Home » BLOG » The Cost of Trucking The Cost of Trucking
Sep 25, 2018
Quick Links: Trucking Industry Averages | Trucking Company Cost Factors | Truck Maintenance Cost | How to Calculate Cost Per Mile for Your Trucking Company | How to Reduce Trucking Costs
When it comes to money management, the majority of fleets hire outside accountants to do profit/loss statements at the close of each fiscal year. They will then compare this information with prior statements to spot overall trends on a year-by-year basis. The problem with this method is that expenses can fluctuate on a monthly or weekly basis depending on the needs of a given operation. This fluctuation can give fleets a skewed perspective on what their actual costs and profits are throughout the year, inadequately preparing them for seasonal shifts in expenses and add pressure to their cash flow.
To more effectively calculate your operating costs, it is far more prudent to examine your expenses on a week-by-week and month-by-month basis. This way, you can pinpoint rising costs the moment they emerge and take possible steps to remedy the situation.
FUEL PRICES GOT YOU DOWN?
Fuel is one of the top 3 expenses for fleets. Using our adaptive internal tire balancer, EQUAL FLEXX, can save you up to 3% in fuel.
Try EQUAL FLEXX
The following information are some observations on what the greatest operating costs for fleets are, a quick overview on how fleets can calculate their cost per mile (CPM), and some tips and tricks on managing and improving your fleet’s CPM. Because ultimately, understanding the basic financial impacts of your fleet’s operating expenses on your profitability will better serve your business decisions in the future.
TRUCKING INDUSTRY AVERAGES
When it comes to recouping the costs of fleet management, trucking companies will often attempt to squeeze more routes and deliveries into tighter timeframes. In most cases, all this really does is raise the operating costs in tandem with the workloads.
One effective strategy is to lower the costs associated with fleet management and eliminate unnecessary expenses. If you can bring management costs down by just $100 per week, the savings can significantly add up over the course of a year.
TRUCKING COMPANY COST FACTORS
Throughout a typical year, the costs associated with fleet management will add up due primarily to the following factors:
Fuel: Commercial trucks consume at least 40 times as much fuel as passenger vehicles.
New Trailers and Cabs: The cost of a new trailer is easily five figures, while the cost of a cab could hit six figures.
Tires: The cost of replacing worn tires can add several thousand dollars to your fleet’s annual expenses.
Repairs: The overall cost of repairs could depend on the fleet’s preventative maintenance program and how well the vehicles are maintained.
Maintenance: Regular preventative maintenance can reduce the need for repairs, yet still constitutes an expense in its own right.
Insurance: A fleet must be insured on multiple levels, the total of which amounts to several thousand dollars annually.
Driver Salary: The salary paid to drivers accounts for at least a quarter of fleet operating costs.
Tolls: Depending on your routing map, you may encounter occasional or regular tolls for using certain roads or bridges.
Taxes: Though just pennies on the dollar, taxes add up significantly when tens of thousands of dollars are involved.
Whether you run a small or large fleet, these expenses are liable to account for the lion’s share of your overhead.
WHAT IS THE YEARLY COST OF OPERATING A TRUCK?
On a per-mile basis, fleets spend an average of $1.76 per mile in operating costs for each truck. When you multiply that amount by the number of miles traveled throughout a typical year, you are looking at roughly $190,000 in annual operating costs for just one commercial vehicle.
WHAT IS THE AMOUNT OF FUEL USED IN ONE YEAR BY COMMERCIAL TRUCKS?
A commercial truck consumes approximately 20,500 gallons of fuel in a typical year. When you multiply that by the cost of fuel per gallon and tack on the applicable taxes, the dollars are more than triple the gallons. One truck, for example, could exceed $70,000 in annual diesel fuel consumption. Overall, fuel accounts for roughly 39 percent of a fleet’s operating costs.
WHAT IS THE COST OF NEW TRACTOR TRAILER AND CAB?
Regardless of whether you make such purchases within the course of a given year, the price for new cabs and trailers will account for roughly 17 percent of your fleet’s management costs. Respectively, the two costs break down as follows:
Trailers: $50,000
Cabs: $100,000+
Though pricey, investments in new cabs and trailers can actually help keep costs down over the long run. With the newer aerodynamic designs and higher performance trucks, you are less likely to see performance issues among your fleet. Even if your older vehicles are well-maintained, it can be a cost-effective move to periodically introduce newer cabs and trailers into the fleet.
TRUCK MAINTENANCE COST
The costs associated with truck maintenance can easily exceed $15,000 per year when you factor in all the parts at play, such as the brakes, alternators, wires, and air hoses.
INSURANCE COSTS
Insurance costs account for roughly four percent of the total cost to manage a commercial truck. With at least nine different insurance policies required in the industry, the cost to insure one truck could exceed $6,500 annually. When broken down into miles, it costs approximately five cents per mile to insure a commercial vehicle.
HOW TO CALCULATE COST PER MILE FOR YOUR TRUCKING COMPANY
According to RTS Financial, in 2015 alone, 310 carriers went out of business due to their inability to effectively track their operating expenses. If you struggle with tracking your costs in advance, you too could find yourself over-budget and falling under. The best way to track your operating expenses is to measure all of your costs in terms of mileage. The method works when you divide your expenses into the following three categories:
Fixed Costs: These are the costs that you need to shoulder to exist as a fleet — trucks, insurance, permits, leases and more.
Variable Costs: These are the costs that fluctuate according to the condition of your trucks and the length of routes.
Salaries: This is what you pay your employees, including drivers as well as any administrative staff or mechanics.
Various software programs can help you track your costs, including FreshBooks, QuickBooks, and Xero. Otherwise, you can use a calculator and your own desktop documents.
Webchat: Evaluating Wheel End Maintenance
Fleets face a difficult challenge of properly managing their two greatest expenses: tires and fuel. Watch our webchat with our wheel-end maintenance expert, Bob Bortner, and find out how you can reduce your fuel and tire expenses!
Watch Now!
FIXED COSTS
The costs in this category occur regardless of whether your trucks are actively in use or stored in a lot. In a hypothetical example, a fictional fleet named Hank’s Haulers Inc. calculates its June expenses by dividing each fixed cost by the 10,000 miles driven for that 30-day period:
Truck Payments: $1,500 = $0.15 per mile
Collision Insurance: $500 = $0.06 per mile
Office Lease: $900 = $0.09 per mile
Health Insurance: $400 = $0.04 per mile
Permits: $300 = $0.03 per mile
In the preceding example, the total in fixed costs for June is $3,600 and thus $0.36 in fixed costs per mile.
VARIABLE COSTS
The costs in this category only mount during hours of activity from your fleet — expenses such as fuel, meals, maintenance, hotels, and other costs that are liable to arise on the road. Unlike fixed costs, which are easy to predict as long as insurance rates and leasing fees remain the same, variable costs are liable to change on a weekly and monthly basis. Factors such as markets and weather can impact your total amount in variable costs during a given period.
In the following example, Hank’s Haulers Inc. calculates its variable costs for the month of June by dividing each variable by those same 10,000 miles driven:
Fuel: $1,800 = $0.18
Tires: $320 = $0.032
Maintenance: $400 = $0.04
Repairs: $490 = $0.049
Lodging: $400 = $0.04
The variable costs for June total $3,410, which divides to $0.341 per mile of variable expenses.
SALARY
Depending on the size of your fleet, driver salaries could make up a significant portion of the expenses for your operation. For Hank’s Haulers, salaries for June accounted for $3,500 of the company’s expenses. When divided by the 10,000 in combined mileage traveled by the fleet, company salaries totaled $0.35 per mile.
HOW TO CALCULATE TOTAL COST PER MILE
With per-mile totals calculated for the fixed costs, variable costs, and salaries, the next step is to simply add the three:
$0.36 + $0.341 + $0.35 = $1.051
Therefore, during June, the total cost per mile for Hank’s Haulers equaled roughly a dollar and five cents, compared to the national average CPM of $1.38.
Monetarily, the per-mile model can help you manage operating costs on numerous fronts. Internally, the model can help you determine whether certain expenses can and should be trimmed from your budget. Knowing your operating costs on a per-mile basis can also help you determine the most appropriate rate to charge shippers; ultimately, the model can help you boost profits.
HOW TO REDUCE TRUCKING COSTS
The following nine tips can help you reduce fleet costs that may be associated with fleet management:
Stress Efficiency Over MileageOne of the most costly habits among certain fleets is to prioritize mileage over efficiency. If a company sets an arbitrary weekly mileage quota, certain drivers are liable to stress mileage for the sake of mileage. For example, a manager might set an arbitrary weekly mileage and deadhead the totals for drivers whose actual routes fall short of the mileage in question. In effect, such policies divert drivers from what should be the actual end-goal — efficient, high-volume deliveries. When the latter becomes the focus, fleets can save money by focusing on the most efficient routes for the shortest possible delivery times.
