What are the significance of vehicle performance and mileage? Although measuring the wear of a vehicle by its mileage is a popular concept, is it really effective? Some experts disagree. In fact, many experts will argue that mileage is not a true indicator of a vehicle’s performance – especially for fleet wheel loaders. For many wheel loader rental managers, measuring a loader’s performance is critical for managing replacement strategies, preventative maintenance schedules, identifying utilization, and calculating the fleet’s total cost of ownership as a whole. Furthermore, with many fleet managers operating under a specific year or mileage replacement policy, measuring a truck’s performance is critical.
Many engineers have stated that the most effective way to measure the performance of a vehicle or loader is to look at one of two things: the hours of engine operation or the amount of fuel burned over a period of time. The wear on a loader to consume one gallon of fuel while an engine idles is equivalent to driving up to 30 miles. As a result, it uses an alternative method to analyze the fleet by measuring certain factors by the hour rather than per mile, allowing analysts to better understand which locations and trucks are costing more than the benchmark.
Wheel loaders with special applications that require the vehicle to be running (such as those equipped with power take-offs) necessitate constant charging of the battery to operate, which necessitates more idling time that will not be reflected in mileage or utilization. And, because idling, which can consume up to a gallon of fuel per hour, causes wear-and-tear on the engine by the hour, preventative maintenance should use the same method of measurement to ensure the engine and fuel system function properly.
Some wheel loader rental managers may be concerned about this, especially if their fleet vehicles are required to do a lot of idling. More idling calculated by the hour means more maintenance – and more maintenance means more cost to keep the truck running and maintain its overall performance. However, there is a simple solution to this problem: purchase an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) to help reduce idling and a significant portion of its costs. Take, for example, the HP2000. The HP2000 has an Idle Reduction System that not only eliminates the need for the truck’s engine to idle but also reduces fuel consumption by up to 90%, using an average of 1/10 gallon of fuel per hour. If there are any issues, it is easy to find fleet repair in Modesto.
Overall, measuring vehicular performance can provide a wheel loader rental provider with a better understanding of its usage and help them decide whether or not to make changes. While miles are the most common way to measure many fleet analytics, hours are an important component to ensure total visibility into all aspects of fleet maintenance and measurements. And if counting the hours scares you, count on something that doesn’t: the HP2000’s dependability.
