Winter is Around the Corner: Prepare the Fleet

Winter is Around the Corner: Prepare the Fleet - Frigid temperatures and harsh winter conditions can be very unforgiving on fleet vehicles that must operate up to 12 hours a day. But by engaging in routine maintenance, you as a fleet manager can avoid emergency repairs and expensive downtime during the coldest months of the year.Before the snow falls and temperatures dip, take these steps to prepare your vehicles for the season:Utilize winterized fuel: The two most common cold-weather complaints among fleet owners? A decrease in fuel economy and vehicles that don’t start up when temperatures go below zero. Seasonally-enhanced fuels can help you stay productive even in negative 30° Fahrenheit temps, with a cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of negative 55° Fahrenheit. By adding additives, you can also boost your horsepower and fuel economy by five percent.Drain the water separator and replace filters: Water in your fuel system is never good, as it can damage fuel pumps and injectors in below-zero temperatures. As a result, this can lead to cold engine startup issues that many people assume is “fuel gelling.” However, what’s probably happening is that water is turning to ice within the fuel storage tanks and filtration systems, plugging [...]

Winter is Around the Corner: Prepare the Fleet2018-10-18T17:37:45-05:00

Using a Premium Diesel Fuel Can Increase Efficiency and Longevity

Using a Premium Diesel Fuel Can Increase Efficiency and Longevity - There are many benefits to using a premium grade diesel for your equipment and trucks. From increased longevity to better lubrication, here we’ll go over the main advantages to using the best diesel fuel. Whether your fleet operation is large or small, what kind of fuel you use is one of the most vital decisions you will make for your business. Is switching to a premium diesel the right move for you? Premium diesel has: Better Lubricity Lubrication reduces friction in your engines. Diesel lubricants in particular cut down on the friction and wear and tear of the fuel pump and injection parts. It stands to reason that all those engine parts are under a lot of pressure for most of the day, so if you have more lubrication, your machines will run smoother, giving you better productivity, less downtime and fewer repairs. A Higher Cetane Number Cetane is a measurement of the fuel’s ignition delay. Basically this is how fast the air and fuel mixture combusts within the engine. Higher cetane translates to a shorter delay and higher ignition quality, resulting in quicker start-ups, and reduced wear and [...]

Using a Premium Diesel Fuel Can Increase Efficiency and Longevity2018-09-27T09:19:00-05:00

Top Fleet Tips for Driver Retention

Top Fleet Tips for Driver Retention - Fleet owners are increasingly finding themselves facing an ever-increasing shortage of new drivers. That means if they want to attract the best and most talented drivers in the industry, they will have to come up with a more attractive and appealing work environment. But with the trucking industry coming up short 51,000 drivers in terms of its recruitment needs last year alone, this is becoming a challenge. The American Trucking Association says this is the highest shortage on record, growing even more recently due in part to a boost in freight volumes and the retirement of older, more seasoned drivers who are leaving the workforce in droves. Thus, it’s no secret that fleets are taking a second look at their human resources strategies to see what changes they can adopt. The results were documented in the 2018 Best Fleets to Drive For program, produced by CarriersEdge in partnership with Truckload Carriers Association. This is the only annual program that identifies the best workplaces in the North American trucking industry. Fleets are evaluated according to many different performance criteria in order to come up with the companies that boast the greatest success in driver [...]

Top Fleet Tips for Driver Retention2018-08-23T08:55:21-05:00

Heavy Equipment Grease: Tips to Get it Right

Choosing the right grease to lubricate your heavy equipment can be confusing at first. After all, there are so many types and brands on the market today. How can you be sure you’re using the right one to keep your heavy equipment in tip top shape? Using an all-purpose grease isn’t always the right decision, even though it can seem like a simple choice at first. So, does the grease you’re currently using make the grade? First, a look at why oil and grease are important. Just like your joints protect your bones when rubbing against each other, grease and oil make your equipment’s gears work seamlessly. They also prevent metal-on-metal grinding of moving parts. When you grease your machines the right way, you ensure a long-lasting shelf life for optimal performance through the years. Not only do you have to grease regularly, you have to use the right type of grease. Many of you may prefer to stick with one type of grease for convenience and for keeping a regular inventory. However, not all products are created equal. When selecting a grease, review the owner’s manual recommendations if you can. This is a great starting point. Use the [...]

Heavy Equipment Grease: Tips to Get it Right2018-07-20T17:20:17-05:00

Construction Equipment: How to Protect Your Investment During the Summer

Construction Equipment: How to Protect Your Investment During the Summer - Now that summer’s practically here, it’s time to start thinking about protecting your construction equipment for the hot and humid months. Keeping your equipment cool in the warm weather takes a few methodical steps. In the process, you may discover you need to make some repairs, perform maintenance and do some cleaning. By keeping up with these tasks now, you will ensure a long lifespan for your equipment and guard against unnecessary repairs throughout the season. Heed these tips to protecting your investment. Shade Your Equipment from the Sun When you leave your construction equipment outside sitting in the sun when not in use, particularly for days and weeks on end, this can cause damage that you may not even see with the naked eye. Instead, move your backhoes or trucks into a large storage room or into a shaded portion of the site so they will be less likely to break down when you need them. Heat exposure can do that. You can even drape your equipment with tarps to cut down on direct heat exposure. Don’t Use Equipment During Peak Hours We know, we know: this may [...]

