ATA organization, FleetNet release first-quarter truck maintenance data

American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council and FleetNet America, a company of Fort Smith-based ArcBest, released the executive summary of their Truckload Vertical Benchmarking Study for the first quarter, ending March 31. When compared to the fourth quarter of 2017, the data showed some surprises, according to an ATA news release.

In the first quarter, the number of miles fleets ran between roadside breakdowns declined 21%, which indicated fleets were experiencing more unscheduled roadside repairs. The top five Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standard systems comprised of 58% of all repairs in the first quarter, up from 37% in the fourth quarter of 2017.

“The study makes it clear that fleets can better control their maintenance expense provided they know where to focus the limited time their managers have to trouble shoot,” said Jim Buell, executive vice president of sales and marketing for FleetNet America.

The Vertical Benchmarking Program is a new benefit for members of the Technology & Maintenance Council. Members will receive the executive summary, and fleets that participate by sharing their data can use an analytic tool to allow them to drill into their data and compare it to the industry average.

“TMC exists to help our members run better, more profitable maintenance operations. Peer-to-peer benchmarking is an exciting step toward helping fleets do just that,” TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell said. “As more member fleets participate, this will become an even more powerful tool.”

The program is a collaboration between the ATA, TMC and FleetNet America and open to executive level members and FleetNet America customers. The analytics provided in the program will be cumulative and not fleet specific.