Tag: fleet

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Addressing These THREE Risks May Help Maintain the Life of Your Fleet!

Risk management is key to getting the most out of your fleet.  Let’s explore three risks that affect the performance of your fleet.

  1. Theft.
    It’s quite possible to put significant time and money into protecting your cargo and overlooking the potential greatest loss to your business…the vehicle itself!  Auto theft remains a tremendous problem in the United States.  An analysis of data from the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) by the National Insurance Crime Bureau  (NICB) shows almost two vehicles being stolen every minute in 2022.It’s critical to ensure that vital auto parts are protected as well.  From 2019 to 2021 catalytic converter theft  jumped over 1,200 percent!Research and invest in the best safeguards to protect your fleet.
  2. Distracted driving.
    Distracted driving accounts for over 3,000 deaths on the road each year! Driving can be impaired by alcohol, drugs, sleep aids, lack of sleep, texting, or anything else that diverts the driver’s attention from the road.Do you see signs of aggression when any of your drivers are behind the wheel?  Be careful to vet your drivers thoroughly and implement an ongoing training program.  Addressing these issues through appropriate monitoring and training will save not only your property, but the lives of those entrusted with it.
  1. Improper vehicle maintenance.
    The safety of your drivers is largely dependent on the safety of your fleet vehicles. Every breakdown affects the bottom line.  Improper vehicle maintenance can result in accidents and may result in fines and lawsuits.  Invest in fleet management programs to keep track of maintenance needs and reporting requirements.

Technology is one of the best tools available to mitigate risks to your fleet.  Technology has transformed fleet management.  Strengthen your overall business operations with fleet management programs and services designed to keep your fleet compliant and on the road.

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Preparing Your Fleet for Summer Heat

Prepare your fleet vehicles for the heat of summer.

You would never think of running five miles in 100-degree heat without taking a water bottle and extra precautions to fight the summer temps. Your fleet is no different!

From top to bottom, front to back, it needs extra care to beat the heat.

In order to prevent overheating, it’s essential that all fluids are topped off before you start off on these long driving days. Radiator, antifreeze, transmission, brakes, even windshield wiper fluid will need special attention in order to keep your fleet healthy in this heat. As you’re driving, keep an eye on the water temperature or coolant temperature gauge. If it goes above a safe temp, you’re at risk of engine failure and need to get off the road immediately.

Summer heat is brutal to the life of batteries. They run excessively to maintain HVAC systems and other hot weather accessories, causing an increase in corrosion. Unfortunately, this quick aging may not be noticed until the cooler months arrive and your fleet doesn’t start up. Steven Keuss of Associated Equipment Corp says that for every 10 degree increase in temperature, the battery’s life is reduced by 50%.

Tires are especially at risk in hot weather, as there is always a risk of a tire blowing up or even catching on fire. Switch out your winter tires and check summer ones closely and regularly, making sure that they maintain proper tread and wear evenly. The pressure in your tires will increase with the temperature, and it’s recommended that you check them every two hours or 100 miles to maintain safety on the road.

Manually check your engine belts by pressing on them to make sure they are tight. If not, the water pump and fan will not run properly and result in overheating. Visually check for signs of wear and replace at the first sign of aging.

If your engine does overheat, immediately pull over, set your vehicle or rig in neutral and set the brakes, but do NOT shut down your engine. Keep the engine revved to 1500 RPMs to allow the fan to cool your engine. This will take at least 15 minutes, so be patient! Never open the radiator cap or any other pressurized system, as steam can cause severe burns. Once your engine has cooled, head to the service station.

Extra time and care of your fleet now will help to limit these service stops and get you back on the road quickly. We at ABS Tag & Title wish you a safe and healthy summer!

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New Fleet Management Details to Consider

New administration means new fleet management details.

A New Administration in Washington Means a Change for the Fleet Industry

With a new Administration in the White House, cutting-edge trucking regulations are on the horizon. To have an efficient fleet management service can mean the difference between the life and death of your trucking company.  Some things to consider:

  • United States Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, indicates he wants “net-zero” emissions from your fleet by 2040.
  • Put on hold since 2017, 18-wheeler speed limits are once again back on the discussion table in Washington.
  • The FMCSA is currently reviewing vision-impaired truck driving exemptions. Having set March 15 as a comment deadline, it will soon reveal whether a change will be made.  If the new legislation passes, affected drivers will no longer be restricted to in-state hauls.
  • Many expect that the new Administration will mandate an increase in the current $750,000 requirement of insurance liability. This move could mean a drastic dent on earnings and cost the industry millions.

These potential changes to trucking regulation are just a few concerns that will need to be addressed within your fleet, and they don’t touch on the ever-changing regulations that vary from state to state! It is more essential than ever before that a trucking company has dependable and professional fleet management to handle every detail personally and expertly. The result will ensure maximum profit within this industry.

The average highway driver has no idea what you have to consider to keep your fleet of trucks driving safely and legally across our nation. What is a simple (albeit sometimes annoying) wait in line to obtain a vehicle license and title can be a virtual nightmare for those in the trucking industry! Plus, if your truck isn’t where it should be when it should be, you’re out of business! We at ABS understand that your fleet needs to keep rolling and assure you that you can leave every single one of the details to us!

With a complete line of fleet management solutions, we oversee all the details from vehicle title and registration, renewals, duplicate titles, out of stock vehicle locating and so much more. We pride ourselves on fast turn-around times, our expertise and our accurate & reliable processes. Request a free quote to get started with us today so you can unburden yourself with the administrative work and focus on running your business!