--- title: What Is Fleet Maintenance Management? Why It's So Important description: Learn how a good fleet maintenance management program will save your business time and money. image: https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/Blog%20Images/2021/What%20Is%20Fleet%20Maintenance%20Management/fleet-maintenance-management.jpg --- - Login & Support - [Driver login](https://driverportal.fossnational.com/(S(j3l4ffvs10c4pg5kst3wihvl))/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f) - [Fleet manager login](https://fossfleet.com/portal/#login) - [Support](https://dev-foss-national-leasing.pantheonsite.io/en/support) - [Vendor Support](https://dev-foss-national-leasing.pantheonsite.io/en/vendor) [Fuel & Maintenance Locator](https://www.fossnational.com/en/fleet-maintenance-vendors) [Search](https://blog.fossnational.com/hs-search-results?hsLang=en) [![FNL-Logo](https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/Foss%20Blog%20Template/Images/FNL-Logo.svg "FNL-Logo")](https://www.fossnational.com/) - Lease Your Vehicle - [Business Leasing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/business) Choose from open-end or closed-end lease offers—greater flexibility, fewer restrictions, and real benefits for businesses. - [Short term vehicle leasing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/short) Lease a vehicle for 1-24 months with no early termination fees or end-of-contract settlements. - [Zero emission vehicles](https://www.fossnational.com/en/zeroemission) Consider switching to zero-emissions vehicles to reduce your organization's greenhouse gas emissions. - Manage your vehicles - [Fleet Cards](https://www.fossnational.com/en/fleet-cards-canada) Consolidate all your monthly fuel and maintenance purchases with Canada's number one fleet card. - [Remarketing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/remarketing) Maximize your profits from selling used vehicles with our expert support. - [Telematics](https://www.fossnational.com/en/telematics) Monitor real-time drivers' behaviour with our telematics solution, developed in partnership with GEOTAB. - [Safety and risk management](https://www.fossnational.com/en/safety) Protect your drivers and vehicles by managing your fleet's operational risks with a holistic fleet safety program. - [More ways to manage your fleet](https://www.fossnational.com/en/more) Explore worry-free packages that include upfitting, vehicle storage, licensing and title management, and many more. - Resources - [Fuel and maintenance network](https://www.fossnational.com/en/network-search) Access service and repairs through our nationwide network of vendors. - [White papers](https://www.fossnational.com/en/resources-listing) Blogs and white papers developed to help you better manage your fleet and drivers. - [Zero-emissions](https://www.fossnational.com/en/zeroemission) Best practices for reducing your organization's greenhouse gas emissions. - [Case studies](https://www.fossnational.com/en/resources-listing?page=0&category=Case) Learn how we helped other companies improve their fleet operations. - [Articles](https://blog.fossnational.com/) Uncover industry insights, expert advice, and the latest trends in fleet management, vehicle leasing, and mobility solutions. Stay informed, inspired, and ahead of the curve as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of fleet management together. - About - [Our team](https://www.fossnational.com/en/about) Meet the team and values behind Foss National Leasing - [Our company](https://www.fossnational.com/en/ourcompany) Foss National Leasing is Canada's top fleet leasing and fleet management provider. We have boosted fleet productivity and customers' ROI since 1967. - [Contact us](https://www.fossnational.com/en/contact-us) Contact for general inquiries about our Fleet Manager, Driver Portal, services or for customer and vendor support. - [Careers](https://www.fossnational.com/en/careers) We are hiring! Explore exciting career opportunities with one of Canada's leading fleet management and business vehicle leasing companies. - [Free Quote](https://www.fossnational.com/en/free-quote) To deliver the ROI you need to succeed, your leasing solution should be as unique as your business. That’s why we offer a free quote! - [Get in touch](https://www.fossnational.com/en/getintouch) [![FNL-Logo](https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/Foss%20Blog%20Template/Images/FNL-Logo.svg "FNL-Logo")](https://www.fossnational.com) - Lease Your Vehicle - [Business