Outsource Select Managerial FunctionsTrucking companies love their autonomy, but the most financially stable fleets often delegate their larger managerial tasks to third parties. A small fleet, for example, can partner with a larger fleet to benefit from the latter’s more developed managerial infrastructure. This way, the operators of the small fleet can focus on their core strengths — the management of orders, routes, and deliveries. Other tasks, such as bills, taxes, and insurance, can be handled by the larger trucking company.A similar option is for the smaller fleet to hire a professional employer organization (PEO) for billing and worker’s issues and to partner with a larger fleet for liability backing.
Train for In-sourcingJust as certain tasks can be outsourced with greater efficiency, money can also be saved by eliminating select third parties from the equation. For example, if your fleet has relied on the services of a lead-generating company, it might be prudent and cost-effective to cut the service and keep that work in-house.According to Heavy Duty Trucking, some of the most efficient fleets have only one non-driver on staff for every five trucks. By contrast, the average fleet will have a non-driver for every three trucks. If your in-house team is lacking some of the skill-sets in question, consider holding company training sessions to diversify their skills.
Implement Safety ProtocolsFor obvious reasons, an accident is one of the biggest hits that a fleet can take to its finances and reputation. In 2012, the Department of Transportation tallied 4,000 truck-related fatalities out of some 333,000 roadside accidents. Regardless of whether driving accidents can ever be eradicated entirely, you must make this your goal as a fleet operator. Implement daily safety checks by training drivers to inspect the tractor trailer for safety concerns: this includes excessive corrosion at the wheel-end, underinflated tires, and loose lug nuts. Consider using visual indicators to assist the driver in performing quick inspections, such as loose lug nut indicators.Some of the biggest dangers for fleets involve harsh weather and winding, uneven terrain. To ensure the safety of your fleet, organize training sessions to boost awareness among your staff on how to drive hauling trucks in inclement weather. These sessions should include training on how to avoid injury and report dangerous roadside situations.
Inspect Each Tire RegularlyEmergency repairs are many times more expensive than scheduled repairs. Two of the most common causes of roadside pullover emergencies are tire and engine failure. With a simple, daily once-over of the tires, drivers can reduce the risk of such emergencies.As mentioned above, train your drivers to inspect tires before embarking on each route. And to help prevent tire blowouts due to unplanned damage, such as debris on the roadway, consider utilizing a glycol-free tire sealant to protect the tire from the inside-out without causing dangerous corrosion at the wheel-end.
Encourage Driver HealthHealthy, energetic drivers make fleets more efficient and profitable. Unfortunately, a lot of drivers are challenged in this department due to the unhealthy foods and irregular sleeping schedules that often come with the terrain. To get the most from your fleet, you need to encourage healthy eating and sufficient rest among your drivers. With today’s routing apps, it is easier than ever to pinpoint decent food sources and rest stops where drivers can eat healthily and sleep well along the American roadways.
Use Quality FuelFleets that use lower-grade fuel in order to cut costs often times get exactly what they pay for. Far from being a money-saver, cheap fuel lacks the refining additives that help engines run smoothly. Cheap fuels leave deposits in the combustion chamber and valves of a truck, shortening service life in the process.If your trucks are constantly in need of service work due to problems with the combustion and injectors, pay for higher quality fuel. In the long run, premium grade fuel can save you money that might otherwise be swallowed up in truck repairs. And if you’re concerned with the cost of fuel, invest in technologies to improve your fuel economy to ensure your fleet goes more miles with less fuel.
Reduce Idling TimeA seldom addressed yet costly habit among drivers is engine idling. When you allow a truck to idle for 10 seconds, the engine burns more fuel than it does during ignition. Over the course of a year, daily idling of several minutes can lead to engine problems, whereas multiple daily ignitions only have a minimal effect. Barring stop lights and traffic situations, drivers should avoid allowing an engine to idle for more than 10 seconds.
Plan More Efficient RoutesIn the past, fleets have incurred excess operating costs due to poor routing. With today’s routing apps, however, fleet managers can more easily find the quickest, easiest routes to a given point of delivery. In many cases, these routes are off the beaten path. With better routes, your drivers can increase delivery rates and avoid the dangers and congestion of busy roadways.
