Owning a business with its own commercial fleet of vehicles can be a rewarding experience. But if you want your vehicles to be able to get the job done for you for many years to come, you'll want to make sure you follow a specific plan for the fleet's ongoing maintenance. Some vehicle owners have a hard time just remembering to get their oil changed, but if you own an entire fleet, that's a mistake you can't afford to make. Here are three tips to help you stay on top of the maintenance required for your commercial fleet.

Document Everything and Have Your Drivers Do the Same

Not many people like dealing with paperwork, but good documentation is a necessity if you want to keep every vehicle in your fleet in top shape. Keep a daily maintenance log for your business and record anything that is done to any vehicle so that you know exactly where you are in the maintenance process at all times. Make each of your drivers responsible for reporting and documenting their daily mileage and any other concerns that come up. If everyone follows protocol, you'll know exactly when it's time for that 3,000-mile oil change or a 10,000-mile full check-up.

Use a Checklist

In addition to documenting any work that is done on your fleet, there is at least one more sheet of paper that you should be using daily. Have your drivers go down a checklist that requires them to inspect multiple points throughout and around the vehicle at the start and the end of every trip. Key areas might include the headlights, tail lights, wipers, brake system, and various fluid levels.

Partner with a Commercial Fleet-Repair Shop

If you want to keep your fleet organized and in top condition, it can help if you have all of the commercial fleet repair and maintenance work done by the same shop or company. Once that relationship is formed, the mechanic or specialist will likely be able to easily spot any issues that pop up on any of your vehicles because they have serviced countless similar ones in the past. Signing a contract to have all of your vehicles serviced by the same repair shop might even get you a discount. Finally, sending every vehicle to the same shop may also help ease your documentation requirements because the shop will likely help keep those records for you.

If you want to keep your commercial fleet in top shape, a regular maintenance plan is required. Documentation is key, and each vehicle should be given an inspection by the driver before and after every trip. Reach out to a local commercial-fleet repair shop today to form a long-term relationship and streamline your maintenance plan.