Fleet cards are incredible fleet management tools. They have become the standard for managing fleet-related expenses like gas, diesel, parts, services and maintenance. Many fleet managers use them to pay for fuel because of the available fuel discounts or rebates. Others choose fleet fuel cards because they are safer and more secure than credit cards or cash. Then there are those who take full advantage of the scope of offerings provided by a fleet card. When you put all the features of these cards to good use, the results include better-managed fleets, decreased fuel costs and more efficient drivers.
To get the most out of your fleet card data, it’s crucial to integrate this data into your fleet’s maintenance strategy.
The benefits can extend even further when fleet managers integrate the power of fleet cards with their maintenance strategy. Whether you run a delivery service, construction firm or any business with a fleet of vehicles, maintaining your assets is essential for efficiency, safety and cost-effectiveness.
Preventative maintenance plays a significant role in ensuring the smooth functioning of vehicles, reducing unexpected breakdowns and extending their lifespan. Fleet card data offers comprehensive insights into fuel consumption and vehicle usage. When used correctly, this information can be a powerful tool in promoting and enhancing preventative maintenance strategies.
The Scope of Fleet Card Data
Fleet cards are a commonly used method for fuel purchases. In addition to consolidating your fleet expenses, they offer a host of data points. Every time a driver or employee makes a purchase, the transaction details are recorded in real time. All information is logged in a fleet card dashboard and is easily accessible. Common data points include:
- Date and time of transaction.
- Fuel station location.
- Fuel brand.
- Fuel type (diesel or gas).
- The grade of fuel (regular, mid-grade or premium).
- Mileage (odometer reading).
This data can be used to identify trends in vehicle usage, fuel consumption and maintenance needs, serving as a predictive tool for fleet managers.
Integrating Fleet Card Data for Maintenance Strategies
To get the most out of your fleet card data, it’s crucial to integrate this data into your fleet’s maintenance strategy. Making your fleet card information a part of your maintenance strategy begins with the collection and analysis of your data.
Data Collection and Analysis</>
Collecting and Consolidating Data
Data is only as good as your ability to interpret the information it represents. This begins with collecting and consolidating your data, both of which are done automatically with a fleet fuel card. In a fleet card’s dashboard, all transaction data is collected and easily accessible for analysis.
Analyzing Trends
Most fleet card dashboards include data analytics. When you view your data, these tools can help identify patterns and trends, such as increased fuel consumption or frequent visits to service stations.
Utilizing Fleet Card Data for Fleet Management
Once you have collected, consolidated and analyzed your data, you can put it to work for you. Regarding fleet management and fleet maintenance, there’s a lot you can do with fleet card data. A few of the most beneficial include analyzing fuel consumption, looking at vehicle usage patterns and performing a cost analysis.
Fuel Consumption Analysis
Tracking fuel consumption with a fleet card can provide insights into vehicle efficiency. Abnormal fuel consumption patterns may indicate engine inefficiency, fuel leaks or improper driving habits. By regularly analyzing fuel consumption, you can proactively identify maintenance needs, such as tuning engines or addressing fuel system issues.
Vehicle Usage Patterns
Fleet card data helps fleet managers track when, where and how vehicles are used. Analyzing usage patterns can help managers identify high-mileage vehicles or those subjected to harsh operating conditions. Preventatively scheduling maintenance based on usage patterns helps prevent wear and tear and reduces the chance of unexpected breakdowns.
Cost Analysis and Budgeting
With a fleet card, you can monitor maintenance expenditures. Analyzing this cost data helps identify areas where maintenance expenses can be optimized. For instance, by allocating budgets based on historical maintenance costs and projected needs, companies may more effectively manage their maintenance expenses.
Fleet Cards and Vehicle Maintenance
Integrating fuel cards into your fleet management strategy offers several benefits that can help with fleet vehicle maintenance.
Integrating fuel cards into your fleet management strategy offers several benefits that can help with fleet vehicle maintenance.
Scheduled Maintenance Reminders
Keeping track of multiple vehicles and their maintenance needs can be challenging – especially with larger fleets. Fleet card data can help with maintenance management in several ways, beginning with maintenance reminders. With up-to-date vehicle usage info, you know the number of months, days, weeks and even hours a vehicle has been in the field.
Reminders can be set for timely servicing based on mileage or time intervals. This proactive approach ensures vehicles are maintained according to manufacturer recommendations.
Predictive Maintenance Strategies
Fleet managers and company owners can use fleet card data for predictive maintenance. By analyzing historical data on fuel consumption, vehicle usage, and maintenance records, managers are more attuned to when vehicles have a negative shift in performance. Changes may be due to changes in driving behavior, but they also may indicate something is wrong.
Rather than waiting until scheduled maintenance, evaluating the vehicle will often help address issues before they become more problematic. Implementing predictive maintenance minimizes downtime, helps add life to vehicles, and saves time and money.
The Benefits of Preventative Maintenance
Using a preventative maintenance approach, guided by fleet card data, can result in substantial benefits for a fleet. Here are the top four:
- Enhanced Vehicle Reliability
- Regular preventative maintenance minimizes the risk of unexpected breakdowns, improving vehicle reliability.
- Well-maintained vehicles are less likely to experience failures, reducing disruptions to operations and improving customer satisfaction.
- Extended Vehicle Lifespan
- Proactive maintenance preserves the integrity of vehicle components, extending their lifespan.
- Addressing issues early can help prevent minor problems from escalating into major repairs, prolonging the usability of company vehicles.
- Improved Safety
- Preventative maintenance contributes to safer operations by ensuring vehicles are in optimal condition.
- Regular inspections and servicing help identify safety hazards such as worn brakes, tires or faulty lighting systems, reducing the risk of accidents.
- Cost Savings
- Avoiding major repairs and reducing downtime helps businesses minimize maintenance expenses and maximize operational efficiency.
Prevention is a Benefit of Fleet Card Data
When used appropriately, fleet cards are powerful tools. With a fuel card, you can collect, analyze and act upon the accurate, real-time data provided. Leveraging fleet fuel card data for preventative maintenance can reduce downtime, extend vehicle life and lead to significant cost savings.
Valero fleet cards are a great option for fleet managers. They provide competitive fuel discounts along with real-time data, automated expense tracking and powerful reporting—everything you need to implement preventative maintenance.