SOLUTIONS FOR IMPROVING FLEET EFFICIENCY
With over forty years of knowledge in the commercial trucking industry, we have developed solutions that maximize fleets’ cost-per-mile. With solutions such as IMI FLEXX, to increase tire life and improve fuel economy, or IMI Sealants, to protect fleet wheel-ends from corrosion or expensive and dangerous tire blowouts, our team is ready to understand your challenges and bring value to your bottom line.
How Tire Dealers Can Capitalize on the Last-Mile Boom with EQUAL FLEXX
Aug 18, 2025
With the rise of e-commerce and on-demand delivery, the last mile isn’t just the final leg of the supply chain—it’s one of the fastest-growing segments in commercial transportation. And with that growth comes a massive opportunity for tire dealers to support...
American Innovation in Motion: The Science Behind FLEXX
Jul 28, 2025
In trucking, innovation isn’t about gimmicks or bells and whistles. It’s about solving real problems — mile after mile, load after load. That’s where FLEXX comes in. Designed, tested, and made right here in America, FLEXX is a game-changing...
The Road is Tough: Here’s How To Stay Ahead
Jun 25, 2025
American roads are as demanding as the jobs that depend on them — from smooth interstates to pothole-ridden streets and unforgiving backroads. Every mile brings new challenges that test your drivers, your equipment, and especially your tires. Whether you’re...
The Key to Fleet Efficiency: Effective Tire Maintenance
Feb 21, 2025
Tire maintenance is often overlooked but plays a crucial role in your fleet’s performance, fuel efficiency, and overall costs. With the right practices, you can extend tire life, reduce downtime, and improve safety — all of which lead to significant...
Debunking Myths About Tire & Wheels in the Commercial Trucking Industry
Jan 17, 2025
In the commercial trucking industry, tires and wheels are fundamental to ensuring safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Yet, despite their crucial role, there are still several myths and misconceptions that can lead to misunderstandings or unnecessary expenses....
5 Strategies to Maximize the Value of Your Commercial Truck Tire and Wheel Maintenance Program
Jan 9, 2025
Maintaining a commercial truck tire and wheel maintenance program is crucial to your fleet’s safety, efficiency, and profitability. Going beyond routine maintenance can help protect your assets, reduce downtime, and avoid unexpected costs. Here are five...
Top 5 Commercial Tire Safety Tips
Oct 21, 2024
Maintaining the safety and efficiency of commercial vehicles is a top priority for fleets. One of the most critical components to monitor is the tires, as they directly impact the vehicle’s safety, handling, and overall performance. Regular tire care can prevent...
The Vital Role of Lug Nut Indicators in Various Industries
Sep 24, 2024
The LUG LINX Wheel Safety System is essential in various industries where vehicle safety and reliability are paramount. Let’s explore the various industries that can benefit from LUG LINX, highlighting their challenges and how using LUG LINX effectively identifies...
3 Common Causes of Wheel Failure and How To Prevent Them
Sep 16, 2024
WHY WHEEL ASSEMBLIES FAIL Research shows that wheels often loosen because of changes within the wheel assembly itself, not simply because a lug nut turns. When the assembly relaxes, clamping force is reduced. This allows the rim to shift, which leads to fretting of...
How to Maximize Fleet Efficiency with The LUG LINX Wheel Safety System
Sep 16, 2024
Whether you’re an owner-operator or managing a large fleet, regular preventative maintenance is one of your key responsibilities. In today’s fast-paced world, having tools and systems to streamline processes is essential. From software that enhances communication to...
How LUG Nut Safety Impacts Commercial Trucking
Sep 16, 2024
Ensuring that lug nuts are properly fastened and maintained is crucial, not just for the smooth operation of your vehicles but also for keeping drivers safe and your business running efficiently. This is a big deal in the commercial trucking industry, where reliable...
Ensuring Wheel Safety: How LUG LINX Outperforms Traditional “Locking” Devices
Sep 16, 2024
When it comes to vehicle safety, the integrity of wheel attachments is paramount. Securely fastened wheels prevent catastrophic failures on the road, making the choice of wheel safety products critical. Let’s compare traditional locking devices and the LUG LINX Wheel...
7 Myths About Lug Nut Indicators/Retainers
Sep 16, 2024
Let’s bust some of the most common myths surrounding lug nut indicators and clear up any misconceptions that may be preventing you from realizing the undeniable benefits of these highly effective wheel safety components. MYTH #1: LUG NUT...
