Fleet Maintenance - 8

UPTIME

FROM THE EDITORS

Expecting the unexpected
Flexibility remains key when dealing
with these unprecedented times.

By Erica
Schueller
Editorial
Director

@CV_ESchueller

As we reflect on the last three months and
the impact of a global pandemic, the world
still seems filled with uncertainty. But the
events that have unfolded since lockdowns
and stay-at-home orders began also bring to
light the necessity of trucking in our everyday lives. While we've lived it for a number
of years, the outside world has more recently
and readily acknowledged the hard work and
dedication this industry provides to keep our
country running.
While we still don't know what will happen
next, it is interesting to consider what our
world may look like on the other side of this.

A shift in how we communicate

The impact of the current pandemic has shifted
the ways we connect with one another.
For those that are on the front lines - on
the road, in maintenance shops, or in any
way coming into contact with others - social
interactions have certainly changed. Many are
wearing medical masks, keeping their physical
distance from one another, and limiting the
number of individuals allowed in certain areas
or on shifts.
As many of us have hunkered down at
home, at least in some capacity, that means a
lot more communication remotely - whether
that's emails, instant messages, phone calls, or
video chats.
If you hadn't heard of UberConference,
Zoom, Webex, or any of the other forms
of remote teleconferencing tools before
mid-March, you are probably very familiar with those apps and programs now. I've
become well-versed with many video conferencing tools the last three months myself
while working remotely from home.
Some have embraced it, others loathe it.
While teleconferencing is no substitute for
real interaction, it has truly become a way
to connect with others. I stand somewhere
between those two extremes on any given
day. But, I have to say, when you physically see
another person and can read and respond to
their facial expressions and non-verbal cues,
it helps to build a connection and relate to one
another. There is no replacement for face-toface interactions, but virtual conversation has
become a new normal.
Travel and trade shows have ceased for the
foreseeable future. As a result, many organizations have begun to share knowledge remotely
through webcasts and virtual discussions. It is
critical that we utilize whatever resources we
have to understand the impact of this pandem-

8 Fleet Maintenance | May 2020

		»Consider ways in which the current
situation may allow for a long-term positive
change in how you navigate your business.
171319133 | Fizkes | Dreamstime

As we manage and
adjust to these
strange times, we
have established
a new normal.
ic. These events can help to not only understand the current business environment, but
also to educate on future business challenges
once the pandemic is long over.

Survey follow-up

Industry organizations like the Technology
& Maintenance Council (TMC) continue to
monitor the impact of COVID-19 on the industry. With that, TMC released the results of
its second survey on how the coronavirus
is impacting maintenance operations. First
conducted in March, the follow-up survey
shows the impact to the maintenance labor
force - including technicians, supervisors,
and managers - as well as parts and equipment has been minimal, though slightly
higher than indicated in the first survey.

Concerns for receiving deliveries and supplies
for shop consumables was a bit higher, but
still minimal.
"The ability to recruit, hire, and train new
or replacement technicians continues to be a
challenge, with moderate disruptions currently
being encountered, as was reported in the first
survey," according to TMC's Impacts of COVID19 on Maintenance Operations of Fleets and
Service Providers report. "This represents
decreasing levels of concern relative to what
was expressed in the first survey."
While the overall results seem to show a lesser expected impact than originally thought, the
uncertainty still lingers.

Positive changes

As you review procedures and methods for
managing your operations, consider ways in
which the current situation may allow for a
long-term positive change in how you navigate
your business.
Establishing and understanding new ways to
communicate is a major step in the right direction - whether that's adapting to new ways of
interacting with others, educating yourself
and your team through alternative means like
webcasts and virtual training, or participating
in surveys to provide feedback.
As we manage and adjust to these strange
times, we have established a new normal.
While the adjustment continues, new routines
shift into habits and long-term changes in the
way we do things. It's important to reflect on
the way these changes will impact the future.


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Fleet Maintenance

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Fleet Maintenance

Uptime: Expecting the unexpected
Editor's Note: Catching up on fleet maintenance
Maintenance considerations for manual versus automated manual transmissions
DPFs: Clean or replace?
Why Identify and track vehicle warranties?
Lube it or lose it
OTA: Supporting uptime remotely
Management: How fleets can benefit from having a SAMP
Training: Supporting today's students and tomorrow's techs
Diagnostics: Assessing aftermarket diagnostic solutions
Fleet Part & Components
Tools & Equipment
Guest Editorial: Keeping tire pressure at optimum levels
Fleet Maintenance - 1
Fleet Maintenance - 2
Fleet Maintenance - 3
Fleet Maintenance - 4
Fleet Maintenance - 5
Fleet Maintenance - 6
Fleet Maintenance - 7
Fleet Maintenance - Uptime: Expecting the unexpected
Fleet Maintenance - 9
Fleet Maintenance - Editor's Note: Catching up on fleet maintenance
Fleet Maintenance - 11
Fleet Maintenance - Maintenance considerations for manual versus automated manual transmissions
Fleet Maintenance - 13
Fleet Maintenance - 14
Fleet Maintenance - 15
Fleet Maintenance - 16
Fleet Maintenance - 17
Fleet Maintenance - DPFs: Clean or replace?
Fleet Maintenance - 19
Fleet Maintenance - 20
Fleet Maintenance - 21
Fleet Maintenance - 22
Fleet Maintenance - 23
Fleet Maintenance - Why Identify and track vehicle warranties?
Fleet Maintenance - 25
Fleet Maintenance - 26
Fleet Maintenance - 27
Fleet Maintenance - 28
Fleet Maintenance - 29
Fleet Maintenance - Lube it or lose it
Fleet Maintenance - 31
Fleet Maintenance - 32
Fleet Maintenance - 33
Fleet Maintenance - OTA: Supporting uptime remotely
Fleet Maintenance - 35
Fleet Maintenance - Management: How fleets can benefit from having a SAMP
Fleet Maintenance - Training: Supporting today's students and tomorrow's techs
Fleet Maintenance - Diagnostics: Assessing aftermarket diagnostic solutions
Fleet Maintenance - 39
Fleet Maintenance - Fleet Part & Components
Fleet Maintenance - Tools & Equipment
Fleet Maintenance - Guest Editorial: Keeping tire pressure at optimum levels
Fleet Maintenance - 43
Fleet Maintenance - 44
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