If you run a delivery company or manage a fleet of vehicles, you know how crucial it is to keep your trucks moving and avoid downtime.
Taking care of your engines is a big part of keeping your vehicles in great condition. But how do you keep up with all the maintenance?
This is where engine hours come in.
Engine hours show how long a vehicle’s engine has been running, even when the truck isn’t moving.
By tracking engine hours, delivery managers can monitor vehicle wear and tear. It also helps them set up maintenance schedules ahead of time, prevent breakdowns, and help vehicles last longer.
If you manage a fleet of diesel work trucks or are looking to buy a used cargo van with telematics, engine hours play a big role in planning maintenance schedules.
In this article, we’ll explain why tracking engine hours is important for delivery companies, show you how to calculate them for your vehicles, and discuss other key details you should know to keep your vehicles in great shape.
Read on to find out how engine hours can help you stay on top of engine maintenance.
Engine hours show how long an engine has been running—whether over its entire life or during a specific period—even if the vehicle is just idling.
This information is really helpful for delivery companies to track. It helps you track wear and tear on your vehicles.
To measure engine hours, you’ll need an engine hour meter. Mechanical meters are placed in the engine’s flywheel housing. On the other hand, electronic meters use sensors to track engine activity.
Engine hours can be influenced by several factors. These include idling time, frequent starts and stops (which can be tough on delivery drivers), and carrying heavy loads.
That’s why it’s essential to track engine hours and plan maintenance around them—not just around mileage.
Keeping track of engine hours can save businesses a lot of money. Namely, it helps to prevent breakdowns and extend the life of their vehicles.
It also helps with warranty coverage, boosts resale value, and can even support compliance in certain industries.
To get the most out of this data, you should:
Now that we understand what engine hours are and why they matter for delivery companies, let’s dig into how to measure them.
An engine hour meter usually connects to the ignition system and starts tracking hours as soon as the engine is turned on.
But how do these meters actually keep track of engine hours?
Here’s the catch: an “engine hour” isn’t exactly 60 minutes.
💡 Engine hours are measured by counting crankshaft rotations (called tach time) instead of by regular clock time (known as Hobbs time).
This means one engine hour could be longer or shorter than an actual hour. This depends on the engine’s RPM (revolutions per minute).
Tracking engine hours manually with pen and paper is a thing of the past. Today, delivery managers can use digital tools to keep track of engine running time.
Here are some digital ways to monitor engine hours:
Next, let’s look at how to put your engine hour readings to use.
Calculating engine hours—whether for a vehicle’s lifetime or a recent trip—is simple and only takes a few steps:
Keep in mind that engine hours don’t always match miles driven. For example, if a vehicle spends a lot of time idling or running at low RPM, it can rack up engine hours faster than miles.
Let’s look at a few factors that can impact engine hours and see how you can help your delivery team work more efficiently:
Here’s a quick look at why keeping track of engine hours is smart for your business:
Want to prevent costly breakdowns and keep your delivery vehicles in top shape? Scheduling maintenance based on engine hours can make a big difference.
Moreover, tracking engine hours helps you identify any overuse or inefficiencies that might be draining your fuel and maintenance budgets.
💡 With eLogii’s delivery management software, you can take it a step further by optimizing routes to bypass issues like traffic and slow routes. eLogii can help you save significantly on fuel and maintenance expenses while speeding up deliveries for better efficiency.
Tracking engine hours helps you stay ahead of maintenance needs. You'll know exactly when to bring your vehicle in for servicing, avoiding unexpected breakdowns. Plus, regular care means your vehicles will last longer.
Ever notice your warranty expires just when you need it most? By tracking engine hours, you can avoid this issue. Many warranties are based on engine hours, so keeping track helps you stay within warranty limits and avoid paying for costly repairs out of pocket.
Want to get the most value when it’s time to sell your vehicle? Buyers often check engine hours to see how well a vehicle was cared for. Keeping track of those hours lets you show your vehicle’s maintenance history and condition, possibly boosting its resale value.
In some industries, like transportation and aviation, tracking engine hours is required for compliance with regulations. Even if you’re not in these industries, it’s a smart move to avoid fines or penalties and keep your business running smoothly.
Tracking engine hours is key for any business with delivery vehicles.
Keeping up with regular maintenance based on engine hours helps prevent expensive breakdowns and makes your vehicles last longer, saving you money in the long run.
These savings can make it easier to grow and expand your business.
For an easy and efficient way to optimize your delivery routes and cut down on engine hours, consider using eLogii.
Our route optimization software can improve the efficiency of your deliveries and help reduce engine wear.