According to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), truck operating costs have increased 6.6% since last year. A recent report, Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, stated that the overall marginal cost of operating a fleet truck is about $2.270 per mile.
While many factors contribute to this cost increase, fleet managers and owners must examine the entire operation to see where they can tighten their belts. For smaller fleets, investing in preventative fleet maintenance, maintaining older vehicles and learning how to save on truck parts can help.
Preventative Fleet Maintenance
If they haven’t already, fleet managers must get their vehicles on a preventative fleet maintenance schedule. Keeping up with oil and fluid changes and checking critical components like brakes, tires, and cooling systems can help prevent major breakdowns and costly repairs in the future. In addition, preventative maintenance should include pre-and post-trip inspections to catch minor issues before they become expensive problems.
Maintain Older Vehicles Longer
According to the ATRI research, and this is no surprise to fleet managers, the cost of new trucks has gone up significantly. Plus, supply chain issues in recent years have made obtaining new vehicles a challenge.
As a result, more trucking operations are choosing to run their older trucks longer. This is possible for proactive, regular maintenance and repairs. Investing in quality replacement parts is part of keeping those trucks on the road. That leads us to our next point.
Saving on Truck Parts
While you don’t want to ‘cheap out’ on truck parts, there are ways to get quality parts while keeping a tight budget. If you’re a fleet manager of a smaller fleet, these ideas could work for you:
- Research smaller parts dealers and distributors that aren’t doing business with larger fleets (and larger budgets). They’ll be happy to have your business and could offer lower prices.
- Connect with other small fleet owners and combine purchase orders with them. Doing so can maximize your buying power and help you get better deals.
- Assess your fleet parts buying process. How can you spend your money with fewer vendors? The more you buy from a single vendor, the more purchasing power you have.
- Check trusted online sources for semi-truck parts. Some online vendors might have more inventory and lower prices because of lower overhead costs. However, be cautious and only choose trusted and reliable brands. If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is!
Being smart about how you buy your parts can help keep repair and fleet maintenance costs down.
Partner with Motorplex
Outsourcing fleet maintenance ensures that your small fleet gets the care and preventative maintenance required to run smoothly, efficiently, and with fewer breakdowns. Fewer breakdowns mean less costly downtime. When your wheels are rolling, you’re making money. We get that.
We also understand the industry and the challenges fleet managers face. Our team of expert fleet technicians has the training and expertise to troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair any make and model.
Contact us to learn how you can partner with Motorplex!
Give Motorplex a call today to learn more about our services!
Motorplex Offers Fleet Maintenance in Auburn and Spokane
Motorplex offers fleet maintenance, in-shop repairs, and onsite mobile service in Auburn and Spokane. We can work on all makes and models from light automotive, medium-truck, and heavy-duty vehicles. As diesel engine repair experts, you can trust that fleet is in good hands.
Need professional fleet maintenance? Then Motorplex is here to help. Contact us now to book an appointment in Auburn, WA or Spokane, WA!