Leasing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/business) - [Short term vehicle leasing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/short) - [Zero emission vehicles](https://www.fossnational.com/en/zeroemission) - Manage your vehicles - [Fleet Cards](https://www.fossnational.com/en/fleet-cards-canada) - [Remarketing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/remarketing) - [Telematics](https://www.fossnational.com/en/telematics) - [Safety and risk management](https://www.fossnational.com/en/safety) - [More ways to manage your fleet](https://www.fossnational.com/en/more) - Resources - [Fuel and maintenance network](https://www.fossnational.com/en/network-search) - [White papers](https://www.fossnational.com/en/resources-listing) - [Zero-emissions](https://www.fossnational.com/en/zeroemission) - [Case studies](https://www.fossnational.com/en/resources-listing?page=0&category=Case) - [Articles](https://blog.fossnational.com/) - About - [Our team](https://www.fossnational.com/en/about) - [Our company](https://www.fossnational.com/en/ourcompany) - [Contact us](https://www.fossnational.com/en/contact-us) - [Careers](https://www.fossnational.com/en/careers) - [Free Quote](https://www.fossnational.com/en/free-quote) - [English](https://blog.fossnational.com) - [Français - Canada](https://blog.fossnational.com/fr-ca) # What Is Fleet Maintenance Management? Why It's So Important December 7, 2021 Written by [Dominic Riolo](https://blog.fossnational.com/author/dominic-riolo) / 4 minute read ![](https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/Blog%20Images/2021/What%20Is%20Fleet%20Maintenance%20Management/fleet-maintenance-management.jpg) Search - Filter By Topics ### Get the latest fleet management news SHARE [mailto:?body=https://blog.fossnational.com/what-is-fleet-maintenance-management](mailto:?body=https://blog.fossnational.com/what-is-fleet-maintenance-management) ![](https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/Blog%20Images/2021/What%20Is%20Fleet%20Maintenance%20Management/fleet-maintenance-management.jpg) SHARE [mailto:?body=https://blog.fossnational.com/what-is-fleet-maintenance-management](mailto:?body=https://blog.fossnational.com/what-is-fleet-maintenance-management) A proper fleet maintenance management program is one of the most important things you can do to keep your vehicles running smoothly and to reduce costs. Unfortunately,  businesses may overlook this essential practice, with the fear that regular maintenance will result in too much downtime while the vehicles are in the shop. However, without regular maintenance, your vehicles are more likely to break down at inopportune times, leading to unplanned downtime, costly repairs, service breakdown, and frustration.  In this article, we’ll shed some light on the basics of proper fleet maintenance management, and what you can do to keep your fleet in top shape. [![Download our guide for details on how a fleet card allows you to closely track and reduce your fuel and maintenance costs> >](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/6014256/3fc40aeb-ce0e-4f5d-850b-158fc3b511a4.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/6014256/3fc40aeb-ce0e-4f5d-850b-158fc3b511a4) ## What’s Involved in Proper Fleet Maintenance Management? In a nutshell, fleet maintenance management is the process of tracking and scheduling the regular upkeep of your fleet vehicles in order to avoid unplanned breakdowns, keep your drivers safe, and manage costs. The idea is to plan maintenance intervals so that downtime is expected in advance. This allows you to adjust your business operations and service levels accordingly.  Maintenance management also addresses seasonal considerations including adding and removing winter tires, testing batteries and checking all fluid levels. It’s important to note that there is a tire shortage this winter, so it’s recommended that you be proactive with your fleet winterization. Reach out to tire manufacturers as soon as possible to check stock levels. Some brands and sizes are in shorter supply than others. ![benefits-of-fleet-upkeep](https://blog.fossnational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images/2021/What%20Is%20Fleet%20Maintenance%20Management/benefits-of-fleet-upkeep.jpg?width=790&name=benefits-of-fleet-upkeep.jpg) ## 5 Benefits of Regular Fleet Vehicle Upkeep ### Lower overall repair costs When you complete regular preventative maintenance, you’ll often catch mechanical issues before they become serious. This gives you a chance to isolate the problem and repair it before it creates a domino effect and causes more serious problems down the road.  ### Lower fuel costs When a vehicle is properly maintained (including proper tire inflation, regular oil changes with manufacturer-recommended motor oil and regular engine tune-ups), you can [improve fuel economy by 8-9%](https://www.esso.ca/en-ca/car-maintenance-tips).  ### Preserve warranty coverage Regular vehicle maintenance that conforms to manufacturer-recommended service intervals will ensure your parts warranties remain valid. For example, if you neglect oil changes and something goes wrong with the engine, the manufacturer has the right to decline any warranty claim for that engine repair. This is the case for any major vehicle component including transmissions, drive trains, and exhaust systems.  ### Higher resale value When vehicles are properly maintained, it decreases wear and tear and substantially increase each vehicle’s resale value. This has a direct impact on your bottom line. When you are able to show your vehicles’ documented maintenance history to potential buyers, you boost the vehicle’s perceived value. They’ll see a vehicle that’s been properly cared for and that doesn’t have any major issues.  ### Improve safety Sticking to a preventative maintenance schedule prevents dangerous brake and tire failures. It ensures that all [safety systems are properly calibrated](https://blog.fossnational.com/windshields-hidden-link-driver-safety?hsLang=en) and working to the manufacturer’s specifications. It also reduces the risk of drivers getting stranded due to engine failure or any other major issue. ## How to Tell if your Vehicles Aren’t Being Maintained Properly If you’re skipping regular maintenance intervals, or you’re not focused on preventive maintenance, there are a few simple indicators that reveal you may have problems.  **Tires** — if you find that you’re replacing your front tires more than the rear tires, it likely means you’re not keeping up with regular tire rotations. As a general rule, it’s a good idea to rotate the tires every time your vehicle requires an oil change. **Avoidance of downtime** — if you’re outright avoiding the prospect of regular maintenance, or if you’re addressing other priorities, these are indicators that you may be facing costly repairs. ![avoidance-of-downtime](https://blog.fossnational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images/2021/What%20Is%20Fleet%20Maintenance%20Management/avoidance-of-downtime.jpg?width=1500&name=avoidance-of-downtime.jpg) ## What Are Fleet Maintenance Management Best Practices? The most important factor for successful maintenance management is consistency. Keep it simple and adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance program. It’s also important to work with technicians that you trust. A fleet management company can help. An FMC can take over the management of your vehicle maintenance, providing:  - maintenance schedules for each vehicle in your fleet - alerts that notify drivers when preventative maintenance is due - support from knowledgeable technicians - reporting tools that display your fleet’s maintenance costs at a glance. In addition, it’s good practice to encourage your drivers to be aware if something about the vehicle doesn’t feel right. Drivers are your eyes and ears on the road, so they’re your first line of defence when it comes to mechanical issues. Don’t let your drivers wait until a failure happens before they take action. ## How can Foss National Leasing Help with my Fleet Maintenance Management? At Foss, we provide comprehensive fleet maintenance and repair services to businesses across Canada.  In addition to our preventative maintenance notifications, we also thoroughly review every repair estimate that independent shops or dealerships recommend for our client's vehicles. Our [maintenance program](https://blog.fossnational.com/fleet-maintenance-foss-national?hsLang=en) ensures that repair shops call us first and present a detailed estimate. If the estimate doesn’t meet our standards or the predetermined maintenance schedule, we will decline the repair. This prevents our clients from paying for unnecessary preventative maintenance and repair costs. We also pride ourselves on our personal service. We’re always available to speak with our clients directly about any technical questions or concerns they may have about their fleet vehicles. [Previous Post](https://blog.fossnational.com/how-to-improve-fleet-safety?hsLang=en) [View