Overseeing a fleet of vehicles presents both challenges and substantial costs. Considering the expenses, fuel and maintenance costs can quickly add up. A vehicle runs on fuel, so when fleets operate 24×7, 365 days in a year, fuel costs are also rolled in constantly. On the other hand, as vehicles run continuously, it is essential to consider their servicing and maintenance.
Vehicles in top condition not only run smoother but also significantly lower the risk of malfunctions. Of course, fleet businesses don’t want breakdowns as they can affect operational efficiency and customer service. But when we talk about vehicle maintenance, many think about internal repairing and service repairs that improve the fleet vehicle’s performance. Yet, regular fleet washing stands as a crucial element of vehicle upkeep.
Vehicles are the most critical investment a fleet company makes. Hence, it is essential to keep fleet vehicles in good shape and clean. Pristine fleet vehicles aren’t just visually appealing—they also help slash maintenance expenses.
Let’s understand how clean fleet vehicles can save money and increase fleet efficiency.
Clean Vehicles Save Vehicle Maintenance Expenses
Fleet vehicles must go through different areas or terrains under diverse climatic conditions. So, it is evident that they will have dirt build-up and road grime. You may question the impact of dirt and grime on vehicle performance—rest assured, it’s significant.
If dirt stays longer and is not washed, it can lead to corrosion and premature wear of several vehicle parts. It is because dirt can get into different internal mechanical vehicle areas and increase weight. Additionally, it can impact lubrication, impacting vehicle longevity and sometimes causing electrical problems.
Dirt accumulation on the exterior can degrade the paintwork, and as we all know, repainting comes with a hefty price tag. A spotless vehicle not only enhances fuel efficiency but also curtails fuel expenses.
A study by MythBusters concludes that clean vehicles offer an average of 2 mpg more than dirty ones. Clean vehicles hit mileage of 26 mpg, and dirty ones covered 24 mpg. While this difference might seem insignificant, it considerably impacts fuel costs in the long run.
Keeping vehicles clean enables passing air to travel freely without the need to navigate through the obstruction created by dirt and grim. Fleet vehicles will have less resistance when accelerating, providing better mileage and avoiding fuel wastage.
Clean Vehicles Foster Safety & Visibility
Maintaining vehicle cleanliness enhances safety and ensures better visibility. It is true that major breakdowns can sometimes lead to accidents, causing loss of lives and massive vehicle damage. While vehicle damage can be repaired, losing life is difficult to recover.
Excessive build-up of dirt and grim corrodes motor parts and harms its operational functions. It can have a ripple effect on resistance and cause breakdowns. And if drivers are not able to control the vehicle during a breakdown amidst driving, collisions might happen.
Additionally, dirty cars can create a lot of distractions for drivers when driving. For example, dirty windshields or mirrors reduce driver visibility and affect driving performance. Here, even if the driver is driving responsibly, a dirty vehicle is the core reason for any misfortune.
Clean Vehicles Improve Brand Reputation
If your dirty vehicle is making a trip on the road, other passengers are bound to comment on it. Imagine what will be the customer perception? While fleet business growth relies on efficient services, appearance matters, too. Your fleet vehicles are the prime brand promoters on the road, and it will create a negative brand persona amongst prospective customers if vehicles are not clean.
When we buy a product, its packaging is one of the reasons for customer attraction. Likewise, clean fleet vehicles garner appreciation! Customers can assume that the company is committed to regular maintenance and service if vehicles are clean, leading to brand image enhancement.
Tips to Ensure Clean Vehicles
Fleet managers, already swamped with numerous tasks, certainly don’t need the added burden of vehicle cleaning. Here are some simple things that fleet managers can do to ensure a clean fleet.
- Develop a cleaning routine and ensure that the staff is following it. Clean vehicles every 2nd day and clean the vehicle inside out always during a maintenance schedule. Such to-do lists can help everyone follow the plan and result in keeping vehicles clean.
- The maintenance team should be informed about waxing during a vehicle wash. Vehicle wax tends to make vehicles look shinier after wash.
- Ask your team to clear trash off the vehicle at the end of the day. This ensures the interiors are clean enough and make it look attractive. Whether people agree or not, keeping vehicles clean spreads positivity.
- Vehicle interiors also matter, so interior vacuum cleanups and shampoo cleaning must be on the to-do list. Vacuum cleaning can be done monthly, whereas shampoo cleaning can occur once in six months.
Summing Up
Although the importance of cleanliness is often overlooked, vehicle washing is one of the critical aspects of fleet tracking and maintenance. It helps cut costs, improve brand reputation, and boost customer loyalty. Also, you can receive a better resale value when vehicles are clean and in good shape, and you might as well attract new customers.
