Maintenance Costs - Tagged Posts

Higher Motor Oil Prices Nudge Preventive Maintenance Costs Up

Citing the higher cost of crude oil, many major manufacturers of finished lubricant products increased prices from 5% to 8% in CY-2018. Plus, each model-year, more OEMs require the use of more expensive synthetic motor oils.

Maintenance Costs Increase as Labor Rates Rise

Despite high build quality, vehicle maintenance costs are trending up due to increased advanced technology content, skilled labor shortages, higher tire prices, and more engines requiring synthetic oils and high-capacity oil pans.

Vincentric Adds Maintenance Costs to Data Stream

Vincentric has begun offering more in-depth maintenance data as part of its automotive cost-of-ownership database covering more than 45,000 vehicles, the Bingham Farms, Mich.-based data provider has announced.

SmartDrive, Geotab Announce New Telematics Partnership

SmartDrive and Geotab said a primary goal of their new relationship is helping to simplify the on-board technology footprint, giving fleets freedom to choose solutions that fit their business and their budget, and dramatically lowering the total cost of ownership.

Advanced Safety Systems Cost Twice as Much to Repair

Vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) can add on average an extra $3,000 to the repair bill after a crash due to pricey sensors and their calibration requirements, according to new research from AAA.

Diesel Vans Beat Gasoline Models in Total Ownership Cost

Diesel-powered cargo vans are providing fleet buyers with a lower total cost of ownership than gasoline models, while many diesel-powered trucks aren't recouping the higher acquisition cost, according to a Vincentric analysis.

Bimbo Bakeries Selects Transervice for Maintenance

Transervice Logistics, Inc., has been selected by Bimbo Bakeries USA to provide contract maintenance fleet services to plant locations in Cromwell, Conn.; Lakewood, Texas; and Ft. Worth, Texas.

Using Performance-Based Incentives to Optimize the Cost-Effectiveness of Fleet Operations

A fleet cost reduction program goes straight to the corporate bottom line. If a company operates at a 10% annual net profit margin, reducing annual fleet expenses by $100,000 is the equivalent of generating $1 million in sales. Although fleet managers manage hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars in corporate assets, only half are incentivized to achieve targeted performance goals. I advocate incentivization should be a universal best practice extended to all fleet managers.

Higher Prices Reinvigorate Cost Containment Initiatives

Fleet costs are experiencing upward pressure in a variety of areas, ranging from higher vehicle acquisition due to the proliferation of safety systems to increased material costs to manufacture tires, replacement parts, and upfits.

Higher Labor, Parts Drive Up Fleet Maintenance Costs

Although repair incidents were flat, other fleet-related maintenance expenses were up in calendar-year 2017, primarily in labor rates and parts prices. PM costs were up around 3%, while replacement tire costs increased 5-10%.