As we head toward 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have ripple effects in the trucking industry. One of the effects is an increase in the cost of scheduled and surprise repairs. Check out some of the details behind the rise in repair and maintenance costs.
Planned and Surprise Repairs
Across the board, there’s been a delay in the delivery of new trucks. This is due to a slowdown in truck production. The result? Trucking companies are using trucks in their fleet for longer periods of time and putting off needed repairs and maintenance. Furthermore, there’s a lack of replacement parts, adding repair and maintenance costs. Not surprisingly, instead of waiting for the delivery of new trucks, trucking companies are choosing to pay for expensive repairs to keep an entire fleet out on the road.
In 2021, companies spent 3% less on planned repairs and 3% more on unplanned maintenance.
Rising Labor Costs
The average cost of parts and labor is up 6%. A shortage of qualified repair technicians means that there’s a longer turnaround time when a truck finally gets into the shop for repairs. Consequently, fleet management has to be done with fewer trucks on the road. This leaves very little wiggle room in a trucking company’s budget for breakdowns.
The Outlook for the Future
Looking at the data, experts in the trucking industry expect maintenance and labor costs to remain high in 2022. The supply chain issues will continue to cause delays in the availability and delivery of new trucks. The shortage of replacement parts for repairs and maintenance is expected to continue. In addition, the demand for more qualified repair technicians will increase.
Considering labor costs, maintenance costs, and other factors, operators in charge of fleet management have been compelled to find creative ways to use every truck more effectively. In 2022, successful fleet management aims to get as many miles as possible out of each truck while waiting for the new trucks to roll in.
