TMC/FleetNet America Reports Spike in Unscheduled Roadside Repairs
[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.]
Fleets experienced an increase in unscheduled roadside maintenance from the end of 2020 through the first quarter of 2021, according to benchmarking data compiled by service data program developer FleetNet America and the Technology & Maintenance Council of American Trucking Associations.
According to the pair’s Vertical Benchmarking Program, the number of miles between unscheduled roadside repairs reported by participating fleets fell 18.7% to an average of 29,506 from Q4 2020 to Q1 2021, suggesting trucks experienced breakdowns more often during the quarter. The latest numbers also fell 12.3% from Q1 2020, when miles between breakdowns hit 33,637 miles on average between unscheduled roadside repairs.
Truckload carriers saw the number of miles between breakdowns decrease 13.1% on average last quarter compared with Q4 2020 to 21,856 miles, while LTL carriers saw a drop of 18.7% to 44,380 miles between breakdowns.
The TMC/FleetNet America Vertical Benchmarking study found that during the first quarter of 2021, fleets averaged 29,506 miles of operation between unscheduled road repairs. Read the full press release at https://t.co/uqOul0Ns5R. pic.twitter.com/QIVzEjcXZ9 — FleetNet America (@FleetNetAmerica) June 29, 2021
The tank truck sector, meanwhile, saw a slight improvement at 17,420 miles on average from 19,905 during the previous quarter.
“As the economy improves going into the second half of 2021, fleets need to be vigilant in their maintenance practices to minimize unscheduled road repairs,” TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell said in a statement. “Our data shows the best-in-class fleets are doing that and others can benefit from following industry recommended practices, such as those offered by TMC.”
Emily Hurst, manager of data and analytics at FleetNet America, said in a statement: “The data tells us that if, for example, the truckload carriers running the average miles between breakdowns could reach best-in-class performance, they would increase their miles between breakdowns by 89%. And that would result in overall lower costs.”
Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing below or go here for more info:
