Fleet operators: Tire TCO mindset has lessons for vending fleets
A new report from our sister brand Fleet Maintenance argues that fleets should evaluate commercial truck tires based on total cost of ownership — including fuel economy, tread life, retreadability, maintenance requirements and uptime — rather than purchase price alone. Experts also recommend real-world testing before changing tire suppliers and emphasize that preventive maintenance is essential to maximizing tire life.
Why it matters for vending operators: Route vehicles are among an operator’s largest capital investments. While most convenience services fleets run lighter Class 2-6 vehicles than over-the-road trucks, the same principle applies: The lowest-priced tire may not deliver the lowest cost per mile.
Tracking tire wear, fuel economy, alignment issues and maintenance costs can help operators reduce operating expenses and vehicle downtime over the life of the fleet.
About the Author
Linda Becker
Head of Content
Linda Becker is head of content for Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch.com, responsible for the brands’ overall content strategy, planning and performance. She oversees the creation and performance of editorial and multimedia content across platforms such as magazines, websites, webinars, podcasts, newsletters, videos, social media, events and eBooks.
Since joining Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch.com, Linda has developed a new appreciation for the convenience services industry and its essential role. She is dedicated to serving readers by covering the latest news in the vending, office coffee service and micro market industry. She can be reached at 262-203-9924 or [email protected].