Unexpected downtime is every fleet owner’s worst nightmare.
A disabled truck stranded on the side of the road creates a chain reaction of cost and inconvenience.
A driver who might be paid per mile has been temporarily prevented from earning his or her wage. A shipment the truck is carrying has been delayed. The fleet manager must arrange a roadside repair or a tow depending on the nature of the repair or the truck’s distance from the nearest service station – a significant cost on its own. Finally, a key asset is sidelined and unprofitable while those repairs are made.
This kind of repair and maintenance represents a significant portion of a fleet owner’s total cost of ownership.
According to a recent report from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), “An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2020 Updates,” maintenance costs consistently make up between 8% and 10% of a fleet’s average marginal cost per mile, and have done so over the past decade.
Breakdowns can be kept to a minimum as long as a fleet owner stays on top of vehicle upkeep, including regular service with high-performance engine oil.
To that end, the most recent API engine oil performance level for heavy-duty lubricants (CK-4 and FA-4) ensured that a new generation of formulations provided the proper levels of performance demanded by modern engine technology — including improved oxidation control, shear stability and aeration performance.