all posts](https://blog.fossnational.com) [Next Post](https://blog.fossnational.com/fleet-procurement-strategy?hsLang=en) ### Get to Know the Author Dominic Riolo is Vendor Relations and Vehicle Maintenance Call Centre Manager at Foss National Leasing. A licensed mechanic with over 17 years of fleet experience, Dominic started in Foss's remarketing department and worked his way through the organization to his current role leading the VMT call centre — where he coaches and trains the technicians who screen maintenance authorizations for Canadian fleet operators every day. The fleet cost data and maintenance figures referenced in this article draw directly on that operational experience. [Meet our team](https://www.fossnational.com/our-team) ![](https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/Blog%20Author%20Images/dominic-riolo.jpeg) ### Get the latest fleet management news ![thumbnail-control-fuel-and-maintenance](https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/Premium-Content/PCO%20Thumbnails/thumbnail-control-fuel-and-maintenance.png "thumbnail-control-fuel-and-maintenance") ## Control Your Fuel and Maintenance Costs Discover how a fleet card allows you to closely track and reduce your fuel and maintenance costs, while spending less time on administration. [![Download Guide](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/6014256/64ecc2e5-e7e2-4a7b-8030-e9f2b060966b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/6014256/64ecc2e5-e7e2-4a7b-8030-e9f2b060966b) ### Recommended Reading [Maintain My Fleet](https://blog.fossnational.com/topic/maintain-my-fleet?hsLang=en) ##### [Fleet Vehicles Maintenance Checklist for Summer Time](https://blog.fossnational.com/summer-fleet-checklist?hsLang=en) By [Dominic Riolo](https://blog.fossnational.com/author/dominic-riolo) / June 17, 2026 [Continue Reading](https://blog.fossnational.com/summer-fleet-checklist?hsLang=en) [Maintain My Fleet](https://blog.fossnational.com/topic/maintain-my-fleet?hsLang=en) ##### [Preventive Maintenance Program For Fleets: How To Save Thousands Following 4 Simple Steps](https://blog.fossnational.com/preventive-maintenance-program?hsLang=en) By [Steve Aguzzi](https://blog.fossnational.com/author/steve-aguzzi) / June 3, 2024 [Continue Reading](https://blog.fossnational.com/preventive-maintenance-program?hsLang=en) [Maintain My Fleet](https://blog.fossnational.com/topic/maintain-my-fleet?hsLang=en) ##### [What You Need to Know About Fleet Maintenance With Foss National](https://blog.fossnational.com/fleet-maintenance-foss-national?hsLang=en) By [Rick Monck](https://blog.fossnational.com/author/rick-monck) / June 13, 2022 [Continue Reading](https://blog.fossnational.com/fleet-maintenance-foss-national?hsLang=en) ### Subscribe and stay up to date ### Subscribe Here! Receive The Latest News And Industry Updates That Impact Your Fleet, Delivered Quarterly To Your Inbox. Our promise is to provide only useful information. We will never send you spam or share your data with anyone. You can unsubscribe at any time. [![foss_logo.png](https://blog.fossnational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/FNL_logo_CMYK-1.png?width=958&height=320&name=FNL_logo_CMYK-1.png "foss_logo.png")](https://www.fossnational.com) ![Driving Innovation](https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/Foss%20Blog%20Template/Images/Driving%20Innovation.png "Driving Innovation") - - - - ### Lease vehicles - [Business vehicle leasing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/business) - [Short-term leasing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/short) - [Zero-emission vehicles](https://www.fossnational.com/en/zeroemission) ### Manage fleet - [Fleet cards](https://www.fossnational.com/en/fleet-cards-canada) - [Safety management](https://www.fossnational.com/en/safety) - [Remarketing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/remarketing) - [Telematics](https://www.fossnational.com/en/telematics) - [More solutions for your fleet](https://www.fossnational.com/en/more) ### About - [Contact](https://www.fossnational.com/en/contact) - [Get in touch](https://www.fossnational.com/en/getintouch) - [Our company](https://www.fossnational.com/en/ourcompany) - [Meet our team](https://www.fossnational.com/en/about) - [Careers](https://www.fossnational.com/en/careers) - [Free Quote](https://www.fossnational.com/en/free-quote) ### Resources - [Case studies](https://www.fossnational.com/en/resources-listing?page=0&category=Case) - [Driver