Atul Gawande, author of The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right, shares, “Under conditions of complexity, not only are checklists a help, they are required for success.” His point is painstakingly clear, especially when it comes to fleet management and operations as a fleet vehicle inspection checklist is a matter of safety and compliance.
However, when performed manually, a fleet inspection checklist can be time-consuming and error-prone, which is counterproductive. Instead, we’re going to see how the aid of speech-enabled AI technology can help transform your fleet management processes into seamless, accurate, and effective workflows.
Fleet of trucks from aerial view / https://unsplash.com
What is a Fleet Vehicle Inspection Checklist?
An inspection checklist, also known as an inspection sheet, is a detailed list of all the activities and checks that must be performed during a fleet inspection in order to adhere to regulations and complete consistent maintenance requirements.
Typically, the fleet vehicle inspection checklist will include items like:
- The subject for inspection (a description) and the inspector’s information
- Instructions for inspection
- A checklist of hazards, features, and properties to be reviewed
As the inspector moves through each item listed on the checklist, the goal is to verify that everything is in good and working order. If there’s something that has to be addressed, it needs to be moved into the responsible party’s hands to take action and make corrections. The goal is to ultimately ensure that fleet vehicles are safe and ready to hit the road once again.
How to Prepare for Inspections
Inspections take place at different points in time, such as: pre and post-trip inspections, monthly, quarterly, and annual reviews.
In order to be best prepared to properly execute a fleet vehicle inspection checklist, it’s of great importance to have on hand:
- The necessary tools and equipment
- Adequate lighting
- Proper safety
- Access to the previous inspection report
It’s likely that you have many inspectors working across several vehicles simultaneously to keep work flowing. To optimize and ensure everyone is on the same page, each inspector should be able to access the vehicle’s history and collaborate with one another, as well as maintenance teams. If you’re stuck relying on paper-based, disparate, and manual workflows, this is challenging to accomplish. It’s also relatively unsafe for inspectors to be distracted to check items off a checklist by hand when working with heavy machines, such as trucks.
Instead, with the use of speech-enabled AI technology like aiOla, inspectors have the opportunity to move through checklists hands-free using their speech. Not only does this boost safety and efficiency, but it also ensures the accurate collection and storage of otherwise lost data, so that businesses can spot trends, take proactive measures, and reduce the number of accidents or maintenance incidents.
A Look at a Fleet Vehicle Inspection Checklist
To get an idea of how extensive fleet vehicle inspection checklists are, here’s an outline of what’s typically covered, broken down by vehicle aspect. Remember, each of these items have to be checked for every vehicle in the fleet, so the larger the fleet, the more time it will take to complete by hand.
Exterior
- Body Condition and Paint
- Lights and Signals
- Tires and Wheels
- Mirrors and Windshield
- License Plates and Registration
Interior
- Dashboard and Instrument Panel
- Seats and Seatbelts
- Steering Wheel and Controls
- HVAC System
- Safety Equipment (First Aid Kit, Fire Extinguisher)
Engine Compartment
- Fluid Levels (Oil, Coolant, Brake Fluid)
- Battery Condition
- Belts and Hoses
- Engine Leaks
- Air Filter and Fuel Filter
Undercarriage
- Suspension System
- Exhaust System
- Brake Lines and Fuel Lines
- Frame and Chassis
- Drivetrain Components
Post-Inspection Procedures
Once the inspector has moved through all of these points, it’s time to complete post-inspection procedures, which include:
- Documentation of findings
- Report defects and assign required repairs
- Schedule maintenance and repairs
- Update the maintenance records
Importance of Regular Inspections and Maintenance
The importance of consistent fleet vehicle inspections and maintenance cannot be understated. Since it’s a matter of safety, it can spell the difference between accidents, life, and death for fleet drivers, and ultimately, the success of a fleet management team.
Regular vehicle inspections aid in:
Ensuring Vehicle Safety and Compliance
Vehicle safety is regulated by standards and government agencies. Daily driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs) are usually mandated by state and federal regulations. Without them, your operations can be shut down.
Preventing Costly Breakdowns and Downtime
By maintaining regular inspections, you’re able to spot issues and remedy them before the vehicle breaks down or requires longer, more costly fixes.
Extending Vehicle Lifespan
Preventative maintenance and inspections delay greater problems, which can extend the lifespan of vehicles. In turn, this saves your business money.
Improving Overall Fleet Performance
Inspections are intended to ensure that vehicles are in continuous operation, which translates to driver and fleet safety on the road. This improves overall fleet performance, with less downtime and issues arising during the vehicle and driver’s working hours.
Optimizing Inspection Workflows: The Role of AI Speech and Automation
To counteract the inherent challenges associated with fleet inspections and the completion of fleet inspection checklists, technology exists to save time, reduce errors, and streamline workflows.
Here’s a look at the different ways in which AI and automation solutions are transforming the fleet management industry for the better:
Speech Recognition for Inspection Documentation
Speech recognition solutions like aiOla make it easier to document inspection checklists through the use of voice. Rather than dealing with manual, written, and paper-based notes, aiOla captures spoken words, including unique, industry-specific jargon with utmost accuracy.
Voice-Activated Inspection Checklists
Through aiOla’s voice-activated checklists, inspectors get to reduce vehicle inspection time greatly, which puts the fleet back on the road more quickly to get their jobs done. Voice-activated checklists also mean that inspectors can keep their eyes on the vehicle and their hands-free to protect their own safety when performing work.
Automated Inspection Reporting and Analytics
With real-time access to data, systems can process and analyze information to predict future vehicle failures, spot trends, and optimize maintenance schedules to reduce issues. Business leaders also gain access to insights to make more informed business decisions.
Workflow Automation for Maintenance Scheduling
Workflow automation in maintenance scheduling removes bottlenecks and key person dependencies from processes. These delays are costly otherwise, so it’s of great value to be able to streamline maintenance scheduling.
Integration with Fleet Management Systems
Last but not least, automation technology and speech-enabled solutions can integrate with your fleet management systems to paint a robust picture of how your fleet is operating. With connected data and information in real-time, fleet managers no longer have to second guess the best path forward as they have data-driven facts at their fingertips.
Who Can Benefit from Speech AI and Automation?
Everyone involved in the business of the fleet industry has something to gain from implementing technological advancements.
Consider these sample use cases per user to get a better understanding of technological application:
- Manufacturers: Quality control at the time of production
- Consumers: Confidence in vehicle quality and safety
- Rental Companies: Damage inspection to transfer vehicles between clients
- Fleet operators: Monitor vehicle health, minimize accidents, and optimize fleet lifespan
- Logistics: Tracking during transportation to maximize productivity
- Regulatory Agencies: Ability to uphold compliance and standards with access to data and audit trails
Technology that Drives Fleets Forward
For any business that works in the world of fleets and vehicles, a fleet vehicle inspection checklist is a must-have. For most, fleet vehicle inspections tend to take up a lot of time and effort, and with manual performance, they are undoubtedly error-prone and difficult to track.
Luckily, speech-enabled AI technology solutions and automated workflows connect data systems, streamline critical workflows, and make collaboration across departments a breeze.In turn, predictive maintenance, data capturing, and more efficient checklist completion are all made possible.
