Top 7 Fleet Maintenance Trends in CY-2021

Fleet car and truck maintenance costs have been trending upward during the first half of the 2021-calendar year as total fleet miles driven have increased in response to a recovering economy compared to 2020-CY. Prior to this, work-from-home mandates and the idling of non-essential fleets exerted downward pressure on fleet maintenance costs as fewer business miles, in the aggregate, were driven.

This assessment is based on AF’s 25h annual fleet vehicle maintenance survey conducted exclusively by the fleet management company Emkay based on an analysis of actual maintenance expenses incurred during calendar-years 2020 and 20021.

“The COVID pandemic presented many challenges with vehicle maintenance that no one in the industry experienced before in such a great capacity,” said Dale Jewell, senior director, fleet services operations for Emkay.

In this year’s maintenance survey, Emkay in partnership with Automotive Fleet magazine identified the following seven fleet maintenance trends: 
Longer PM intervals for cars and light-trucks as more vehicles are required to use longer-lasting synthetic motor oils.

An ongoing parts shortage that is increasing repair times as some vehicles are idled waiting for components that are on back order.

Extended vehicle replacement cycles that have driven up both preventive and unscheduled maintenance. 

Replacement tire expenses are trending higher in 2021 than 2020.

As vehicles become more complex, so do vehicle repairs when malfunctions occur.

Labor rates in 2021 remain relatively flat compared to 2020, but the forecast is for labor rates  to increase in 2022.         

While vehicle quality is at an all-time high, the forecast for overall fleet car and truck maintenance expenses is for individual transaction costs to continue to increase. 

“With the pandemic, the new norm has been to work remotely or from home, mitigating the necessity for travel. There are also several companies that do not allow outside visitors so several of our customers have been working from home. As things do begin to open up and drivers start to become more active again, the expectation is that costs will increase for our fleets,” said Tony Hernandez, team lead, truck maintenance for Emkay. 

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By: Mike Antich