Proposed maintenance cycle questions

Very few fleet owners use an amortized replacement/maintenance schedule. They have deep pockets and work the fleet with the goal of low downtime/repairs to service their customers.

I use the amortized system, but I won't offer a look into how it is structured or where to find the data; however, every component has a specific MTBF rating as new OEM parts. For example, I would not replace hoses at that low of mileage; they have an MTBF of around 600,000 - OEM parts. My records seem to point that there is a failure around 750,000 miles.

New fleets should just stick to factory schedules until established.

You also need to learn how to use the tools needed to establish baselines and track the needs of the truck/engine.

There is also a need to make sure the driver INSPECTS the truck every day and does so properly. I have some issues with drivers not doing this, but that's up to you to find good drivers, which is #### near impossible. One reason why I have a pretrip for a pre-employment test is to see if they know anything about the truck. Just because you are accident-free doesn't mean you are smart enough to check the oil properly.

 

I didn’t even know the DD16 was an option for a Cascadia? As Cascadias, don’t expect them to hit 1,000,000 miles. Very few do.

 

DD16 came out at least 10 years ago.

 

If you and your associates want way less headaches just get on a 3 year trade cycle and don’t try and run emission trucks to a million plus. Let everything be someone else’s problem after you trade out in 3 years.

 

I know full well when the DD 16 came out, I just didn’t know it was an option in a Cascadia. Seems kind of pointless to have a big engine, in a truck engine engineered for fuel economy

 

There is absolutely no reason to run a DD16 @600HP for that kind of freight.

A DD13 at 400 or even 450HP max would save thousands per month in fuel, per truck.

You are way out of your lane if you are the one specc'ing trucks for this start up operation, no offense meant.

Detroit's have had a plastic oilpan since 1987 with the Series60, no need to inspect for corrosion.

 

I would agree, and the maintenance schedule the OP posted is absurd.

 

1. Yep, all Mega's do that. OEM oil changes at every 125K miles, never change the transmission, pumpkin or bearing oils, trade it in at 350K miles.
2. Basically you get a truck that runs 3 years for 125K miles a year with minimal downtime for $25k per year in payments, and get to write off depreciation.

 

It's not the DD15 IS FUEL ECONOMY, THE DD16 is for raw power and heavy haul ......