Essentials of Fleet Maintenance Management: Training for the Maintenance Supervisor

This is the required course for the Certified Supervisor of Maintenance/Equipment (CSM/E) and Certified Director of Maintenance/Equipment (CDM/E) designations.

Course Benefits:

1. Learn to schedule work effectively;
2. Learn effective information management and use of computer technology in maintenance;
3. Develop supervision skills to motivate technicians;
4. Learn essential preventive maintenance skills;
5. Learn how to deal with upper management effectively;
6. Learn how to develop, track and evaluate training programs;
7. Learn how to present effective meetings and programs; and
8. Understand the regulations that cover maintenance operations.

Course Description: The program covers topics essential to effective management and administration of fleet maintenance operations.  Students learn how to cut costs through efficient use of personnel, equipment, and technology, while complying with government regulations affecting maintenance operations.

• Introduction to Fleet Management: purpose and fundamentals of fleet maintenance management, the role of the fleet maintenance manager, and the skill sets and personality traits that help a manager succeed.
• Maintenance and Repair Strategies: the main categories of maintenance, the benefits of planned maintenance, and legal requirements for maintaining vehicles; the three types of planned maintenance; unplanned repairs and failure analysis.
• Maintenance Technology: Issues to consider when implementing fleet maintenance software in your shop.  Overview of Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standards (VMRS) and asset codes.
• Laws and Regs: regulations shop managers need to know, including key Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, as well as the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Out-of-Service Criteria.
• Budgeting: developing a maintenance department budget, different categories of expenses, and determining cost-per-mile or cost-per-hour.
• Human Resources: Hiring effectively, complying with labor laws, and evaluating and coaching for performance improvement.
• Training:  benefits of training, identifying training needs, implementing effective training programs, evaluating training quality, and tracking employee training progress.
• Specifications and Purchasing: the process of determining what your fleet needs, then bidding out and purchasing the needed equipment.
• Warranty: the importance of warrantees and how to make the most of them.
• Shop Operations: maximizing staff operations, including staff and equipment utilization, productivity and performance management.
• Shop Audits: the process of auditing your shop operations and practices.
• Shop Design: important considerations for designing and building a fleet maintenance facility;  shop design best practices; and fuel station planning.