Improving Commercial Vehicle Tire Maintenance
Proper tire maintenance is an essential component of fleet operations. It improves safety while also working to save your company money.
It should be a fleet manager’s top priority since it is such an important tool in managing your company’s finances. Every business needs a complete tire management program in place to ensure profitability and minimize complications.
Centralized Versus Decentralized Decision Processes
Many companies own or operate a large number of vehicles without direct ownership. That includes waste management, bus fleets, logistics companies, and others. In some regions, government agencies require careful oversight of these companies, requiring regular reports to ensure they remain in compliance with the highest safety standards.
Other companies have uncontrolled costs due to decentralized decision-making. That is, they have local branches or sectors of the company. That may or may not make wise decisions about when and how to update tires. The costs are not approved upfront. Since tires are the second largest expense in managing a fleet of vehicles, not having a careful eye on these costs is problematic.
Anyline digital records resolve this concern, creating a way for tires to be checked and integrated into the fleet management dashboard quickly and efficiently. This also allows alerts to be created when tires wear down or need attention. Fleet managers can then quickly make decisions about the replacements.
Minimizing Tire and Fuel Costs
Two of the largest expenses for fleet operators are fuel and tires. While seemingly separate, they are partially related. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by about 0.2% for every 1 pound per square inch (PSI) drop in the average pressure of all tires.
One way to reduce costs is with proper tire pressure monitoring. Ensuring proper tire pressure in changing weather conditions is an easy way to protect drivers.
Optimal Pull Time for Tires
Most fleets with well-managed tire maintenance programs will never allow a drive or rolling tire to go lower than 4/32, and often, 6/32 on steering tires. The retreadability of a casing is greatly enhanced when a tire is pulled before the legal limit. The legal limit is 2/32 on drive or trailer positions and 4/32 on steering positions.
Automating Data Collection
Data collection is a core component of fleet operation that, when automated, can empower managers to make better decisions to reduce costs and enhance overall safety.
Anyline is a key resource for this. It uses AI and computer vision to capture data quickly and effectively using a driver-facing app. Consider some of the data that can be collected:
Key Take Aways
- Tire management is key to profitability in fleets.
- Managing tires is easier to do with hands-on technology from Anyline that speeds up the process and eliminates errors.
- Companies that want to streamline their business and improve bottom lines need to automate.