In today’s economic downturn with minimal availability of expansion or upgrading capital, many companies likely are entertaining the leasing option for replacement equipment rather than purchase. This paradigm shift will stimulate more focus on the importance of maintenance management regarding the maintenance costs associated with the operation of these units, according to FleetNet America, which is touting an alternative to a fixed/full-lease maintenance program called MAIN (Maintenance As Is Needed).
The company says the program includes minimal monthly fees designed to cover administration of scheduling and follow-up in addition to unscheduled maintenance needs. The primary advantage to the MAIN program is that no maintenance will be performed or charged to the lessee unless it is needed, according to FleetNet America; under a MAIN program, the minimal utilization of the leased equipment would directly reduce the scheduled and unscheduled maintenance costs.
FleetNet America is a third-party vendor management company that coordinates emergency roadside services and maintenance management services for commercial equipment. The company receives nationwide service calls at its 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year call center in Cherryville, N.C. A network of more than 60,000 truck repair vendors is used to provide scheduled maintenance services, vehicle repair and emergency road services throughout the continental United States and Canada. FleetNet America says it provides maintenance management by managing vendors and the maintenance process through specific customer requirements in its Roadside and TMcare programs, and that through its Select Towing and Recovery Program, customers have nationwide access to preferential towing and recovery providers at competitive prices.
