After a worldwide pandemic and a current shortage of diesel mechanics, it’s safe to say trucking companies need to find ways to be more self-sufficient. Our truck shop opened in 2016, and I can’t imagine going back to a time when we were without it.
Discounts and priority are typically offered to drivers who belong to that specific trucking company’s truck shop. This system provides some additional incentive for drivers to join that company as well. The quotes offered are more easily understood and the work can be completed at one location.
Some repair shops may not be able to perform all repairs by themselves. This means the fees incurred will involve transportation, different shops, a fee for shipping the products and a premium price for labor. When you have stock in the driver, the truck and the revenue generated from the repair, it establishes a value adding business relationship.
“Time is what we want most but what we use worst.” – William Penn
In trucking, if you aren’t moving you aren’t making money. The time it takes to bring in a third-party shop is totally alleviated by having an on-site repair shop. There is no need to take a truck to another location, pay for travel to and from, wait for them to familiarize themselves with the issue and history of the truck, all while sitting still and not making money. It benefits the company and it benefits the driver. It truly is a win-win.
Less downtime means greater access and adaptability for scheduling purposes. Instead of waiting days or even weeks for a call from the repair shop – or in some cases multiple shops – repairs can be done efficiently in-house.
We use an app (Fullbay and Samsara) to schedule repairs and perform inspections. Every time a driver performs an inspection, our fleet and safety departments receive the information instantly. This means our mechanics and shop managers understand the complete history of the truck, trailer and driver.
