M&R is very important due to the fact that it greatly impacts every type of operation and having improper management of M&R can tremendously erode profits from the bottom line, and the older the truck, the costlier it gets.

 

Based on a current report on lifecycle strategy, M&R costs on a 2012 sleeper model-year total $23,100, compared with $2,070 on a new, 2019 model-year truck, giving a savings of $21,030. 

 

A shorter lifecycle creates long-term savings beyond the first-year. When fleets adopt a three-year lifecycle for their trucks, switching with new technology in year four, they realize a savings of $42,830 in M&R calculated in years four through seven in comparison to a fleet driving the same truck for the full seven years.

 

More Trucks Equals More M&R Challenges

 

More fleet managers are knowing these numbers, and they are now posting a greater emphasis on M&R strategies. As stated by the latest analyze, 40 percent of respondents listed M&R as their top motivating factor for acquiring new trucks. However, the research demonstrates costs are not the only concern fleets have regarding maintenance; 26.7 percent also believe a safe, well-maintained truck is most beneficial in driver recruitment and retention – essential since the driver shortage remains a tough issue for many fleet and transportation companies.

 

This problem will only expand in the coming years, as fleets look to either replace trucks or add to their mix to undertake more demand for the economy. FTR reports North American Class-8 orders for October continued to surge, registering at 43,000 that month. ACT Research’s numbers show 43,600 Class 8 trucks in October.

 

With the demand for shipping and transporting goods remaining healthy, and much more trucks coming online in the coming months, how can innovative software and data analytics serve fleets and transportation companies better manage M&R activities?

 

Innovative M&R Software Resources

 

Today’s leading M&R software now facilitates private fleets and for-hire carriers to leverage intuitive dashboards contrary to complicated spreadsheets and allows users to create their own custom view with the information that interests them most: vehicle performance for fleet managers, M&R data for repair personnel, and even personalized financial models for the C-level.

 

Innovations in M&R software now enable fleets to handle their full operations, with views on everything from operational costs, M&R data, substitute vehicle savings, vehicle servicing and histories; and these software platforms are now mobile-responsive for on-the-go fleet management.

 

Today’s new M&R software can monitor bills for a fleet in every aspect of the truck’s requirements, such as expenditures that include tires, tubes, liners and valves; preventative maintenance measures; brakes; expendable items; exhaust systems; fuel systems; plus much more.

 

Heavy-duty trucks must be well-maintained all around the year and be ready for all weather patterns. It is important to take every preventative measure essential, especially with M&R to safeguard the safety of drivers operating the trucks as well as other motorists on the roads. As such, it would be recommended for fleets and for-hire carriers to pay particularly close attention to the latest software innovations that leverage fleet utilization data and analytics to track all M&R activity to help ensure each truck is operating at a premium level. This will not only ensure safety for all on the road, it will tremendously help the bottom line as well.

 

This article is originally posted on tronserve.com