It's not just you; downtime costs are up—and rising.
In 2024, researchers published a report in Fleet Management Weekly, laying out findings gleaned from analyzing comprehensive surveys and global trucking fleet data. One key insight?
"Downtime costs a fleet an average of $448 to $760 per day, per vehicle.”
And that's not the ceiling! If a truck is down due to serious repair needs, costs can spiral far beyond the average range.
Fortunately, there's a solution that can cut downtime in half, and keep commercial vehicles on the road longer: mobile truck repair.
In this guide, the automotive pros at Point Spring explore how mobile truck repair services work, which services are typically offered, how much mobile services generally cost, and what factors to consider when seeking a mobile service provider for your heavy duty truck.
The Cost of Downtime For Commercial Trucks
Downtime is a problem in industries across the board, and it seems harder to resolve than ever.
Truckers’ Top 3 Challenges: Downtime, Pay & Parking
Across industrial sectors, the majority of professionals rank mechanical breakdowns and forced downtime among the most significant challenges they face on the job—often tying with “aging infrastructure” and “skilled technician shortages” in the top spot.
In freight industry surveys, truck drivers specifically rank delays / detention customer facilities (resulting in unpaid downtime) is the third most significant challenge of the job. In fact, drivers only rank the industry’s ever-present economic and compensation problems as more urgent!
Downtime can be due to poor logistical planning, short-staffed warehouses, and overbooked docks. Unexpected mechanical issues—including problems preventing road-readiness only uncovered on inspection—can also cause delays.
And delay costs can snowball.
Rising Rates, Hidden Costs
The cost of truck maintenance and repairs have increased.
Part of it is rising costs across the board. The American Trucking Association’s data shows technician pay “increased 7.4% year-over-year between 2023 and 2024,” and the average labor rates “saw a $9 jump since 2023 (from $125 to $134).”
There are also hidden costs to contend with.
When a truck experiences frequent downtime due to poor or irregular maintenance, or uneven maintenance quality (thanks to less-than-stellar logistics management), more is lost than one might expect.
Fines, Fees Factor Into Driver Turnover Rates
Depending on the nature of the problem forcing downtime, it could require parts replacement (far pricier than standard repairs).
Certain mechanical failures can even trigger non-compliance fines.
The gaps in paid time, and any out of pocket costs related to repairs, contribute to high rates of driver turnover.
Customers Charge Late Fees, Cancel Contracts
And there's the negative impact unexpected delays have on fleets’ relationships with their customers. Roughly 57% of customers will switch brands over 3 late deliveries—or fewer. For many shippers, a single late load is grounds to cancel a carrier’s contract
WalMart fines its suppliers 3% for late deliveries, and distributors increasingly pass those fees onto contracted truck fleets they find at-fault.
Far more than anything else, businesses seek “reliable, timely delivery” from a freight hauling or truck shipping service.
Downtime puts reliability at risk.
What Are Mobile Truck Repair Services?
Mobile truck repair service is automotive technical work performed at the customer's location--typically roadside or in a fleet’s service yard. Services can include a wide range of truck care and restoration solutions, from emergency repairs to preventative maintenance.
Subscription Membership Vs. On-Demand
Heavy-duty truck drivers interested in mobile repairs have the option of subscribing to a membership service, or using mobile options offered by automotive technicians as-needed.
Both options involve the technician or mechanic driving out to your truck, rather than requiring you to head to their shop—whether on your truck's volition or via emergency tow.
There are pros and cons to both options, and not every mechanic offers memberships. Still, depending on your needs, a membership or an as-needed service could be the right choice.
Services: Emergency Repairs, Inspections & More
Mobile fleet services can include preventative tasks, like pre-trip inspection of lights, tires (etc), making swift repairs while onsite staff continue loading work.
While different technicians offer different mobile services, the most popular options include:
Oil changes
Tire changes
Brake adjustments
Patch leaks
Mobile services are most used for swift repairs or parts replacement. Common repairs include:
Lights
Suspension
Door hinges
Landing gear
Brakes (including lines and hoses)
Engine / engine parts
Fluid lines
Hydraulic components
Service techs can perform these checks in warehouses, distribution centers, and fleet drop yards.
Roadside & Yard Service: Increasingly Popular
Roadside and yard repair services are increasingly popular offerings by maintenance companies.
In April, Transport Topics interviewed Bob Brauer, chief commercial officer at Amerit Fleet Solutions, on the subject of mobile repairs.
“We did an analysis years ago. Even if a truck or a tractor only has to go two miles or three miles off site, it’s going to cost the customer a lot of money to do that; and then there’s downtime related to it,” Brauer said.
He went on to explain that the costs of driving to a brick-and-mortar garage adds up. “The company has to send the vehicle due for maintenance… along with a ‘follow-car’ and second employee to bring the driver back; and then repeat the process when the truck service is complete.”
As a result, his fleet maintenance firm saw the need for mobile maintenance options. Brauer realized, “85% of [offered] services, such as preventive maintenance, tire replacement and other common repairs, can be performed onsite in the customer’s yard.”
They're not the only fleet maintenance brand to think in that direction.
How Do Mobile Truck Repair Services Work?
