With the advent of telematics, it has become possible to collect and transmit huge amounts of information between devices in remote locations, without the need for cables and wires. In this digital age, the use of smart sensors and technology allows fleet managers to take school bus maintenance to the next level, moving from preventive to predictive maintenance.
Here are just some of the major benefits that can result from harnessing automation in the domain of school bus maintenance:
Fuel-use Tracking
Drivers can use smart apps to create automatically time-stamped fuel-ups. Over time, the data can be used to project fuel consumption trends, identify engine problems sooner, ensure fuel dispensing security, improve timely fuel deliveries and budgeting, and support proposals for route and stop changes.
Daily Vehicle Inspection
Logging daily, pre-trip inspection results can also be automated via smart apps, creating a centralized database that can be used to track vehicle condition and performance, as well as to flag problems and maintenance needs in a timely manner.
Alerts for Oil and Fluid Changes, and Part Replacements
An automated maintenance system can be set up to send alerts via email and SMS to the fleet manager, bus drivers and technicians about scheduled maintenance activities such as oil and fluid replacements, inspections and part replacements. Meeting PM goals will thereby become more certain.
Logging of Inspections and Repairs
Automation likewise ensures that inspectors, technicians and service engineers can enter their reports and work completion logs into a centralized database. This can enable not only efficient tracking and updating of vehicle status and road-worthiness, but also streamline book-keeping of maintenance expenditure.
Inventory Management
Since operating a school bus fleet necessitates procuring and maintaining an inventory of frequently needed automotive supplies and spare parts, efficient inventory management is one of the chief concerns of a fleet manager. An automated system can be extremely effective at ensuring timely logging of purchases and used supplies and parts, as well as sending automated alerts when inventory dips lower than a pre-specified level. An automated system can also implement a just-in-time inventory model to reduce inventory and warehousing costs, if bus parts and supplies are available on a same day delivery basis.
Setting up anew automated bus maintenance program will be time consuming and challenging at the start, but with steady effort and patient technical support, the investment in bus maintenance technology will pay off.
Here are some helpful apps that you can help you get started with basic automation and tracking:
- Fleetio Go – Fleet Management: 100K+ downloads, rated 4.2 stars out of 291K reviews. Download: iOS / Android
- Vehicle Inspection Maintenance: 100K+ downloads, rated 4.5 stars out of 320 reviews. Download: iOS / Android
- Whip Around: 50K+ downloads, 4.5 stars out of 953 reviews. Download: iOS / Android
- Maintenance Reminder: 10K+ downloads, rated 4.4 stars out of 397 reviews. Download: Android
- Maintenance CMMS App – OxMaint: 10K+ downloads, 4.7 stars on 90 reviews. Download: iOS / Android
Next Steps
This is the third essay in a three part series by Prismatic Services on a cost-effective and time-efficient approach to school bus maintenance. There’s a lot more to fleet operations than just cost and maintenance management though. From scheduling and compliance, to staffing, pupil safety, and beyond, Prismatic Services is developing the practical, helpful tools and resources for school bus operations. To receive a FREE copy of our upcoming school bus operations toolkit once it’s released, simply leave your email address below.