A Quick Guide: Keeping the Wheels on the Bus Going ‘Round
Sep 13, 2024
As a manager of school bus maintenance, you’re responsible for some pretty precious cargo. On top of the strict safety standards from the state and federal level, you’re given tight budgets and face great demands. How do you maintain a safe fleet of school buses...
3 Easy Solutions that Keep Truck Drivers Happy
Sep 13, 2024
American Trucking Associations estimates annual driver turnover among long-haul commercial truck drivers nearly approaches 100%. Fleet managers scramble to find drivers to meet demand, often spending beyond their budget to recruit and hire – only to see those...
Preventing Disaster: Simple Ways to Inspect and Maintain OTR Tires
Sep 13, 2024
Recently, Tire Review published an article “OTR Market: Highs and Lows”, detailing the factors currently affecting the OTR tire market and what changes to expect in the future. While economic and environmental influences were discussed, the article also stressed the...
Tips for Proper Wheel-End Maintenance
Sep 13, 2024
The wheels on a semi-truck are typically exposed to 100,000 miles of highway time in a single year. That’s a lot of revolutions for the hardware that keeps you pointed in the right direction. On an eighteen-wheel truck, you have five axles — each with two-wheel...
Prioritizing Wheel Safety in Fleet Management: A Cost-Effective Approach
Sep 6, 2024
In the demanding field of fleet management, ensuring the safety of every vehicle on the road is paramount, especially when it comes to wheel safety. Often overlooked in comparison to other maintenance procedures, wheel safety is a critical aspect that can...
4 Key Benefits of the LUG LINX Wheel Safety System
Sep 5, 2024
You may have noticed brightly colored arrow-shaped caps or uniquely shaped rings fixed to the wheel nuts of trucks, buses, and other heavy vehicles. You might wonder, “What are those for?” These are lug nut indicators, link indicators, or wheel indicator retainers....
Introducing EQUAL FLEXX V
May 23, 2023
CHAMBERSBURG, PA –IMI is excited to announce the launch of our newest application of EQUAL FLEXX, which covers many tire sizes in the RV and camper segment. EQUAL FLEXX V offers the same safe and comfortable ride for travelers on the road but is now easier to...
HOW TO BALANCE YOUR RV AND CAMPER TIRES
May 23, 2023
DO RV AND CAMPER TIRES NEED TO BE BALANCED? The short answer – Yes. Unbalanced tires can cause several issues that can affect your overall travel experience. These issues create not only inconveniences but also unnecessary expenses. TIRE BALANCING MADE EASY...
Tips on Preventing Stubble Damage
Sep 16, 2022
As crops like corn become more resilient, they leave behind stronger post-harvest stalks in the off-season. These durable stalks damage tractor tires and lead to replacement, affecting your productivity and downtime. Reducing stubble damage can extend tire lifetimes...
5 Easy Ways to Maximize Fuel
May 3, 2022
Fuel costs are a significant expense for operating your diesel-powered fleet. By learning how to reduce fuel costs, you can increase your bottom line. MAXIMIZE FUEL Maximizing fuel consumption is key to lowering expenses and accounting for the cost of diesel. There...
What the Truck?!? Segment – Fuel Savings are Still a Possibility
Apr 5, 2022
Article written by Jack Glenn at Freightwaves The price of diesel currently stands around $5 per gallon, up approximately $1.74 since September. Bob Bortner, mid-Atlantic territory manager for commercial tire and fleet solutions leader IMI, said diesel costs have...
State of the Electric Truck Market
Jan 25, 2022
Amid rising environmental concerns and the advance of alternative fueling methods, electric vehicles (EVs) and EV semi-trucks have become a hot topic of conversation. WHAT IS AN ELECTRIC TRUCK? Electric trucks are a new alternative to traditional diesel trucks,...
We Were Guests on Freightwaves’ What the Truck?!? Podcast
Oct 1, 2021
Article written by Jack Glenn at Freightwaves Fleets haven’t caught a break since the beginning of the pandemic, as driver, warehouse and trailer capacity has diminished amid ongoing freight surges. A wave of shortages continue to keep the industry gasping for air —...
Guide to Agriculture Tire Maintenance
Sep 20, 2021
When you work in the agriculture industry, tires are a crucial component of your equipment, and you need to know you can rely on them to stay productive and meet tight harvest schedules. Keeping up with your agriculture tire maintenance is fundamental to an...
