Abstract:
Little is known about optimizing route map to vehicle fleet replacement and disposal for small to medium transport companies (SMTCs) in Zimbabwe. The study of replacement is concerned with the situations that arise when some vehicles need replacement due to changes in their performance. Different vehicles have limited useful service life and the operating costs of each vehicle increases as they grow older. The longer the service life, the higher the maintenance costs up to the time the company consider a replacement. In carrying out the study, the pragmatic analytic survey was employed. The researchers employed both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis research techniques. Structured questionnaires, observation guides and interview guides were used during fieldwork. Data were analyzed using both quantitative (descriptive statistics) and qualitative techniques where data were scored by calculating the percentages, mean and standard deviation. This was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software. Secondary data collected were scrutinized to determine their suitability, reliability and adequacy and accuracy. Findings show that vehicle fleet replacement and disposal for small to medium transport companies in Zimbabwe is influenced by different factors such as anticipation of costly failure, failure to efficiently perform, deterioration and higher maintenance costs. It was observed that companies are replacing vehicles without employing company policies on how replacement and disposal should be done. The researchers recommended different replacement policies that gives a guideline of how replacement should be undertaken, and on such policies lays the group vehicle replacement policy and the individual vehicle replacement policy.
