Fixing the Hidden Revenue Leak: How an Operational Audit Transformed a Service Business

Problem: 118 trucks. 4 crew members per truck. 1 hour wasted every morning.

When I was hired to evaluate the operations of a service business, it didn’t take long to see where they were bleeding revenue. Every morning, their fleet of 118 trucks would leave the yard only to stop at gas stations for fuel, drinks, and snacks before heading to their first job.

It was costing them at least 1 hour per crew, per day. With 4 people on each crew, they were losing 472 hours of productive time every single week. That’s 24,544 hours per year.

They weren’t just losing time—they were losing money.

The Fix: Smarter Systems for Smarter Operations

After conducting a full operational audit, I implemented two simple but highly effective changes:

1. Fuel Delivered On-Site:
   We arranged for fuel delivery directly to the trucks each night, so they were fully fueled and ready to go each morning. No more gas station detours. The cost of having the fuel delivered was minimal vs the hours of lost time. Due to the fuel volume purchased, more discounts were available.
2. On-Site Food Truck:
   We brought in a food truck that arrived every morning. The vendor provided it at no cost to the business.  The full expense was borne by the crews that purchased. While crews loaded supplies, they could grab drinks and snacks on-site, eliminating the need to stop elsewhere.

The Result: Productivity Reclaimed

✔️ 1 Hour Saved Per Truck Per Day: Crews were on job sites 1 hour earlier, 5 days a week.
✔️ Increased Billable Hours: The business converted wasted time into billable hours, significantly boosting revenue.
✔️ Improved Crew Morale: Crews had easy access to everything they needed without the chaos of morning detours.
✔️ Operational Efficiency: The business could schedule jobs more effectively, reducing overtime and improving customer satisfaction.

The Lesson: Small Changes Lead to Big Results

This isn’t just a story about fuel and food—it’s a lesson in how operational inefficiencies can quietly drain your profits until you identify and fix them.

Ask yourself: What hidden inefficiencies are costing your business time and money right now?

If you’re ready to uncover and fix your operational blind spots, visit ryangartrell.com to schedule an audit. One small change could be the difference between stagnation and scalable growth.

Stop the leaks. Start scaling.

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