Fleet Maintenance: Preventive vs Predictive Scheduling

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Overview
How it works
Key facts
FAQ

What is Fleet Maintenance?

Maintenance falls into three kinds: preventive service on a schedule, predictive service triggered by usage or condition, and corrective repairs after a failure. Schedules are driven by mileage, engine hours or time, so accurate odometer and engine-hour data matter. Telematics supplies that data and can read fault codes from the engine, so a reminder fires when a vehicle reaches the interval and a fault code can flag a problem before a breakdown. Records of services, inspections and repairs also support DVIR follow-up, DOT inspections and resale value.

How it works

Set service intervals by mileage, engine hours or time.
Telematics tracks each vehicle's odometer and engine hours.
A reminder fires when a vehicle nears an interval.
The service is done and recorded against the vehicle.
Fault codes and driver reports flag repairs between services.

Key facts

Fewer roadside breakdowns from missed services
Mileage and engine-hour intervals come from the tracker
Service history in one place for inspections and resale
Driver defect reports feed repairs promptly

Frequently Asked Questions

Preventive maintenance follows a fixed schedule, such as an oil change at a set mileage. Predictive maintenance uses vehicle data, such as fault codes and usage, to decide when service is needed.

Accurate odometer or engine-hour readings for each vehicle. A GPS tracker can estimate mileage from trips, and an engine-connected device can read the odometer and engine hours directly.