As a heavy truck category, owner-operators pay the highest per mile maintenance costs according to a study from the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Assn. (HDMA).
According to an HDMA press release, owner-operators average 25 cents per mile for maintenance.

“It is apparent that the owner-operator is not able to garner the economies of scale available to larger operations,” said Frank Hampshire, HDMA director of research.
According to a HDMA press release, the next highest maintenance cost category is construction fleets, which average 20 cents a mile.
“Construction fleets’ higher maintenance costs are attributed to their need to maintain road-ready vehicles in extreme environments,” Hampshire said.
Other heavy truck categories in the study include:
* Production and distribution fleets average 12 cents a mile.
* Agriculture, mining and forestry fleets average 14 cents a mile.
* Private fleets average 15 cents a mile.
* Commercial carriers average 16 cents a mile.
The study called is compiled and published annually by the HDMA. This year’s study is called Heavy Duty Truck Maintenance in the U.S.A. 2005. It’s intended help in analysis of heavy duty truck user repair factors, heavy duty truck use, changes in buying patterns and service work performance.
Members of HDMA and other market segment associations of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) can order additional copies for $49.95 and non-members can order for $395 each. Discounts are available for orders of five or more copies.
HDMA is the heavy duty market segment association of MEMA and maintains a web site at www.hdma.org.