- Poor vehicle maintenance can cause delays and cost overruns in a construction project.
- Regular maintenance of vehicles is essential to ensure the successful completion of projects on time and within budget.
- Tips for maintaining your construction vehicles include keeping them fueled and performing regular inspections.
- Technological advancements can help to make vehicle maintenance management more efficient and cost-effective.
When working in the construction industry, time is always of the essence. Deadlines are tight, budgets are lean, and competition is stiff. For this reason, any delays that crop up can jeopardize the entire project in terms of time and money.
One area that is often overlooked in construction planning is maintaining vehicles and trucks. Here’s why maintenance of cars and trucks is crucial in the construction industry and what steps you can take to ensure that your wheels keep turning.
What are the Consequences of Poor Vehicle Maintenance?
When a construction project is delayed, it can have severe implications on finances and the reputations of those involved. Poor on-site communication, unforeseen delivery setbacks, and other issues can all add to delays.
However, unscheduled vehicle breakdowns can stop a project dead in its tracks, resulting in significant project delays and cost overruns. Maintaining your vehicles and trucks is essential to ensure your projects are completed on time and within budget.
Benefits of Vehicle Maintenance: A Cost-effective Strategy
Construction companies are required to deliver project results on time and within budget. Poor vehicle maintenance can lead to costly repairs and replacements. Regular maintenance of your vehicles can identify any potential problems before they become more severe, which in turn, saves time and money. Furthermore, routine vehicle maintenance assures worker safety, improves employees’ health, and reduces liability concerns related to workplace injuries.
How to Maintain Your Vehicles and Trucks
Construction vehicles are the backbone of any building project’s success. As such, they must be taken care of like any other equipment, if not more. Daily maintenance is significant to keep the vehicles in optimal shape and avoid downtime that could cost you valuable time, money, and even reputation. How do you care for your construction vehicles? Read on for some tips to keep them running smoothly.
Keep Your Vehicles Fueled
Lack of fuel is one of the most common causes of vehicle breakdowns. As such, ensure all your vehicles are adequately fueled before any job begins. For diesel trucks, consider investing in an auxiliary transfer fuel tank for extra peace of mind. This is a storage tank, typically located in the bed of the car, which can provide additional fuel capacity, allowing you access to fuel when and where you need it.
Perform Regular Inspections and Maintenance
Regular inspections and maintenance are the first and arguably most critical steps in taking care of your construction vehicles. Vehicles are constantly exposed to wear and tear, meaning parts wear out over time. Regular maintenance has to be scheduled for preventive measures to save you the time and money you would have spent on repairs. Maintenance schedules must include oil and filter changes and checking brakes, tires, hydraulics, and lubrication points.
Keep it Clean
Keeping your construction vehicles clean is a basic but essential step in routine maintenance. It would help if you always wash your cars after use. The dirt and grime accumulating on the vehicle surface might create tiny cracks that allow corrosion. Regular washing, waxing, and detailing of your construction vehicles make them visually appealing while keeping them in good condition for an extended period.
Use the Right Fuel
Most construction vehicles can run on diesel or gasoline. However, some vehicles require specific types of fuel. Diesel fuel contains essential lubrication and additives that prevent contaminants from causing damage to your cars.
On the other hand, gasoline contains less lubrication and can cause issues with engines that require diesel. Check your equipment manual or consult your fuel supplier to ensure you use the correct fuel type.
Train Operators
Training your construction vehicle operators can help extend the lifespan of the machines. Proper training may include teaching how to accelerate and decelerate carefully, use the brakes appropriately and follow the recommended specifications. Educate them on how to check the equipment before use, what to do in case of malfunctions or breakdowns, and how to report problems.
Final Thoughts
Construction project delays can cause disastrous consequences for businesses within the industry. Many reasons can cause a delay, but the maintenance of vehicles and trucks should not be an excuse for unnecessary delays.
Adequate procedures and routines and partnership with a reliable service provider can ensure that your vehicles remain roadworthy and efficient, causing minimal hiccups. Lastly, technological advancements in the automotive industry indicate a future where vehicle maintenance management will operate more efficiently and cost-effectively, reducing project delays.
