Budget for breakdowns
before they happen.
Enter your annual miles and truck age — get a realistic maintenance budget and the monthly reserve you should be setting aside.
Estimate based on a per-mile maintenance rate that scales with truck age: 0–3 yrs $0.10, 4–6 yrs $0.15, 7–10 yrs $0.20, 10+ yrs $0.28.
Track maintenance spend per truck.
Alogix logs every repair, PM service, and breakdown against the truck — so your maintenance budget is built on real history, not guesses.
Average truck maintenance costs by age
Maintenance cost per mile climbs steadily as a truck ages and components reach the end of their service life. A nearly new truck (0–3 years) under warranty typically runs around $0.10/mi. Mid-life trucks (4–6 years) climb to roughly $0.15/mi as out-of-pocket repairs replace warranty coverage. Older trucks (7–10 years) hit about $0.20/mi as major systems — turbos, injectors, aftertreatment — start to fail. Beyond 10 years, expect $0.28/mi or more, driven by engine overhauls, transmission work, and rising downtime. Planning for this curve is the difference between a managed budget and a cash crisis.
What's included in maintenance budgeting?
- 01Tires — typically the single largest recurring line item; a full set of drives and steers adds up fast.
- 02Brakes — pads, drums, shoes, and air system components on a wear cycle tied to miles and terrain.
- 03PM service — scheduled oil, filters, fluids, and inspections every 15,000–25,000 miles.
- 04Aftertreatment — DPF cleaning, DEF system repairs, and sensors on emissions-era engines.
- 05Unexpected repairs — the breakdowns you cannot schedule: alternators, water pumps, air leaks, electrical faults.
How to build a maintenance reserve fund
The smartest operators treat maintenance like a fixed cost, not a surprise. Take your projected per-mile maintenance rate, multiply it by every mile you run, and move that money into a separate reserve account the same week you get paid. When a $3,000 turbo lets go on a Tuesday, the cash is already there — you are not scrambling for a credit card or skipping a truck payment. A funded reserve of two to three months of projected maintenance is a healthy buffer. Review the rate annually as the truck ages and adjust your monthly transfer up accordingly.