login](https://driverportal.fossnational.com/(S(f2sdqpz5utpepps4owahfmor))/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f) - [Fleet manager login](https://fossfleet.com/portal/#login) - [Maintenance network](https://www.fossnational.com/en/network-search) - [Support](https://www.fossnational.com/en/vendor) - [Articles](https://blog.fossnational.com) Copyright © 2026 - [Privacy Policy](https://blog.fossnational.com/) Powered by [Red Rocket Creative](http://www.redrocketcreative.com/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Dominic Riolo", "url" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/author/dominic-riolo" }, "dateModified" : "2021-12-07T18:08:25.287Z", "datePublished" : "2021-12-07T18:08:25.000Z", "headline" : "What Is Fleet Maintenance Management? Why It's So Important", "image" : [ "https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/Blog%20Images/2021/What%20Is%20Fleet%20Maintenance%20Management/fleet-maintenance-management.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/what-is-fleet-maintenance-management", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/FNL_logo_CMYK-1.png" }, "name" : "Foss National Leasing" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/#organization", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : [ { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "CA", "addressLocality" : "Toronto", "addressRegion" : "ON" }, { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "CA", "addressLocality" : "Montreal", "addressRegion" : "QC" }, { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "CA", "addressLocality" : "Calgary", "addressRegion" : "AB" }, { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "CA", "addressLocality" : "Vancouver", "addressRegion" : "BC" } ], "areaServed" : { "@type" : "Country", "name" : "Canada" }, "description" : "Canada's full-service fleet management and vehicle leasing company, serving businesses of all sizes coast-to-coast since 1967.", "foundingDate" : "1967", "knowsAbout" : [ "fleet management", "vehicle leasing Canada", "fleet cards", "telematics", "fleet safety", "zero emission vehicle fleets", "remarketing" ], "legalName" : "Foss National Leasing", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 60, "url" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/Foss%20Blog%20Template/Images/FNL-Logo.svg", "width" : 200 }, "name" : "Foss National Leasing", "sameAs" : [ "https://ca.linkedin.com/company/foss-national-leasing", "https://www.facebook.com/FossNationalLeasing", "https://twitter.com/fossnational" ], "url" : "https://www.fossnational.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@id" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/author/dominic-riolo", "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Dominic Riolo", "url" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/author/dominic-riolo" }, "dateModified" : "2021-12-07T18:08:25+0000", "datePublished" : "2021-12-07T18:08:25+0000", "description" : "Learn how a good fleet maintenance management program will save your business time and money. ", "headline" : "What Is Fleet Maintenance Management? Why It's So Important", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://fs.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/6014256/Blog%20Images/2021/What%20Is%20Fleet%20Maintenance%20Management/fleet-maintenance-management.jpg" }, "inLanguage" : "en-CA", "isPartOf" : { "@id" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/#blog", "@type" : "Blog", "name" : "Foss National Leasing Blog", "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://www.fossnational.com/#organization" } }, "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/what-is-fleet-maintenance-management", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://www.fossnational.com/#organization" }, "url" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/what-is-fleet-maintenance-management" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://www.fossnational.com", "name" : "Home", "position" : 1 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://blog.fossnational.com", "name" : "Blog", "position" : 2 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/what-is-fleet-maintenance-management", "name" : "What Is Fleet Maintenance Management? Why It's So Important", "position" : 3 } ] } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "FAQPage", "mainEntity" : [ { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "" }, "name" : "" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "" }, "name" : "" } ] } ```