What Are the Costs of Poor Maintenance in Trucking?

Successful fleet management requires a delicate balance between operational efficiency and driver safety while remaining cost-effective. Preventative maintenance can achieve all three goals by keeping operating expenses low and reducing downtime. Preventative maintenance has other benefits that aren’t obvious at first glance. For example, drivers’ behavior often improves if the fleet vehicles receive regular and proper attention. It shows that the company cares about its employees and their safety.

The costs of poor maintenance quickly accumulate and often begin to compound, creating a slew of expensive problems, including:

• Poor fuel efficiency. Several things can tank a truck’s fuel efficiency, such as improperly inflated tires or incorrect filters. Regular maintenance can identify and correct these issues before the company starts bleeding money at the gas pump.
• Reduced vehicle performance. It’s easy to overlook or delay a mild maintenance issue in favor of making a delivery deadline. However, one small problem can affect how that part of the vehicle performs. A compromised part can lead to another weakened area of the truck. Eventually, these minor inefficiencies add up and can cause costly damage.
• More expensive repairs. Replacing tires is expensive, and it’s tempting to wait until they reach the limits of their service life. However, a tire that meets the bare minimum today can become unsafe tomorrow. A tire blowout sidelines the vehicle, necessitates expensive roadside repairs, and can cause crashes. Modern trucks come equipped with expensive software that isn’t easy to replace. They also require knowledgeable technicians to repair them. The combination of technician shortages, safety technology, and potential litigation is far more expensive than replacing tires regularly.
• Increased downtime. Poorly maintained vehicles are far more likely to break down than well-cared-for ones. The issues tend to be more significant, and the repairs more complex, resulting in prolonged downtime. Companies can’t make money with undrivable trucks—a cost that far outweighs what they’d spend on preventative maintenance.
• Probable safety hazards. Improper truck maintenance can hurt more than the company’s wallet. It can cause accidents, injuries, and even fatalities. Driver behavior can also degrade if they’re constantly frustrated with their dysfunctional vehicle.

Driver safety is a chief priority for fleets, followed by fleet productivity. However, inadequate maintenance can undermine all efforts to achieve either of these goals. Contact Interstate Motor Carriers to learn more about keeping your fleet safe and productive.