Fleet Management and Bus Servicing and Repairs
If you manage a fleet of buses, you will want to be certain that you keep the time they are off the road for servicing to an absolute minimum. After all, if one of your buses is off the road, it isn't making money for your company. Below is a guide to some of the things you can do to ensure that the maintenance of your fleet doesn't cause logistical problems.
Identify a reliable bus service company
The first thing you need to do is to identify a reliable bus service company. A professional bus service provider will be able to schedule work in advance so you can have different parts of your fleet serviced at different times.
Work out what you can do yourself
There are some basic bus servicing tasks which your in-house mechanics will be able to complete. For example, your staff should be able to check the tyre pressures and the levels of oil and brake fluid for each bus. Performing these checks in-house will help to keep your buses on the road and will reduce the need for a bus to be taken off the road and taken in for servicing or bus repairs. However, there are some tasks, such as checking the engine or the electrics which should only be performed by a qualified bus mechanic.
Maintain good communication with the bus service centre
When it comes to keeping your fleet of buses functioning well on the road, good communication is key. It is vital that you develop a good relationship with the staff at your local bus service centre. If you take the time to establish good lines of communication, you will find that it is much easier to book vehicles in for a repair or service at short notice. Good communication will also mean that if additional work needs to be carried out which will delay the return of a bus to the road, the mechanic will be able to let you know well in advance so you can come up with a plan B.
Regular maintenance is an unavoidable part of fleet management. However, it doesn't have to give you a headache. By taking the time to implement the advice above, you can develop a servicing schedule which will help to keep your buses on the road. If you would like further advice, you should contact your local bus service centre today.
