EP 146: How Available Is Your Fleet? A Conversation with Steve Saltzgiver

EPISODE SUMMARY:

In this episode of The Fleet Success Show, RTA CEO and podcast host Josh Turley and veteran fleet superstar Steve Saltzgiver dive into the importance of vehicle availability for fleet management success. Steve shares his recent experience working on a long-term engagement with a client to improve their fleet's availability, detailing the strategies and metrics that led to significant improvements. The conversation covers the challenges faced, the steps taken to overcome them, and the resulting positive impact on the client's operations.

Key Highlights:

• Importance of Availability: Steve emphasizes that availability is the "granddaddy of all metrics" in fleet management, as it directly affects the ability to complete missions and achieve goals.
• Initial Challenges: When Steve started, the client's fleet availability was in the low 80s. Over six months, his team raised it to 97% by revamping preventive maintenance programs and educating the team on the importance of availability.
• Engaging Stakeholders: Key to their success was engaging with stakeholders, understanding their needs, and ensuring they were informed about the fleet's status through weekly reports.
• Preventive Maintenance Compliance: Another crucial metric was on-time preventive maintenance compliance, which improved from 30% to over 90%, significantly reducing breakdowns and increasing availability.
• Cultural Change: The improvements fostered a positive shift in team culture, with increased recognition and morale as progress was made.
• Advice for New Fleet Managers: Steve advises new fleet managers to take their time to understand the data, engage stakeholders, and set realistic goals. He emphasizes the importance of weekly reports for tracking progress and identifying obstacles.

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