Fleet Advantage Shows Increased Cost Savings From Upgrading to Newer Trucks

Fleet Advantage’s latest Truck Lifecycle Data Index, which compares operating costs of old and new Class 8 trucks, has shown an increase in cost savings for fleets buying new trucks as a result of rising fuel prices.

With fuel costs representing as much as 61% of the total cost of ownership for a Class 8 truck, according to Fleet Advantage, the latest 2019 model year truck models, which have better fuel efficiency than their predecessors, can save fleet owners a pretty penny. The latest report shows that trucking companies can save as much as $26,687 when upgrading from a 2012 sleeper model truck to a 2019 model.

This represents a 15.5% increase in savings compared to similar analysis conducted a year ago, mostly due to the rapidly increasing price of diesel fuel. Last year’s report was conducted when diesel prices were calculated at $2.57 per gallon. This year’s report puts the cost of diesel at $3.29.

Other factors also play a role in the decision to replace an aging truck with a newer model, including potential maintenance and repair costs of an older truck and even the new corporate tax rate.

Fleet Advantage bases its analysis on data from its Advanced Truck Lifecycle Administrative Analytics Software. ATLAAS makes calculations partly by identifying the point at which a truck reaches economic obsolescence by costing more to operate than to replace with new equipment, which Fleet Advantage has branded as the Tippingpoint.

Fleet Advantage also calculated the potential environmental impact that a new truck can have over older models. The latest trucks can reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 18% and reduce NOx output by as much as 46% compared to 2012 sleeper models.

“Truck acquisition strategies are undergoing a major evolution currently, as fleets are beginning to leverage data analytics to better understand actual truck utilization rates comparing older units with newer, more efficient ones,” said Jim Griffin, chief operating officer  and chief technology officer of Fleet Advantage. “Our ability to track accurate, live data from our clients’ trucks is a leading reason why so many fleets are now basing their truck procurement strategies off our ATLAAS platform, saving them millions on their bottom line.”

Related: Can Shorter Truck Lifecycles Save Fleets Money?