4 Trucking Rules and Regulations to Watch in 2021
Jul 30, 2021
The remainder of 2021 will likely prove to be significant for trucking regulations and requirements due to factors including the ongoing pandemic as well as the changing political landscape. Together, these factors may play a part in the formation of upcoming trucking...
Problems Surrounding Last-Mile Delivery
May 28, 2021
WHAT IS LAST MILE DELIVERY? Last-mile delivery refers to the movement of goods from a transportation hub or fulfillment center to the final delivery destination, such as the consumer’s residence. It is the last part of the process, like when UPS delivers a...
Webchat
May 24, 2021
Fleets face a difficult challenge of properly managing their two greatest expenses: tires and fuel. In our current market with rising fuel and tire costs, fleet managers need solutions that will make an impact on their bottom line today. Technology currently exists...
Understanding Aerodynamic Drag And How It Impacts Your Truck
Mar 29, 2021
WHAT IS AERODYNAMIC DRAG? Aerodynamic drag is a mechanical force generated by the truck’s movement through the air as it accelerates forward. It can be thought of as air resistance. Essentially, it is an opposing force that your truck needs to overcome in order to...
4 Tips for Technician Retention
Aug 12, 2020
It’s no secret that the trucking industry has a shortage of technicians. By 2022, the commercial trucking sector will need to fill more than 100,000 technician positions. A considerable part of this issue is that knowledgeable technicians are retiring, and the...
Guide to Truck Driver Retention
Jul 20, 2020
The American Trucking Association reports the trucking industry was short 60,800 drivers in 2018. This shortage is increasing fast, and if current trends hold, the trucker shortage may increase to 160,000 drivers by 2028. Want to know how to retain truck drivers?...
The Importance of Proper Tire Inflation
May 12, 2020
WHY IS PROPER TIRE PRESSURE IMPORTANT? It is crucial for a fleet to have a proactive maintenance program, especially one that involves the upkeep of their wheel end. With the cost of tires being one of the highest expenses for a fleet, keeping them at their...
Aluminum vs Steel Wheels: What’s Best for Your Fleet?
Mar 17, 2020
ALUMINUM VS STEEL WHEELS: WHICH ARE BETTER? To answer this question, you need to consider the needs and applications of your fleet. With the increasing popularity of aluminum wheels for commercial vehicles, there is debate among fleets on whether or not to switch from...
Your Go-To Guide To Wheel-End Maintenance!
Aug 9, 2019
Managing a commercial truck fleet requires careful strategy. Every day, you must decide how to allocate resources, where to find new business, and what your trucks need to continue operating safely and efficiently. The over forty years of knowledge in the commercial...
Selecting the Correct Tire Sealant for Your Application
Aug 6, 2019
Tire punctures resulting in air loss are a common issue on the road. Underinflation from air loss causes your tires to wear excessively and will lead to premature tire replacement. In the long run, this will lead to higher operating costs and an increase in...
Digital Data Gathering
Jul 30, 2019
First Name Last Name Email 8 + 0 = * Company Name Email Address *...
The Retreading Industry and the Myths Surrounding It
Jul 26, 2019
Myths permeate the tire industry. When it comes to retreading tires, this is especially true. What Is Retreading? Do Retreaded Tired Perform Well? Are Retreaded Tires Safe? Can Retreaded Tires Cause Blowout? Advantages of Using Retreaded Tires When it comes down to...
The Best Apps for Truck Drivers
Jul 9, 2019
Index for Helpful Truck Driver Apps: All-Around Apps Directional Apps Apps for Fuel Weather Apps Health Apps Scanning Apps Other Helpful Apps Your smartphone and its programs may have become some of the most essential tools in your truck. There are many free truck...
Benefits of Alignment in Trucks and Commercial Vehicles
Apr 18, 2019
Business owners and fleet management personnel must equip tractor-trailers and commercial vehicles with solid sets of tires. While choosing a tire size and tread style appropriate for your applications is important, ensuring that installations are aligned and...
Addressing the Service Technician Shortage in the Commercial Trucking Industry
Jan 28, 2019
“Oh no, we’re out of technicians.” Industry experts have been predicting this diesel technician shortage because 40-50% of the technicians active today will retire by 2030. According to The Department of Labor, the demand for diesel service...
Freight Ton vs. MPG: How to Calculate Fuel Efficiency Gains
Dec 27, 2018
Quick Links: What Is Freight Ton? | The Freight-Ton Calculation | Who Is Using the Calculation?| How Freight Tonnage Will Affect Your Fleet | IMI Has Trucking Efficiency Solutions You Can Rely On The trucking industry is the backbone of America. Both truck drivers and...
