Why Does Fleet Availability Matter: A Key Metric for Success

In the world of fleet management, vehicle availability isn’t just a performance indicator; it’s the backbone of effective fleet operations.  

RTA CEO Josh Turley and fleet hall of famer Steve Saltzgiver from The Fleet Success Show podcast emphasized that availability stands as “the granddaddy of all metrics.”  

For fleet managers, tracking availability is not just about knowing how many vehicles are operational; it's about ensuring mission success, maximizing cost-efficiency, and keeping customer satisfaction high. 

Watch the full episode: 

Why Availability Matters 

Availability is a simple yet powerful metric: it tells you the percentage of fleet vehicles ready to go when needed. If a vehicle isn’t available, it essentially transforms into an idle asset. 

“What else is there if your vehicle's not available, right?” Turley remarked during the episode.  

Saltzgiver agreed, noting that without high availability, “you don’t really have a fleet; you have a parking lot.”  

This perspective underscores that availability is central to fulfilling operational goals. A fleet that’s consistently ready to operate, especially in the high 90% range, directly supports organizational success. 

Targeting High Availability Levels 

For Saltzgiver, a benchmark availability rate is at least 95%, with a recent consulting project demonstrating how even higher rates are achievable.  

Through dedicated efforts, his team raised one client’s availability from the low 80s to an impressive 97% in just six months.  

Achieving such improvement involved several strategic actions:  

• Refining preventive maintenance (PM) programs 

• Educating team members on the importance of availability 

• Actively engaging with stakeholders 

Saltzgiver noted, “If you can see it, you can improve it,” underscoring the importance of visibility and measurement in driving results. 

Building a Preventive Maintenance Culture 

One crucial factor that affects fleet availability is the preventive maintenance compliance rate.  

Saltzgiver’s team inherited a PM compliance rate below 30% in their project, which led to increased breakdowns and poor availability.  

After six months of focused improvement, they elevated compliance to over 70%, and it continues to improve. This shift not only reduced downtime but also had a cascading effect on fleet efficiency and availability.  

"If your PM compliance isn’t any good, you’re going to have a lot more breakdowns, which means more availability issues," Turley explained.  

By prioritizing PM, fleet managers can address minor issues before they become costly, keeping more vehicles on the road and reducing the need for spare units. 

Making Data-Driven Decisions 

A core theme from the podcast was the power of data in driving availability improvements.  

Saltzgiver detailed his approach of gathering availability data and sharing it across departments to create transparency. “Once they started seeing progressive improvement,” he shared, “they became more amenable to talking to me.”  

This openness facilitated communication between departments and empowered fleet teams to make data-backed adjustments.  

From Turley’s perspective, having metrics on display–like availability rates and PM compliance–not only informs stakeholders but also fosters a sense of accountability and ownership among team members. 

Tips for New Fleet Managers  

Saltzgiver’s advice to new fleet managers is to approach the role with patience and purpose. “Take your time to investigate and look at all the data,” he advised. 

Identifying where problems lie, setting achievable goals, and working toward incremental improvements can make a massive difference over time.  

His weekly reports, which included metrics on accomplishments, upcoming goals, and any roadblocks, helped keep progress on track and allowed the team to celebrate small victories. These incremental improvements, he emphasized, can build momentum and morale within the team, ultimately leading to sustainable high availability levels. 

Visibility, Accountability, and Results 

The podcast hosts highlighted the importance of public accountability.  

Saltzgiver’s practice of sharing weekly reports with both team members and stakeholders was a stroke of genius in Turley’s eyes.  

“What gets measured, managed, and reported improves,” Turley observed, capturing the essence of accountability in driving performance.  

Displaying metrics on screens within the workspace provided team members with tangible reminders of their progress and areas that needed improvement. This public display of data reinforced the importance of availability as a shared responsibility. 

Get Your Availability on Track with RTA 

For fleet managers, availability is not just a number in a report; it's the foundation of a successful operation. By focusing on preventive maintenance, leveraging data for insights, and fostering a culture of accountability, fleet managers can make significant strides toward achieving high availability rates.  

Saltzgiver’s real-world insights from the podcast serve as a powerful reminder that while challenges will arise, a disciplined, data-driven approach can lead to exceptional results.  

As Turley aptly put it, “If you want to make a real impact as a fleet manager, focus on the metrics that matter most–and availability should always be at the top of that list.” 

Need a better tool to provide you with the data you need to improve availability and stakeholder satisfaction? Check out RTA fleet360.  

Need help getting your fleet availability where it should be? RTA’s fleet consulting team (including Steve Saltzgiver) are here to help assess and improve your availability. Schedule a consultation to learn more.