When you invest in a semi truck you also have to budget for maintaining the vehicle and the cost of typical repairs as a result of the usual wear and tear.
It is often a false economy to skip maintenance or service schedules, as this puts greater stress on your vehicle’s components and could also compromise safety. It also makes sound economic sense to commit to buying quality International truck parts, and paying for servicing and repairs carried out to a high professional standard.
With that in mind, what sort of cost are you looking at on a yearly basis for maintaining your semi truck?
Here is a look at what sort of tasks are involved as part of your annual maintenance schedule, and how much it might cost.
Key maintenance tasks to budget for
As you would expect, maintaining your vehicle in top condition requires regular upkeep. By sticking to an annual maintenance schedule, you can extend the life of your truck. You can also help improve its performance, and minimize the prospect of costly repairs.
Here is an overview of the key maintenance tasks that should be performed each year to keep your vehicle running smoothly.
Change the oil and oil filter - One of the most essential maintenance tasks is changing your engine oil and filter. Oil lubricates your engine’s components, reducing friction and preventing overheating. Over time, oil breaks down and collects debris, which can damage your engine if not replaced. Aim to do these tasks every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or at least once a year.
Check and replace the air filter - Your truck’s air filter is designed to prevent dirt, dust, and debris from entering the engine, which can degrade performance and fuel efficiency. A clogged air filter can reduce airflow, causing your engine to work harder.
That’s why you need to replace the filter once a year or every 12,000 to 15,000 miles. This will enhance engine performance and extend engine life.
Regularly inspect tires and rotate them where required - Tire maintenance is crucial for safety and performance. Checking tire pressure, inspecting for wear, and rotating them helps ensure even tread wear, extending the life of your tires and improving fuel efficiency. Aim to rotate tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles and check tire pressure monthly, or weekly, preferably.
Inspect the brakes - Your vehicle’s braking system is critical for safety. Annual brake inspections ensure that the pads, rotors, and fluid are in good condition, allowing you to stop safely and avoid brake failure. Do this at least once a year, or more often if you notice unusual sounds, vibrations, or reduced braking efficiency.
Check battery health - Over time, batteries lose their charge, especially in extreme weather conditions. Testing the battery annually can prevent unexpected breakdowns.
Regularly inspect and Top Off fluids - Your semi truck relies heavily on several fluids to function properly. In particular, coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid. Checking these fluids annually and topping them off ensures your truck operates smoothly and prevents overheating or component failure.
Examine belts and hoses - Belts and hoses are critical for the operation of your engine and other systems, such as air conditioning. Over time, these components can wear out, crack, or break. Inspect belts and hoses once a year for signs of wear.
Adhering to these essential annual maintenance tasks helps ensure that your vehicle remains in prime condition. What sort of cost will these tasks and other typical repair bills cost on an annual basis?
Don’t forget your annual DOT inspection
Your semi truck is required to undergo routine inspections by the Department of Transport (DOT). This inspection is necessary for compliance. It also serves a purpose when it comes to identifying potential issues that need to be addressed immediately.
It would make sense to get your truck checked over as subjected to a vehicle health check by your chosen service provider, prior to booking in the DOT inspection.
Factor this cost into your annual budget calculations.
Budgeting for the unexpected
In addition to factoring in the annual cost of standard servicing and repairs, you should also make an allowance for unexpected repairs and the cost of replacing parts.
Although this can be difficult to estimate as faults can occur without warning, you will be able to minimize the impact with regular servicing and inspections. If the vehicle condition report provided as part of your servicing identifies a potential issue that could be on the horizon, this will give you a better opportunity to budget ahead.
Another key point is that regular servicing at the suggested intervals should help prevent wear and tear, and shield you from expensive repairs, to a certain extent.
Is there an average cost of maintenance per mile?
There is a fairly reliable budgeting formula that you can use to help you get an idea of what sort of annual costs you can expect when it comes to servicing and maintaining your semi truck.
As a guide, a typical truck that covers about 100,000 miles, will cost roughly $15,000 in maintenance expenses. That equates to a typical cost of maintaining your truck at $0.15 per mile.
If you add in the typical cost of replacing key components such as tires and filters, for instance, a realistic cost of maintenance per mile is more likely to be somewhere between $.30 and $0.60 per mile.
If you allow a budget of somewhere between $1,000 and $1,500 per month for all of your truck repair and maintenance costs, you have a reasonable chance of covering your bills using this anticipated estimation.
It is highly advisable to try and budget ahead for all of these costs so that you can keep on top of all of the required tasks and ensure that your truck stays on the road, and doesn’t let you down unexpectedly.
Taking this more strategic approach to truck maintenance will take away a fair amount of stress and guesswork, allowing you to focus more of your attention on running your business with the help of a reliable truck.