How to Keep Your Drivers — and Fleet — Safe During Winter Weather
Dec 16, 2018
“It’s never too early to start planning.” The recognizable phrase holds true for almost every situation — especially when it comes to operating your trucks in the winter time. Preparing for the colder season means pulling out your warm work gloves and thermals while...
Effect of Mounting and Alignment on Tire Wear for Semi Trucks
Oct 29, 2018
When your fleet gets new tires for your tractor trailers, the first act of mounting and balancing those tires to your wheel-end greatly impacts the life of those tires. Should the tires be mounted incorrectly, it can cause significant irregular tire wear and...
How to Manage Your Tire and Fuel Expenses with Wheel-End Balancing
Oct 10, 2018
First Name 9 + 3 = * Email Last Name Company Name Email Address * [email protected] Job...
The Importance of Rolling Resistance in Hauling Trucks
Sep 10, 2018
Quick Links: What Is Rolling Resistance? | What Is Low Rolling Resistance? | How Rolling Resistance Affects Fuel Economy| What Factors Affect Rolling Resistance in Heavy-Duty and Long-Haul Fleets? | IMI FLEXX for Decreased Rolling Resistance and Increased Fuel...
The Future of Fuel Economy
Aug 6, 2018
Over the last decade, successive lines of trailer-trucks have helped the industry gain on fuel efficiency. Whereas trucks manufactured in 2009 averaged six mpg, today’s newer trucks are averaging between eight and 12 mpg. The ultimate goal with today’s...
Wheel Refinishing Tips for Fleets
May 22, 2018
By understanding the safety of the wheel and the differences in the wheel refinishing process, you can ensure your fleet has attractive, reliable, and safe wheels on the road. This webinar contains tips for fleets to be aware of when working with a service provider to...
Innovations that Put Fleets First
Apr 13, 2018
In 1946, Michelin introduced one of the most important advances in the transportation industry: the radial tire. While traditional tires featured cord plies that intersected diagonally, the radial tire added cord plies that cross the median axis at a 90-degree angle –...
Extending the Life of Your Construction Fleet Tires
Apr 5, 2018
When you’re in the construction business, your trucks are your life. And when it comes to trucks for construction, tire life is just as important as engine life. The more life you get out of your construction fleet and tires, the more money you save and the more...
Important Maintenance for Mining Trucks
Mar 19, 2018
If you manage a mining operation, you know that the condition of your fleet is a crucial element in your success. You have invested a lot of time and money in your mining fleet with the idea that they will work hard for you for a very long time. That won’t...
Slower Driving Pays Big When It Comes to Improving Fleet Fuel Efficiency
Mar 16, 2018
How fast should your drivers be driving their trucks? Your drivers may be tempted to drive as fast as they safely can in order to get to their destinations as quickly as possible. They may argue that it is better for you financially because they can make more runs if...
Internal Wheel-End Balancing: the Top Three Benefits Your Drivers Will Thank You For
Feb 28, 2018
Instead of staying in one place, a soft dual compound balancing material like FLEXX can absorb vibrations by adapting and responding to road, load, and speed forces. In comparison, inferior balancing bead materials made of glass or ceramic which are hard and...
How to Limit Truck Driver Turnover By Fixing Driver Comfort
Jan 24, 2018
DRIVER TURNOVER AND SHORTAGE From an operational standpoint, the problem of driver turnover is too costly to ignore. In “Examining Driver Turnover and Retention in the Trucking Industry” by Harrison and Pierce, the average cost of losing one driver was estimated...
What Is Aerodynamic Drag?
Dec 21, 2017
If your business relies on trucking for deliveries, paying attention to aerodynamic drag helps you save on fuel costs. Most drivers have at least heard of the term aerodynamic drag, but many are unaware just how important the overall shape and size of a vehicle is...
How Reducing Truck Vibration Saves You on Fuel
Dec 6, 2017
If your business requires the regular use of trucks, fuel is one of your major expenses. Anything you can do to save fuel can make a big difference when it comes to your bottom line. One way of saving on fuel is considering ways to reduce truck vibration....
Tire Sealants: A Safe Tire Solution
Nov 21, 2017
Truck tire sealants are a great way to protect your truck tires, especially when you ride your trucks hard and often over rough terrain with heavy loads. However, some people have concerns that the dangers outweigh the benefits of tire sealant. In particular, some...
