MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR
Rightsizing Your Fleet
In addition to improving maintenance and repair operations, fleets are often under increasing pressure to lower operating costs. One proven strategy is rightsizing, optimizing the number of vehicles and equipment to match actual operational needs.
The first step in a rightsizing initiative is a utilization study. But not all utilization metrics are created equal.
“ Looking only at total mileage can be misleading, especially for utility trucks that spend significant time at jobsites,” said Paul Milner, VP of operations at Utilimarc.“ Similarly, averaging usage over a month or year can obscure important daily patterns. For example, a truck that makes one long trip per month could appear identical, in terms of mileage, to a truck that’ s used for short trips every single day.”
Utilimarc’ s rightsizing methodology is designed to go deeper. The model analyzes 12 to 24 months of utilization and work order data by vehicle class and location, taking into account seasonal demand, storm response, mutual aid, rental replacements and downtime for maintenance or repairs. The result is a more accurate picture of how many vehicles are truly needed on a typical workday.
In one case, Utilimarc worked with a large fleet that housed 68 pickup trucks at its primary garage. The study revealed that on an average weekday only 42 trucks were in use. Most days, between 35 and 55 trucks were deployed.
Effective rightsizing analyses use utilization and work order data by vehicle class and location, taking into account seasonal demand, storm response, mutual aid, rental replacements and downtime for maintenance or repairs, resulting is a more accurate picture of how many vehicles are truly needed on a typical workday.
A deeper analysis of historical data showed that 57 trucks would be enough to meet demand on 100 % of usage days. A fleet of just 42, however, would only be sufficient half the time.
Based on these insights, Utilimarc recommended a rightsized fleet of 58 trucks, enough to maintain full operational coverage while removing or reallocating 10 vehicles. The impact? An estimated $ 540,000 saved in acquisition costs, plus $ 35,000 in annual operating savings for fuel, maintenance, licensing, tolls and administrative overhead.
Essential Insights for the Telecom and
Utility Fleet Industry
TELECOM & UTILITY CONSTRUCTION delivers essential information to telecom and electric-utility fleet managers, keeping them informed about the latest industry trends, lifting equipment and key issues. The guide also offers insights on improving operational efficiency, safety and cost-effectiveness.
Booking Deadline for Fall Issue: AUGUST 7, 2025
Contact sales @ liftandaccess. com Now to Reserve Your Space in the Fall Issue!
20
Telecom & Utility Construction | Spring 2025