The biggest problem facing the trucking industry isn’t the fluctuating cost of fuel or the hours demanded of drivers or even the quality of the blue plate special at the highway truck stops. No, the number one thing hamstringing drivers and fleet managers alike is downtime. That’s the time when a truck sits in a service bay waiting for somebody to give the go-ahead on repairs.
When there’s downtime, drivers aren’t making any money, fleet managers are shorthanded and the service center can’t work on other trucks.
While this isn’t a new problem for the trucking world, there is a new solution.
Video fixes the communication chain between drivers, service providers, and fleet managers to wipe out downtime, squash disputes over pre-existing damage and get trucks back on the road faster.
Reducing Truck Downtime with Video Walkaround Inspections
The first step in reducing downtime is giving technicians the information they need before the truck ever comes into the service bay. Video provides the ability to do a walkaround inspection of a truck and a diagnostic capture that shows technicians exactly what the issues are so they can have the parts on-site and ready to go when the truck arrives. With video, there’s less time in the shop and more time rolling down the highway.
Walkaround videos can also be performed by technicians as a way to show drivers, fleet managers, or any other key personnel exactly what’s wrong and why it needs to be repaired. These decision-makers can act fast when they’ve got visual evidence in front of them instead of hearing a dozen different stories over the phone. Clear, high-quality walkaround videos make for faster approvals.
On the flip side, trucks that break down on the road can take a video of the issue and send it to the service center via a dedicated link. Once again, technicians can have the right parts and the right people in place before the truck pulls in. There’s no more endless repair cycle. Just faster solutions.
Preventing Pre-Existing Damage Disputes with Verified Video Documentation
There’s nothing more aggravating than a debate over pre-existing damage. Drivers can claim that you damaged their truck while it was in your service bay. And if you don’t have proof that it came in like that, you’re going to be stuck eating the repair costs. Video gives service centers verified condition reporting that puts an end to those disputes. You can create a timestamped video that includes date, time, and user identity when the truck first arrives that gives you a baseline condition before it ever enters your service bay. It provides visual proof of pre-existing damage, wear, or failed components. Now, if a driver claims that you banged up their rig or that other common refrain that you performed unnecessary work, you can show them the truck’s actual condition at dropoff. You’ve also got a reliable audit trail for disputes, warranty reviews, and any surprise compliance checks. Video safeguards your shop against liability and strengthens the trust that drivers have in the work you do.
Improving Fleet Maintenance Communication with Video
The real power of video is better communication. There’s a lot that can be lost in translation in a phone call, text chain, or email exchange between drivers, technicians, advisors, and fleet managers. Video replaces all the inconsistent explanations, unintelligible voicemails, and incomplete reports that make getting approvals on repairs an endless journey. Videos eliminate the gray areas and guesswork, speeding up the decision-making process, minimizing bottlenecks in the service center, and, most importantly, reducing downtime. Trucks fly through service with less hassle and fewer delays because everyone sees the same visual truth.
Keeping Trucks on the Road and Fleets Moving
Trucks are the lifeblood of our economy. They carry everything we need to thrive–food, building materials, supplies–from one end of the country to the other. Downtime doesn’t just hurt the trucking industry. It affects us all. Video technology keeps the trucking industry and the people that it serves moving forward.
To discover more about how video streamlines the repair process, visit our Trucking page, fill out the form below, and download our whitepaper: The Hidden Cost of Communication Delays in Fleet Maintenance.
