that many operators are still working reactively rather than proactively, and in an industry where unplanned downtime can be both disruptive and expensive, any delay in maintenance increases the risk of breakdowns, lost productivity, and of course, further cost escalation.
Add to this the fact that some firms have had to hold on to assets a little longer due to escalating acquisition costs and delays in procuring new equipment, and you can almost visualize the numbers rising.
Where’s my excavator?
Believe it or not, locating assets (important for maintenance!) is an operational challenge for 74% of respondents.
“Thirty-five percent of operators reported that, at any one time, more than 25% of their on-road assets are unavailable due to their location being unknown,” Samaha said. “One of the significant factors contributing to this is the ongoing difficulty in locating equipment quickly and accurately, a frustration which can only slow down projects and also interfere with maintenance scheduling.”
More firms are turning to technology to help manage assets by there are still 71% of respondents who use three or more technologies to help manage equipment. These include GPS tracking systems, data analytics and BI tools, safety management solutions, and remote monitoring and control.
Helpful, but they don't "talk"
The report states sentiment toward technology is optimistic with most recognizing the value, but there is frustration with a lack of cohesion between tech systems. Systems such as GPS, telematics, and safety platforms are often not integrated, leading to siloed data and limited insights for taking action.
Teletrac Navman’s industry report is based on a quantitative survey conducted among 736 equipment companies across the U.S., U.K., Australia, and New Zealand.
About the Author
Frank Raczon
Raczon’s writing career spans nearly 25 years, including magazine publishing and public relations work with some of the industry’s major equipment manufacturers. He has won numerous awards in his career, including nods from the Construction Writers Association, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, and BtoB magazine. He is responsible for the magazine's Buying Files.