Three Benefits to Investing in Preventative Truck Tire Maintenance
Nov 10, 2017
WHY DO WE NEED PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE? While it might seem like preventative maintenance is one more cost to your business, the peace of mind and benefits it provides make it well worth the investment. Predictive maintenance keeps your fleet strong while keeping you...
Mining Productivity Relies on Tires
Oct 31, 2017
There has been a focus on job creation in the mining industry of late. More mining means more use of mining trucks and more pressure on mining truck wheels and tires. Mining trucks tend to put a lot more wear on tires than trucks in just about any other industry,...
Five Things to Know About Fuel Economy and Rolling Resistance
May 4, 2017
Quick Links: 1. What is Rolling Resistance? | 2. Why Does Rolling Resistance Require So Much Energy? | 3. What Factors Influence Lower Rolling Resistance?| 4. Can Fleets Address Rolling Resistance Without Purchasing All New Tires? | 5. How Do Balanced Tires Impact...
In the Know: Five Topics Affecting Trucking
Feb 10, 2017
The beginning of 2017 has been a whirlwind of news – both international and domestic – and keeping all of these headlines straight can be a full-time job. We’ve tried to make it easy for you: here are five of the top trending topics in trucking industry...
New EPA Regulations: Changes for You and the Industry
Sep 6, 2016
The new EPA regulations to come out last month have many in the industry concerned about fuel consumption. According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. government has released new regulations requiring big trucks to lower carbon emissions by up to 25% and cut fuel...
3 Significant Ways to Reduce Costs when Maintaining a Fleet
Jul 12, 2016
Maintaining a fleet is costly, and with fuel prices fluctuating constantly, trying to reduce fleet costs while still performing at your peak can be difficult. We’ve scoured the web to find the top tips for you to reduce fuel costs – without major initial investments...
EQUAL FLEXX Launches at Reifen
Jun 3, 2016
REIFEN MESSE BOOTH Last week, our team was on location hosting a booth at Reifen Messe in Essen, Germany. Reifen is the world’s largest trade fair for tires, featuring exhibitors from 43 countries and a variety of solutions for the tire industry, which provided a...
IMI Ride and Drive Event – Experiencing Equal Flexx
May 16, 2016
With the launch of EQUAL FLEXX this week, IMI hosted a Ride and Drive event. Guests were asked to put our new product to the test and decide for themselves if they could feel the difference between a truck with unbalanced wheels and a truck with EQUAL FLEXX. The...
Your Best Solution to Handle the Heat and Avoid Corrosion
Apr 26, 2016
Tires experience a multitude of conditions throughout their lifetime. General wear and tear on a tire can lead to air loss, punctures, and a variety of issues that are dangerous and costly to fleet managers. Add in heavy stop-and-start operating, fluctuating outside...
Fuel Efficiency Practices That Will Save Your Fleet Thousands
Jan 28, 2016
One of the largest variable costs for a commercial trucking fleet is fuel. Second only to labor costs, the amount of a fleet’s annual spending that goes towards keeping gas tanks full will often determine whether that fleet is a profitable or losing money. While the...
Get the Most Out of Wide Base Tires With EQUAL
Jun 16, 2015
An estimated 10-15 percent of commercial fleets use wide base tires to reduce vehicle weight, boost payload or save fuel. Fleets that make the move to wide base tires shed more than 700 pounds per vehicle and cut fuel use by up to 3 percent. Yet many fleets find wide...
For Fuel Savings, Extend Tire Life
Nov 14, 2014
A recent article in Tires & Wheels, “What Fleets Expect From Their Tires,” examines the connection between extended tire mileage and fuel economy and offers good advice for improving both. The author notes that one of the best ways to improve fuel economy is to...
Fleet Equipment Article Confirms Benefits of Balancing
Nov 14, 2014
The following article appeared in the August 2014 issue of Fleet Equipment. It contains excellent analysis of the relationship between commercial tire balancing and fuel economy. We hope you find it useful. A QUESTION OF BALANCE By Asa Sharp The issue of tire/wheel...
How to Get Better Fuel Economy out of Your Tires: What the TMC Says
Nov 14, 2014
Finding that magic combination of just the right equipment, maintenance and driving tactics to get the best mileage possible is more than a challenge—it’s an art. Accurate stats based on tests of the latest vehicles and equipment can help you be sure you’re investing...
