• Drivers must believe that taking care of a vehicle is important and that it can extend vehicle and component life, contribute to vehicle safety, and save money for the fleet.
• Drivers can make a tangible contribution to PM through good driving habits and the maintenance manager may be asked to assist in driver training to achieve a fleet’s cost-cutting goals.

The driver’s commitment to preventive maintenance (PM) begins where the inspection report leaves off. The driver must inspect for safety, but it has also been seen how important accurate, consistent driver observations can be in alerting mechanics to potential problems. Here’s where attitude comes in. The driver must believe that taking care of the vehicle is important and that it can really extend vehicle and component life, contribute to a safe vehicle, and save money for the fleet.

Drivers make an even more tangible contribution to PM through personal driving habits. If the fleet has developed specific cost-cutting maintenance policies, it is fleet management’s responsibility to train drivers to accomplish these goals. The maintenance manager may be asked to assist in that training in an effort to reduce maintenance costs, extend equipment life, and promote fuel economy, all areas directly affected by driving habits. Four subjects can be used as examples: tires, brakes, clutch, and fuel economy.