Construction Equipment: How to Protect Your Investment During the Summer2021-03-29T17:12:36-05:00

Fuel Tank Testing: How Often Should I Test?

Fuel Tank Testing: How Often Should I Test? - Are you the manager of a large fleet? You probably realized early on that it’s more cost-effective and efficient to place a fuel storage tank on your property. This way, you can fuel up whenever you need to, without having to call your fuel provider for a mobile delivery every time. However, while convenient, this option also puts maintenance and upkeep on your shoulders. As you are aware, proper maintenance of your tank is imperative. Failure to do this can lead to maintenance issues and costly repairs to the tank or vehicles. It can also be a safety concern, as it could lead to a fire or explosion hazard. You must also remain in compliance with government regulations affecting the testing and inspection that is needed for the public’s peace of mind. Fuel spills, even small ones, can pose a big hazard to people and animals. Those incidents also tend to make the evening news headlines and put your company in a bad light. The best way to ensure you are operating safely is to test your fuel tanks regularly. Here are some tips: Take a fuel sample once a year [...]

Fuel Tank Testing: How Often Should I Test?2024-09-09T05:34:56-05:00

Marina Fuel: Tips to Comply with the Clean Marina Program

Marina Fuel: Tips to Comply with the Clean Marina Program - The State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Clean Marina Program puts forth requirements for compliance of certain rules that keep the state’s marinas clean, particularly those serving the Atlantic coastline, the Delaware River and Bay, freshwater lakes, tidal mudflats and deep ocean waters. The DEP developed this statewide Clean Marina Program to protect important habitat areas catering to a variety of species including algae, plankton, shellfish and finfish. The program encourages marina owners, yacht clubs, boatyards and boaters to do their part to prevent negative impacts on water quality, sensitive habitats and living resources that are located close to marinas. Here are some helpful tips to help you comply with the regulations as a responsible marina: Understand the benefits of becoming a Clean Marina: First, educate yourself on how you can benefit from this initiative such as generate new sources of revenue, reduce costs associated with waste disposal, and attract customers that follow good boating practices. Free guidance and technical assistance are available through site visits and at informational workshops. Distribute relevant information to your tenants and boaters at your facility: Show them these helpful Clean Boating [...]

Marina Fuel: Tips to Comply with the Clean Marina Program2018-04-19T09:26:13-05:00

Emergency Generators: Protect Your Business from Power Outages

Emergency Generators: Protect Your Business from Power Outages - Winter is not over – as evidenced by recent snow and rain storms in New England knocking out power in several communities. As a business owner, you can’t afford the downtime that comes with a power outage. Not only is it unexpected, it can last for days, which can really cut into your profit margin. Without power, you can’t operate normally. If you can’t operate, you can’t make money. It’s a vicious cycle, one that can be broken by proper planning. So it’s time to ask yourself: is your business prepared to handle an emergency? If the answer is no, heed these important tips to be ready for any and all future disasters so you don’t miss a beat. A good solution is having a diesel-powered emergency generator on hand, which is one of the more reliable forms of emergency backup power. In fact, several international building codes and standards require the use of diesel generators for compliance. Here are some ways you can ensure backup power in an emergency: Determine the risk: The first step is to identify your facility's critical loads. Put a cost to the risks that come [...]

Emergency Generators: Protect Your Business from Power Outages2018-03-09T15:44:21-05:00

Top 5 Tips for the Ideal Fleet Shop

Top 5 Tips for the Ideal Fleet Shop - If you’re a fleet manager, you may have your own opinions about what the ideal maintenance shop looks like to you. Some of the top common goals may be safer and more ergonomic working conditions for employees, improved productivity with lower costs, and increased focus on green initiatives. How you accomplish all these things will vary by fleet and fleet shop manager. Check out these top five tips for the ideal fleet shop. Establish a physical layout that will best fit your fleet’s needs: Make sure it’s wide enough and long enough, with plenty of space for operation, storage, etc. You may have been so focused in the past on fitting your trucks and tools into your shops that you forgot about adding space for vehicle maneuvering, storage and technician work areas. Add plenty of lighting, both artificial and natural: Adding overhead, ambient and task lighting is critical, as is letting in as much natural light as you can through the ceiling (think skylights). It’s also a good idea to paint the walls white to brighten up the interior. Maximize productivity: When you think in terms of productivity = money, the [...]

Top 5 Tips for the Ideal Fleet Shop2024-09-09T07:05:55-05:00

Extreme Cold: How to Keep Your Fleet Moving

As we get over this latest deep freeze that has affected much of the Northeast, we take the time to reflect on how we can best keep moving. Your fleet is your livelihood. If works grinds to a halt because your machines or equipment can’t work due to the cold or snow, you lose money. Period. How can you stay productive and operate smoothly in cold weather? It all has to do with planning and maintenance. The cold, snow and ice can really do a number on your fleet. In fact, 90% of all winter operability issues are related to moisture. Did you know that diesel engines are five times harder to start when the temperature is at 0 degrees F than at 80 degrees F? This is because the oil is thicker and all that cold resists movement of the internal moving parts of your machinery. Looking to prevent cold starts and fuel gelling? Maintenance is your best option in ensuring your vehicles stay on the move. Failure to give your fleet some much-needed TLC this winter can come back to harm you in the end. Specifically, it’s important to keep an eye on your water separators every [...]

Extreme Cold: How to Keep Your Fleet Moving2024-09-09T01:50:24-05:00
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