Why?
Surely sense says you avoid the 4 grand repair bill with planned maintenance because a 4 grand repair bill doesn’t cost you 4 grand does it.
Loss of productivity
Loss of revenue
Loss of reputation
Potential loss of standing (OCRS) following a colossal failure of something which you didn’t bother to repair before it failed
Yes, but it is the six weekly inspection that indicates that work needs to be done, and this then costs money. I went four or five inspections in a row last year needing nothing, then had one that flagged up a disc that was starting to crack, so I had that done. At the next inspection both other axles had discs that were showing early signs of cracking so had those done too. That was getting on for £3,000 within two months, but that is planned maintenance. It still costs a lot of money to maintain a five-year-old truck even when the work is carried out promptly.
Tipper Tom:
Why?Surely sense says you avoid the 4 grand repair bill with planned maintenance because a 4 grand repair bill doesn’t cost you 4 grand does it.
Loss of productivity
Loss of revenue
Loss of reputation
Potential loss of standing (OCRS) following a colossal failure of something which you didn’t bother to repair before it failed
It doesn’t have to be a failure, general wear and tear can bring in some big bills, especially if two or more things are wearing at the same time. The labour costs mean it’s cheaper to replace the two things at once, rather than spreading them out over a few weeks. Say a drag link needs replacing, well you’ve got the wheels off and the discs are low, so you replace the discs, then maybe a wheel bearing is wearing, so you change that, then while you’re in there you swap all the bushings too, all of a sudden an hour’s labour and a 200quid part has turned into a big job, you have the lorry VOR, so you may as well do it all at the same time so you minimise downtime. Also how do you replace a clutch without getting a big bill, you can’t do it a bit at a time, then you have engine work, say you have a failed head gasket, while it’s in pieces you may as well drop the sump and do the big ends and mains at least, maybe even pistons and liners too, running lorries is not a cheap thing to do when they go wrong 
■■■■ me have you an a level in condescending?
I’ve not suggested it’s cheap for a minute. I’m simply saying that royal time maintenance can and does prevent massive bills
Tipper Tom:
[zb] me have you an a level in condescending?I’ve not suggested it’s cheap for a minute. I’m simply saying that royal time maintenance can and does prevent massive bills
Read what I have written 
You are asking why you get big bills running a lorry, from my experience of running lorries I have given you a number of reasons, there are lots more, but I haven’t the time, nor the inclination to cover them all
When you have parts that can cost thousands and work that can take many hours and therefore costs potentially thousands in labour charges, you can quite easily get a four (or more) grand bill, no matter how ■■■■ you are about preventative maintenance, so as I said, lorries are not cheap when they go wrong, nothing condescending about it, not if you’re wearing your big girl ■■■■■■■ anyway 
Preventave maintence does help and you can budget and do some work when its in for checks but say the release bearing lets go on an auto box clutch which does happen rather than the clutch wearing out. Its not something that ypu can check for wear but you can gaurntee it will let go miles from the yard and will involve a tow in. Get the gearbox out you mayas well replace the clutch all that comes to a few quid and no amount of preventave maintence will stop that.
Then we have electrical and emmisions systems that can go haywire for no reason.
I am not disputing that parts and labour are expensive
I’m simply saying that maintenance can and does prevent massive bills on breakdown.
Tipper Tom:
I am not disputing that parts and labour are expensiveI’m simply saying that maintenance can and does prevent massive bills on breakdown.
For sure, taking care of, say a bushing in good time can prevent damage to the components either side of it and can save you a fortune in the long run, but anyone with any experience of running the [zb]ing things will also tell you that no matter how much you plan and how thorough you are, something unexpected will come along and kick you in the nuts 
Tipper Tom:
I’m simply saying that maintenance can and does prevent massive bills on breakdown.
Yes, we all know that already. But even maintenance causes massive bills as for example with my needing new discs and brakes across all three axles last year. It didn’t break down, the faults were spotted in time, but there’s still a mahoosive bill for having the maintenance done.
You need to be earning £500.00 a day to run a lorry these days, possibly more on certain jobs and that’s just for an owner driver.
After George Osborne has his say tomorrow, you may need more !
Tipper Tom:
I’m simply saying that maintenance can and does prevent massive bills on breakdown.
