A breakdown on a Tuesday morning costs more than the repair. It costs the job you missed, the driver you paid to wait, and the customer who called someone else. A written maintenance schedule is the cheapest way to keep that from happening.
Here is the schedule we recommend to small and mid-size fleets in Portsmouth. Always check it against each vehicle's owner's manual, since manufacturer intervals come first.
Every day: the driver walk-around
Two minutes before the first trip catches most problems early:
- Tires: look for low or uneven tires and anything stuck in the tread
- Lights: headlights, brake lights and turn signals all working
- Fluids: no fresh drips under the vehicle
- Dash: no warning lights after start-up
Give drivers a simple way to report what they find, even a text. A problem reported on Monday is a scheduled repair. A problem ignored until Friday is a tow.
Every oil change: the core service
The oil change is the natural moment to look at everything else. At each one, have the shop:
- Change oil and filter on the interval your manufacturer sets for the way you drive. Vans that idle, tow or run short trips all day usually fall under “severe service”
- Check brake pads and rotors
- Rotate tires and check pressure and tread depth
- Top off and inspect fluids: coolant, brake, power steering, transmission where it can be checked
- Inspect belts, hoses, wipers and the battery
Every few months: the deeper look
Some items wear slowly and are easy to forget:
- Alignment, especially for vehicles that hit potholes and curbs on delivery routes
- Brake fluid condition
- Suspension and steering parts
- Air and cabin filters
Once a year: inspection prep
Get every vehicle checked before its Virginia safety inspection is due, so a failed item never takes a vehicle off the road unexpectedly.
Keep the records
A schedule only works if you can see it. For each vehicle, keep the date, mileage and work done at every visit. Records show which vehicles cost the most to keep running, and they help at resale.
How we handle fleets at SOVA Auto Repair Portsmouth
We service fleets of every size at our shop at 3700 Turnpike Rd, and our team has worked with fleets of more than 100 vehicles. Every vehicle gets a photo inspection, so you see what we see before you approve any work. We are locally owned and operated, and we talk to fleet managers like operators, not like a sales counter.
Want a maintenance schedule built around your vehicles? Get your fleet quote or call 757-399-1010, weekdays 8am to 5pm.
Want a maintenance plan priced for your fleet?
Tell us your vehicle count and mix — we'll put a written quote in your hands.