https://nacfe.org/research/technology/operational-practices/mm-service-maintenance/

Messy Middle Powertrain Service & Maintenance

Vehicle servicing and maintenance are critical factors to successful, profitable and safe freight operations. Keeping trucks, trailers, drivers and loads continuously moving requires skilled technicians in well-equipped shops staying on top of ever-evolving vehicle technologies.

In the Messy Middle, new vehicles also will be operating in parallel with a wide range of older, traditional fossil diesel trucks, which will continue to need attention for years to come. 

Keeping trucks running requires well-trained technicians supported with appropriate tools in shop facilities capable of dealing with the breadth of technologies. Support will require growing expertise that may necessitate specialists in key systems like sensors, computers and high-voltage systems alongside traditional expertise in mechanical systems like brakes, suspensions, frames, interior trim, HVAC, tires, air systems, etc.

The future will require significant efforts to entice and keep talented technicians. Ongoing training, certification and recertification will increase as well as the pace of innovation continuing to accelerate.

Report Findings

The report uncovered some key findings.

1. Maintenance costs are a significant factor in investing in new trucks. Those costs also often include facility infrastructure maintenance, special equipment and training for technicians, and ongoing auditing and record keeping.
2. The key to keeping trucks on the road, high uptime, will continue to depend on the skills of the technicians and the tools available to them. Intelligent OEM service tools and fault-diagnosis systems will be critical to reducing downtime.
3. Service of natural gas, hydrogen, battery electric, and bio-fuel systems demand greater attention to safety and equipment protocols than traditional diesels.
4. Technician training and keeping that training current will need to be a priority for service managers, including tracking and auditing skills and certifications. The pace of technology change will require continuous training and recertifications.
5. Computers will likely be the first tools needed to diagnose and service vehicles. They also will need to be kept current with appropriate software licensing and regular hardware updating that will need to be factored into costs.
6. OEM warranties will become even more critical as the complexity of vehicles increases with new technologies.
7. For the foreseeable future, standards and procedures will be rapidly evolving as fleets gain experience and provide feedback to OEMs. Staying aware of changing standards and staying compliant may lead to additional labor costs to factor into investment planning.
8. Behind the fence fueling infrastructure maintenance will be as challenging as the vehicles and may be necessary to keeping trucks running. Public infrastructure maintenance or lack thereof also may factor into vehicle uptime.
9. Predictive maintenance enhanced by artificial intelligence systems will greatly aid technicians.
10. Specialization in new technologies is inevitable for service technicians as the complexity of vehicles continues to grow. This may require additional staffing to cover all the critical new technologies to keep fleets moving.