I have a good local shop in Albuquerque, honest and affordable. The Freightliner shop here is not an option. I went there once and left with my truck after 8 days for a carrier bearing and drive axle bearing inspection/adjustment. $1,700. I'm still crying, you'll notice. Now I go to my local for PM's, or if it happens I'm out, I'll look for a Petro Lube shop. Although I did go to a Petro somewhere and the guy stripped my tranny fill plug so it needs replacement now. I insist on torque wrench tightening now. If I had a place, I'd do my own. It really does make a difference to the plus side.
I use speedco on occasion i prefer to do it myself. Took my trk to kw dealer for dpf filter service, and it was due for an overhead and a oil change was due. Figured it would be down for 2 days. Just get it all done at once. Until they told me oil change and lube was $515.00. I said w.t.f.! I only use delvac 15/40 not synthetic. Needless to say i brought it home and did it myself.
The phrase "married to the truck" comes to mind. I have little to no room to speak here, as I'm not an OOP. BUT- I am married to my trucks, hell, we park our whole fleet (10 trucks, LOL!) in my back yard, they get a good going over by myself and the bossman every Saturday. Takes 3/5 hours and I'm on O/T when we do it- No complaints here! When you're under that truck; you're that much better informed than the next guy who has no idea what an air filter or hydro line cost. That one step makes you that much more profitable.
Speedco charges almost as much for an "oil change only" as they do a full pm service. The easiest $100 a pop an owner can save every time is DIY pm's. I don't have a shop. I do it in a gravel driveway rain or shine when it needs doing - if I'm busy running and no time to wait for a sunny day.
Whoever is cheapest with 5 gallon buckets. Couple of years ago I bought about 25 buckets from tractor supply for $52 a bucket. Your best pricing there would be to purchase 55 gallon drum but I really have no-where convienient for now to keep a drum.
Close... Married to the highway, the truck is my mistress that gets all the extra love & attention! LOL!!