According to recent statistics, the total heavy-duty repair market size is projected to exceed $12.5 billion in 2022. For decades, the majority of heavy-duty truck repairs were conducted either at the carrier’s own facility or at a nearby independent shop.
However, the mobile heavy-duty repair and tow segment of the commercial truck service market has expanded exponentially in the last decade.
Between tight delivery deadlines, the ever-increasing demand for carrier services, and financial incentives to haul more goods, truckers and their employers are always seeking ways to get back on the road faster.
While major repairs must still be handled at a fully equipped repair shop, minor to moderate service can often be performed roadside.
To help carriers and providers better understand what the future holds for the mobile heavy-duty repair and tow industry, we have identified several key trends that are shaping this market. Our experts also outline why mobile heavy-duty repair has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years.
Mobile Heavy-Duty Repair: An Essential Service for Modern Carriers
Before we turn our attention to where the mobile heavy-duty repair industry is headed in 2022, it is important to understand why roadside services have become so essential to modern carriers.
For starters, trucking companies are experiencing an unprecedented demand for services. Unfortunately, this increase in demand comes at a time when the industry is suffering from a huge deficit of drivers.
In order to contend with these confounding factors, carriers have leveraged heavy-duty roadside repair because it allows them to reduce downtime.
Another factor that has helped heavy-duty roadside repair become more popular is the volume-based compensation model that many carriers use to pay their drivers.
Even if a driver is compensated for the downtime, this pay rate is less than their per-mile fee. Therefore, drivers are incentivized to utilize mobile repair services so that they can get back on the road fast and earn more.
Heavy-Duty Roadside Repair Trends
Now that we have discussed why heavy-duty roadside repair has become a staple of the trucking industry, let’s dive into the three trends that carriers and service providers need to be aware of in 2022.
Mobile Repair Is Evolving into Contracted Fleet Maintenance
Mobile heavy-duty repair services are traditionally provided on an “as needed” basis. If a driver encounters an issue while on the road, they either contact their dispatcher or reach out to a mobile heavy-duty repair service directly.
While this short-term interaction benefits both parties, the carrier must contend with a great deal of uncertainty when utilizing mobile heavy-duty repair and tow services. Unless they have worked with a particular provider before, they do not know what to expect in terms of the quality of service that they will receive.
In order to alleviate this potential point of friction and access a more stable support network, some carriers are contracting with mobile repair providers for total fleet maintenance. These agreements provide a continuous source of income to the repair company while offering cost-savings and convenience benefits to the carrier.
Mobile Heavy Duty Roadside Service Is Becoming Less Cost-Prohibitive
Due to the build quality of modern commercial trucks, unscheduled maintenance and repair frequency is declining. In addition, many manufacturers are now recommending longer preventative maintenance intervals. Despite these developments, the average cost per repair or maintenance transaction is projected to increase.
So what does this mean for heavy-duty roadside service providers? In short, it makes their services less cost-prohibitive for carriers.
If commercial trucks do not need maintenance as frequently and unscheduled repairs are becoming less common, handling all vehicle upkeep in-house is no longer the cost-saving move that it once was.
By entering into a service contract with a mobile heavy-duty repair provider, carriers can decrease the overhead costs of hiring in-house technicians while simultaneously ensuring that their fleet is properly maintained.
Advanced Payment Technology Paved the Way for Mobile Service
For years, one major barrier that was inhibiting the growth of the heavy-duty mobile repair industry was payment technology. The commercial trucking industry has long relied on payment methods such as physical Comcheks to make purchases.
While using physical Comcheks has its benefits, they are not the most efficient way to pay for heavy-duty roadside repairs.
Now, many fleets, as well as businesses that interact with commercial carriers, are adopting innovative payment processing solutions. These technologies allow drivers to seamlessly pay for roadside repairs or tow services using several different payment instruments.
Benefits of Mobile Heavy-Duty Repair
By leveraging mobile heavy-duty repair and tow services, carriers will experience numerous benefits, including:
Decreased Downtime
In the freight industry, time will always equal money. Conversely, lost time translates into reduced profitability for both the driver and the carrier.
In light of this fact, it is always in a carrier’s best interests to minimize downtime. While there are many ways to accomplish this goal, one of the most effective involves partnering with a mobile heavy-duty repair provider.
Increased Driver Earnings
When a carrier takes advantage of mobile heavy-duty repair services, they can keep their drivers on the road more consistently. Ultimately, this will allow drivers to earn more, which will also foster feelings of loyalty towards their employer. Talk about a win-win scenario.
Met Delivery Deadlines
Missed deadlines not only impact a carrier’s profitability, but a pattern of late deliveries can diminish the company’s brand image. Over time, this could cost them future contracts and cause permanent damage to their reputation.
Contracting with a heavy-duty roadside assistance provider is a great way to hit delivery deadlines more consistently. This approach will also help the carrier maintain a positive reputation and build long-standing relationships with clients.
Adapt to These Emerging Trends with RoadSync
Whether your organization provides mobile heavy-duty repair services or relies on them to keep your vehicles on the road, it is vital that you have a stress-free payment solution in place. That’s where we come in.
At RoadSync, we provide carriers, freight haulers, repair shops, and other logistics-related organizations with leading-edge digital payment technologies.
Our solutions eliminate payment roadblocks while also providing you with revenue-driving tools that can increase profitability and enhance the client experience. Contact us today to learn more.
