Determining the health of your trucks can be as easy as one-two-three. Well maybe you’ll need a few more numbers than that but even so, by using the Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standards (VMRS) you can quickly learn a great deal about the state of the trucks in your fleet.
The Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) is the “custodian” of VMRS, which is a living system that has been described as “the universal language of repair.” VMRS includes Code Keys for things like type of asset, power source, reason/s for repair, work accomplished, location of repair, manufacturer/supplier brand identification, and more.
When you use these Code Keys, everyone involved in the maintenance and repair process instantly understands what is wrong with the vehicle and what is being done (or has been done) to fix the problem. VMRS brings clarity to the maintenance and repair process.
VMRS codes when used as designed help you to fully understand why certain repair parts are selected and can pinpoint what the problem is (and where), and exactly what the technician did to fix it.
One of the real benefits of using VMRS codes during all maintenance and repair events is the wealth of data you receive about your vehicles. You will be able to zero-in on which problems are recurring across your fleet; see the lifecycle performance of specific components; learn how one brand performs relative to another in your operation; track cost by type of repair, and so much more.
VMRS coupled with a service event management solution gives you information about repairs for each individual truck no matter where the repair has been done.
You can use the information you get from the Code Keys to spot failure trends and schedule repairs before a breakdown occurs. This data can also be helpful when you need guidance with future spec’ing decisions.
As an added bonus, this “living system” is regularly updated and enhanced so the Code Keys reflect changes in vehicle technology and repair processes.
If you aren’t using VMRS codes for all your maintenance and repair, I encourage you to do so. TMC has a host of resources available to help you better understand these codes and their benefits. Go to www.trucking.org and click on the VMRS tab in the column on the right to get started.