Mobile repair options are either membership services or offered by garages on an emergency basis. They usually work in one of two ways.
Roadside Assistance In 3 Easy Steps
Roadside assistance is available on demand in many places. Some only offer it to members in good standing, while others offer pay-per-use services.
In either case, mobile roadside assistance work in three steps
1. Make the emergency roadside call.
On the call, the driver details the problem and their exact location. If relevant, the driver confirms their membership with a member ID.
2. The technician makes an assessment.
The service tech drives the necessary equipment out to the truck’s location, then evaluates the problem. They typically use diagnostic technology as well as their own observation.
3. The technician repairs the truck (if possible).
The technician typically brings the necessary equipment to make commonplace semi truck repairs, as well as any materials to repair something specifically indicated by the initial call.
Usually, that's a success! But, if the repair can't be completed onsite, the service will tow the truck to the nearest garage, for more complex repairs. The truck driver can be taken to a safe location.
In either case, the service follows up soon after to see how the repair is holding up.
Pre-Trip Inspections For Fleets: Simplified
Mobile truck services are particularly useful for streamlining a mandatory part of cargo hauling: the pre-trip check.
Pre-trip inspections are both mandatory and a bit complex. That's why Point Spring developed our free pre-trip inspection guide.
Mobile service technicians can inspect a truck while it's being loaded, saving time. Technicians can also inspect and segue straight into repairs—saving drivers the time spent on finding the necessary fixes or contacting service providers.
Benefits (& Drawbacks) of Mobile Truck Repair
Mobile truck repair services are increasingly popular among trucking pros. Weigh these pros and cons to discern what's right for your team.
Pros: Cut Downtime & Related Costs, Improve Customer Relations
Mobile service memberships have been found to nurture and strengthen relationships between dealerships and fleets. The nature of these services fosters an ongoing dialogue, and it lets technicians work with drivers to develop personalized best practices for each fleet, streamlining services long-term.
More critically, mobile service memberships help fleets save money in the long run. They can help eliminate non-compliance fines, slash urgent truck rental / delivery outsourcing costs, and reliably prevent costly repairs with more affordable, timely ones.
Moreover, each mobile repair saves truck drivers and fleets money on towing costs, and the costs of taking a detour to a garage. Onsite and roadside repairs mean no fuel is used driving to the mechanic, nor is any wear or tear added.
Finally, regular services via mobile truck repair memberships can improve fleets’ relationships with customers and business partners. Swifter repairs means fewer delays, which makes for happier customers.
Cons: Membership Expense, Indirect Quality Control
The biggest drawback is the loss of control. Certain fleet managers prefer an in-house maintenance team, because it lets them set their own quality control standards.
The second drawback mostly applies to single-truck enterprises with few repair needs. In those specific cases, the cost of membership may outweigh the average cost of repairs as is.
In those cases, it's helpful to sit down and add up the current expenses, including time costs, and compare them to the cost of membership. Be sure to factor in the services provided.
Verdict: Mobile Repairs Are (Usually) Worth It
The costs of a subscription membership to a mobile truck repair service are usually worth it. That said, be sure you’re paying for a membership that offers the services you actually need.
How To Choose The Right Mobile Truck Repair Pros
Today, roughly 53% of shops offer Mobile Truck Repair services. So, how do you decide which service is right for your fleet?
Traits of Excellent Mobile Repair Services
First, make sure the services are available 24/7, and the coverage area is nationwide. If your fleet drives internationally, consider providers with coverage in all countries where you do business.
Second, seek mobile services that specialize in heavy-duty trucks, specifically. If your trucks are long haul, that's another key area of focus.
When considering specializations, ask providers how they build expertise in that truck category. Look for providers that invest heavily in ongoing technician training.
Finally, ask about pricing options. Know what's affordable up front. Consider your budget, and weigh the benefits of annual membership vs. a la carte services, given your setting.
Choose A Mobile Truck Repair Service In 5 Steps
Before finalizing a contract with a mobile repair service, go through these steps.
1. List your fleet's most frequent technical issues and repair needs. Rule out any services that don't handle those issues.
2. Get quotes from a minimum of three service providers before making your choice. Don't just go for the first sales pitch you hear.
3. Seek out reviews. Read formal reviews, and seek out recommendations from others you trust in the industry.
4. Partner with a shop offering the parts and services specific to your trucks (model and brand). OEM parts on demand makes swift repairs more likely.
5. Make sure services are provided where you are, when you need them. At minimum, mobile services should be offered throughout your trucks' delivery / professional range, 24/7.
What’s Next? The Future of Heavy-Duty Truck Repair
According to recent surveys, shops have reported a 7.2% increase in cost for mobile repair labor in the past year. Cost increases in the near future are likely, so it's wise to negotiate before you sign a service contract.
Fortunately, in the next few years, new technologies could make mobile truck repair easier, more accurate, and potentially more cost effective. Predictive maintenance algorithms and similarly automated technologies may be changing the game.
Get Top Mobile Heavy-Duty Truck Repair Services With Point Spring
At Point Spring & Driveshaft Co., our mobile repair services are tailor made for heavy-duty trucks.
Learn more about what we can do for your truck. Contact us about our services today.