Tomasz Zajda AdobeStock_226875434
U.S. freight businesses are prioritizing vehicle maintenance over staff shortages, according to survey results released by Tech.co.
“It's perhaps unsurprising to see vehicle maintenance listed as the top priority for U.S. freight businesses in our latest Tech.co research. Doing so means fleet owners can have confidence that they can fulfill their clients’ needs smoothly, and it also mitigates the need to upgrade the fleet with new vehicles too soon,” says Tech.co’s editor, Jack Turner.
Key takeaways:
- 20% of respondents said vehicle upkeep is their main priority, the highest figure and top focus for this quarter among U.S. freight businesses.
- Top priorities for U.S. freight businesses this quarter include vehicle upkeep: 20%; managing financial pressure: 17%; adopting new technology: 16%; and staffing retention and recruitment: 14%.
- The need to keep vehicles in good condition could be due to businesses wanting to minimize new vehicle acquisitions, especially as “managing financial pressures“ is the second-highest priority for U.S. freight firms this quarter.
- Most popular methods of vehicle maintenance entail preventative maintenance (e.g oil changes and tire rotations) : 75%; upgrading or replacing aging components: 47%; addressing existing mechanical issues: 46%; ensurance compliance with safety inspections: 41%; and improving fuel efficiency through maintenance: 36%.
- Staff retention and recruitment is one of the lowest priorities for U.S. freight businesses this quarter, as just 14% of respondents say they are focusing on staffing issues.
- However, workforce shortages are also the most common pain point among U.S. freight companies, with 24% of respondents citing staff shortages as their main pain point.
