Crushing construction downtime: 4 data-driven strategies for peak efficiency

Fleet management · Jul 15, 2025

In North America,

67% of industrial businesses experience unplanned outages

at least once a month. This means that businesses lose on average

US$124,699 (approx. CA$171,105) per hour

during downtime. However, every hour of equipment downtime doesn't just equal lost revenue. It causes missed deadlines, project delays and frustrated stakeholders. So, how can you prevent unexpected mechanical failures, inefficient workflows or even stolen assets from causing downtime that derails your construction projects?

The solution lies in adopting data-driven strategies. Data provides the insights needed to identify where time and money are being lost, offering a clearer picture of how to streamline operations to reallocate funds. But first, you'll need to understand the four major causes of construction fleet downtime.

The 4 major causes of construction fleet downtime

Downtime doesn’t just happen randomly. By understanding the primary causes, construction managers can develop strategies to mitigate these issues and enhance operational efficiency.

1. Reactive maintenance

Every construction asset will eventually need maintenance, but waiting until an asset shows obvious performance issues can lead to more expensive repairs. This approach, known as reactive maintenance, significantly increases downtime. Instead, using telematics data to monitor equipment health and schedule maintenance proactively can prevent costly spontaneous repairs and unexpected project delays.

2. Equipment misplacement and theft

Managing a large construction fleet across multiple work sites is a complex task. Not knowing the whereabouts of your equipment increases the risk of downtime due to improper usage, deployment errors and theft. Using a telematics solution with GPS tracking or an asset tracker provides real-time visibility into the location of all assets, whether they are on-site or in transit. This improves security, minimizes delays from inaccurate deployment and provides a line of sight to all of your equipment to maximize productivity.

3. Inefficient operations

The numerous daily decisions a construction manager faces can be challenging, but effective management strategies can help navigate this complexity and minimize downtime. By leveraging data, managers can gain a clearer picture of their entire operation, especially if they can use an all-in-one platform. Analyzing usage patterns helps to deploy assets more efficiently. This can help in reducing unnecessary idling, improving equipment use and optimizing overall project productivity. Reports on fuel consumption, idle time and equipment hours can also help better inform decision-making to reduce expenses and keep projects on schedule.

4. Convoluted workflows

Convoluted workflows in construction projects can lead to significant inefficiencies and unplanned outages. If you have detailed data about your fleet but lack insights into materials, employees or customers, downtime is likely to occur. Integrating telematics data with other business systems can improve efficiency across operations. By combining maintenance schedules, equipment tracking and utilization reports into a centralized platform, construction managers can share insights between teams, streamline workflows and boost uptime.

4 data-driven strategies to combat unplanned outages

While equipment failures and delays might seem inevitable, modern technology offers smart solutions, like Geotab, to help predict and prevent these disruptions. Here are four data-driven strategies to combat unplanned downtime. To take control of your equipment uptime and minimize costly delays, consider the following steps:

Enable proactive maintenance: Use data to monitor equipment health and schedule maintenance before issues arise. Devices such as the Geotab GO9 or GO9 Rugged provide rich data insights in real-time allowing you to plan pre-scheduled maintenance before critical issues arise.
Track equipment to prevent theft: Implement precise GPS tracking with an asset tracker such as the Geotab GO Anywhere device to keep tabs on all assets – from heavy machinery to trailers – within the same platform as your fleet.
Optimize equipment utilization: Analyze usage patterns within the MyGeotab platform to deploy assets more efficiently, reduce unnecessary idling, and allow more accurate job billing based on actual engine hours.
Streamline workflows: Integrate telematics data, collected by Geotab devices, with your other operational software to enhance efficiency, automate reporting and improve coordination across teams.

By taking these actionable steps and the right tools, you can transform these challenges into opportunities for greater efficiency and profitability.

TELUS Fleet Management solutions

offer comprehensive telematics and asset tracking capabilities, powered by Geotab, designed to address the key issues we've discussed. From preventing theft to optimizing routes and improving driver safety, our solutions provide the insights you need to make data-driven decisions.

Whether you’re a small business looking to add vehicle diagnostics, live video streaming and in-vehicle Wi-Fi to stay connected while on-the-go – or you’re a large commercial fleet in need of real-time monitoring, advanced reporting and ELD capabilities – TELUS Business has a solution that’s ideal for your needs.

Connect with a TELUS specialist to learn more about how

TELUS Business Fleet Management solutions

and

Geotab

can help you optimize fleet performance – You may qualify for special offers and

Owner Perks

, such as exclusive fuel savings with PetroCanada’s Superpass.*

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