Whether brushing and flossing to prevent expensive dental work or consuming a healthy diet and exercising to prevent costly medical attention, life is full of opportunities to take actions now that prevent future problems. Semi trucks, much like our bodies, operate more effectively when they are given proper attention with regular maintenance. The key is not to let semi truck maintenance costs deter you from taking action now.

Regular maintenance not only helps trucks to remain safe, efficient, and road-ready, but can save you both time and money in the long run. Semi truck maintenance costs can be broadly divided into preventative (planned, routine) and reactive (unplanned, repair-based). Understanding the difference between these two approaches reveals how long-term costs and downtime are affected.

What Preventative Maintenance Involves

In his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen Covey categorizes tasks into four quadrants with combinations of important vs unimportant and urgent vs not urgent, noting that while some things are urgent they may not be important and that there are some things that are important but not urgent. Preventative maintenance falls into the important, but not urgent category, making it easy to neglect…until maintenance becomes urgent.

Common maintenance tasks include oil changes, tire rotations, brake checks, and fluid top-offs. Unless the tread is worn to an unsafe level, rotating the tires isn’t an urgent task. It may be tempting to squeeze in a few more loads before rotating the tires. However, taking the time to rotate them on the recommended schedule will prevent uneven tread wear, prolong the life of the tires, and maximize your safety (and the safety of the goods you haul), making it an important task.

Routine inspections, a pivotal part of preventative maintenance, often detect small issues before they escalate into major repairs. While costs will vary depending on certain variables, such as the number of axles, the number of tires on each axle, and the geographic location, preventative semi truck maintenance costs are generally predictable, making them easier to budget. 

Typical Costs of Preventative Maintenance

Preventative maintenance costs also vary based on whether the work is performed on a single semi or a fleet (a fleet rate is generally lower). Oil changes and filter replacements usually fall into a few hundred dollars per service. Tire rotations and alignments add modest recurring expenses but extend tire lifespan. A simple rotation without balancing tends to be between $100-$300, but a more complex service involving duals and/or balancing could be between $300-$600.

Alignments, similarly, are typically a few hundred dollars, with the cost commensurate with the number of axles. Scheduled inspections and diagnostics, usually hovering around $200-$300, are relatively inexpensive compared to large-scale repairs. Preventative semi truck maintenance costs are not only predictable but much lower than reactive maintenance costs.

What Reactive Maintenance Looks Like

Triggered by unexpected breakdowns or part failures, reactive maintenance can instantly become the most important task in your professional life. Unlike preventive maintenance, which is important but not urgent, reactive maintenance is both urgent and important.

Issues often arise suddenly, such as your engine overheating, your transmission malfunctioning, or your brake system collapsing. These repairs usually require immediate attention and can be significantly more disruptive. Since these issues aren’t predictable, they could happen at the most inopportune times, far away from garages and shops with the necessary tools.

Typical Costs of Reactive Maintenance

When considering semi truck maintenance costs, those of the reactionary flavor are often high-dollar repairs, hitting the pocketbook with the force of an NFL linebacker. Major engine overhauls or replacements can reach tens of thousands of dollars. Transmission failures often cost several thousand dollars in parts and labor.

Whereas with preventative maintenance you can simply drive your semi to a shop or your home garage (if you happen to have the resources) with the convenience of space and tools, reactive maintenance often involves unplanned towing, roadside assistance, and rental trucks. Reactive semi truck maintenance costs can quickly skyrocket, adding to the financial burden.

Comparing Preventative and Reactive Costs

Semi truck maintenance costs can be relatively low and predictable or high and unpredictable, depending on whether we take a preventative approach or a reactive one. Preventative maintenance expenses are spread out over time, while reactive costs cluster in large, unpredictable sums. Reactive repairs often come with additional hidden costs such as lost revenue from downtime. Over the vehicle’s lifespan, preventative care usually results in a lower total cost of ownership.

Impact on Downtime and Operations

Preventative maintenance allows fleets to schedule service around routes and workloads, keeping the operation running smoothly and the costs relatively low. Conversely, reactive repairs cause unexpected delays, potentially stranding vehicles on the road. While the cost of reactive maintenance is high, its impact runs deeper, potentially doing damage to your business. 

Every moment of unexpected downtime could mean lost revenue. A competitor with a well-maintained semi may swoop in and swallow up the opportunities left on the table while your truck is undergoing repairs. Extended downtime may disrupt customer commitments and lead to lost contracts. 

Long-Term Benefits of Preventative Care

Besides being more predictable and relatively lower in cost, taking a preventative maintenance approach gives you peace of mind, knowing that a well-maintained semi is safer and less likely to have issues while you’re on the road. Companies that emphasize preventative strategies reduce overall risk exposure. Engines, transmissions, and tires last longer with routine care and well-maintained trucks retain higher resale value.

HVUT: Part of Your Maintenance Costs? 

As you’re assessing your to-do list, determining what is important vs unimportant, urgent vs not urgent, note that one important thing on your list is paying the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) on an annual basis via Form 2290. This is one item we can help with here at i2290.com – it’s our specialty! The HVUT is becoming increasingly important, since proof of payment in the form of a stamped Schedule 1 is required to renew your registration.

While this isn’t technically considered part of your semi truck maintenance costs, it is a relatively low and predictable cost – and it does help you maintain compliance, keeping your vehicle on the road legally. With i2290, filing your Form 2290 is simple, straightforward, and speedy. Our software will guide you through a few questions about you and your vehicle(s), automatically calculate your taxes for you, generating a stamped Schedule 1 within minutes.

Create an account with i2290 today for a more pleasant filing experience!

Special note: This article is for general purposes, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for tax, legal, investment, or accounting advice. The best way to ensure you’re properly filing and paying appropriate taxes is by following IRS regulations and consulting with a tax professional.