Capital Equipment News August 2021

TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP – TRAILERS

Good engineering is about understanding each customer’s needs and building a trailer optimised for durability, longevity and minimal maintenance.

A holistic approach to trailer total cost of ownership

Heavy-haul trailers by their nature represent a significant investment for businesses. The right trailer can provide fast ROI, greater productivity and increased profits. The wrong decision, however, can leave trucking companies with the financial burden of a unit that will cost far more in the long run than the business is prepared to take on. By Troy Geisler , vice president of sales and marketing, Talbert Manufacturing.

U nfortunately, the second scenario is all too common due to an incomplete understanding of total cost of ownership. Purchase price is sometimes the only factor buyers consider when evaluating the cost of a heavy-haul trailer. The initial cost, however, can be misleading when considered alone. A comprehensive approach to calculating total cost of ownership requires an understanding of multiple factors, many of which cannot be found on the price tag. 1. Purchase price The first and most obvious element of total cost of ownership is purchase

price. To the seasoned equipment buyer, price is evaluated based on what the equipment needs to do and the value it adds to the business. Minimising upfront costs isn’t as important to total cost of ownership as purchasing a trailer that efficiently handles the hauls ahead of it. There are a few things fleet owners can look at to help determine the best trailer for their needs and minimise long-term expenses. Capacity Fleet owners must be sure the heavy- haul trailer they invest in can stand up to expected load capacities. And as experienced fleet managers know, weight capacity ratings only tell part of the story. The overall weight a trailer can handle is just that, whether a 35- or 50-t lowbed. However, there is a bit more to consider. Load concentration – or the length of the deck that can handle the weight – varies from one manufacturer to the next. For example, three

“The number on the price tag is important, but it only takes you so far. Heavy-haul trailers travel thousands of kilometres over their lifetimes – and a lot can happen between A and B. To truly understand total cost of ownership, business owners and operators must have a comprehensive understanding of what their trailer will cost in its lifetime.”

Troy Geisler, vice president of sales and marketing, Talbert Manufacturing

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