Using the right prevention techniques and technology can help you avoid fleet downtime. Managers and owners often forget that the financial loss the business suffers goes beyond the emergency repairs, but is truly felt when the assets are sitting idle.
For as long as preventative maintenance is included in your fleet maintenance strategy, you’re looking at significant savings and a smoothly running business. Read this FAQ to find out more!
Managing fleet maintenance is critical to prevent fleet downtime in mining because it’s what keeps your fleet performing at its best. The most successful management technique is investing in fleet management software (FMS), like Cartrack’s FleetWeb. FMS uses AI, diagnostics, and patterns/algorithms to schedule preventative maintenance, ensuring your fleet vehicles are being serviced before breakdowns even occur.
You can be productive in downtime by responding quickly and following your post-breakdown protocol. To make the most of this situation, ensure mechanics are quickly called to immediately assess and handle the issues. While that's happening, kick your post-breakdown protocol into gear. This could be reviewing & documenting the situation, updating drivers and customers, redirecting deliveries, etc.
You improve preventative maintenance by regularly reviewing maintenance histories and periodically training your staff. By frequently reviewing preventative maintenance schedules & histories, you can monitor metrics and carry out reviews to ensure consistency. Also, training and incentivising your staff encourages them to practise safe driving (leading to less wear & tear). Both of these push accountability and compliance.
You reduce fleet maintenance costs by introducing fleet management software. Fleet systems help you transform your fleet strategies from reactive to preemptive, but also use AI & digital algorithms to optimise routes, job allocations, and visibility. All of these aspects (combined with detailed insights from your vehicle) improve your fleet strategies, ultimately helping you save on running expenses.
The latest trends in fleet maintenance include using a powerful fleet management platform and getting the most out of the features it provides; like telematics, AI, automation, vehicle diagnostics, and predictive maintenance. These features are growing in popularity, providing businesses with cost-saving strategies and future-forward maintenance solutions.
The fleet technology that helps with fleet mining downtime is fleet software, preferably one that uses real-time data, AI, and automation to support preventative maintenance. Preventative maintenance is what keeps your fleet from serious downtime, alerting you to faulty parts and creating preemptive servicing schedules based on vehicle diagnostics.
According to Skynode and ME Eng Supplies (PTY) Ltd, downtime costs you anywhere between R250 000 and R3 000 000 per incident. These numbers are based on downtime that lasts for a few hours, and don’t account for extensive breakdowns going on for a day or more. The numbers are simply based on the context and severity of the situation.
Bad haul road maintenance increases fleet downtime by causing significantly more damage to your fleet vehicles. According to a study by ScienceScope Africa, maintenance and repair costs could go up to a staggering 120% per year when a truck is driving on bad roads. This equates to at least 10% of your fleet’s yearly expenses!
The differences between preventive, predictive, and prescriptive maintenance in mining are that:
Cartrack’s system helps mining companies reduce and prevent downtime by combining its telematics, real-time tracking, AI, and automation to deliver preventative maintenance. The data collected predicts and prevents breakdowns, determining the corrective measures required before the vehicle or asset breaks down.
Fleet electrification alters downtime risks by providing an internal system that has fewer moving parts, meaning that wear & tear isn’t as common as it is in ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles. Electric vehicles also won’t face issues like running low on fuel or oil changes.
Excessive idling harms vehicles by wasting fuel and putting pressure on the internal parts, like the engine. This speeds up wear & tear, throws up your sustainability goals, and disturbs your maintenance schedules.
