Whether it’s availability, rising prices, or economic uncertainty, many fleets feel compelled to drive older trucks for a longer period of time ... perhaps longer than they ordinarily would. This has made preventive maintenance inspections more important than ever in helping fleet managers determine the best time to replace a component to keep their trucks on the road.
After the pandemic, this approach was due to the supply chain disruptions that created shortages for microchips and other essential components. Dealers and fleets were put on allocation and few, if any, got all the new trucks they ordered. This occurred at a time when freight volumes were high, forcing fleets to run their older assets past the fleet’s typical trade cycles.
Now, assets and components may be available, but there are questions about changes for emissions standards, tariff concerns, and global uncertainty that are causing not just the trucking industry but every industry to take a cautious wait-and-see approach.
How PMIs can extend life cycles
A fleet's asset replacement cycle is typically set to coincide with the point when an asset requires more frequent maintenance; keeping it running becomes costly in terms of maintenance and repair.
Whether an asset is in the shop for regularly scheduled preventive maintenance or because of a breakdown, smart fleets are conducting thorough preventive maintenance inspections to try to identify developing problems and fix them before they lead to an on-road breakdown.
Fleet managers should view the data from those PMIs as pure gold. It provides a wealth of information about the health of the fleet and allows fleet managers to spot wear trends across the fleet or in certain asset classes.
See also: Clark: Predictive maintenance: A fleet’s crystal ball for controlling costs
The data from PMIs can show how different brands of a component are performing. Is one brand of brake shoes holding up better than another? Is one type of tire lasting longer than another?
Looking at these types of problems and the mileage at which they occur can help the fleet manager determine if it makes sense to proactively replace a component at a certain mileage interval rather than waiting for it to fail. While there may still be some life left in the component, preventing one roadside breakdown can be worth the premature removal of a component across an asset class.
Roadside repairs are the most expensive and time-consuming type of repair. Waiting for the tow truck, getting towed to the service location, lining up in the service queue, and waiting for parts cost time and money—and also frustrate drivers. Given the severity of the driver shortage, keeping drivers happy must be a high priority for fleets.
The data collected from PMIs can also be used to inform future spec’ing decisions. Component specs can be modified based on how certain components performed in specific duty cycles, which should result in a more efficient vehicle spec going forward.
While older assets may need to be brought into the shop more frequently, the information gathered during the PMIs performed at these service events can be mined to improve asset uptime, curtail the number of roadside breakdowns, and better position the fleet for the future.
Ready for the road ahead
Harnessing the insights gleaned from PMIs is crucial for extending asset life cycles and minimizing downtime. By leveraging PMI data, fleet managers can make informed decisions on component replacements and vehicle specifications, optimizing efficiency and reliability. This proactive approach reduces the risk of costly roadside breakdowns. As fleets navigate evolving industry landscapes, integrating PMI data into strategic planning will be key to maintaining a competitive edge and operational optimization in the years ahead.