I’ve never known an inspection to check turbo’s or half shafts. I’ve had 2 turbo’s go without warning at £1500 a go, also had a half shaft seal replaced, ended up having a complete diff rebuild because they found metal in the oil. Another £3500. Couldn’t have expected any of those from an inspection report. That’s why like Harry says you have months of nothing, then bam! you have to account for the expensive periods throughout the whole year if you want to stay in business. I take it you don’t run your own unit then?
No I don’t run my own lorry I have spent a good deal of time maintaining other people’s lorries though.
Are you seriously telling me that routine maintenance doesn’t help prevent breakdown?
Turbos tend to show signs of wear before falling apart.
I’m not claiming that inspections will prevent ALL breakdowns. However I can’t believe someone (two people in fact) are telling me with a straight face that planned regular maintenance doesn’t prevent (not eliminate, prevent) breakdowns
Planned maintenance can prevent SOME breakdowns, that is why it is called a PMI, Preventative Maintenance Inspection.
General wear and tear items, depending on vehicle age, will be things like batteries, brakes, clutch, air dryer, compressor, fan clutch, A/C system, night heaters, alternator, starter motor, windscreen wiper motor, cab bushings, suspension bushes, shock absorbers, 5th wheel jaws, power steering pumps/boxes will all wear out over time and each one can also suffer a catastrophic failure at any time, even an hour after coming out from a PMI.
This is why you put away money into a maintenance account, to be prepared for the unexpected.
Tipper Tom:
No I don’t run my own lorry I have spent a good deal of time maintaining other people’s lorries though.Are you seriously telling me that routine maintenance doesn’t help prevent breakdown?
Turbos tend to show signs of wear before falling apart.
I’m not claiming that inspections will prevent ALL breakdowns. However I can’t believe someone (two people in fact) are telling me with a straight face that planned regular maintenance doesn’t prevent (not eliminate, prevent) breakdowns
you’ve said it yourself there Tom TEND there is always that chance it wont and will just go bang running down the M1 or on the way to Spain Christ that’ll be some bill with a load that’s gotta be where ever on time or else a penalty clause
I’m not saying for one minute that routine planned maintenance doesn’t reduce breakdowns. What we’re trying to say is that it tends to be the non inspected non serviceable items that fail causing big bills.
As for noticing a turbo failing in advance? Seriously?? One shattered the housing and the other the fins seized. Guess they should have picked up on those then 
Tipper Tom:
Are you seriously telling me that routine maintenance doesn’t help prevent breakdown?
As I keep on telling you, we all know that already. I didn’t have so much as one breakdown last year but that’s partlybecause I spent a lot of money on maintenance, although luck still plays a part. But it still costs a lot of money to have the work carried out that the inspection flags up.
I allow £120 a week for maintenance, as I said. So far in 2014 I’ve spent about £600 (two inspections, a handbrake valve and a damaged mudflap) in 12 weeks whereas I have budgeted £1440 (12 x 120). So currently I’m ahead, but who knows if the next inspection will flag up £1,000’s worth of work?
I didn’t say that every turbo failure can be noticed prior to it happening.
Case in point. My daily driver. The turbo has been whining for a few weeks. I’m off next week so I’ll do it then before it ■■■■■ itself and causes more problems
A PMI won’t pick up the bolt lying on the motorway, but your tyre will, and you’ll also be picking up a potentially very large bill for a tyre, mudguard, stays, air bag, brake pipes, rear lights and brackets. And sod’s law says the same thing happens next week too. Probably never happen again to you for the rest of your life, but you’ll have plenty of time to meditate over it in the home for the bewildered if you didn’t budget for just such an eventuality and it breaks you.
Tipper Tom:
I didn’t say that every turbo failure can be noticed prior to it happening.Case in point. My daily driver. The turbo has been whining for a few weeks. I’m off next week so I’ll do it then before it [zb] itself and causes more problems
that’s a great example. first thing tomorrow I’ll call a friend of mine, he had an injector collapse in spain a few years back, cost his gaffer the best part of €7k. but some bloke heard his turbo whine and that’s why he should’ve been aware of the impending mechanical failure
you sure can keep an eye on the mechanical’s but let’s not forget that the drivetrain consists of a little more than a turbo, which has a bearing and an engine, with a single gasket to keep the oil in
FFS ok abandon all maintenance for a year see what breaks.