Truck Topics
More Choices for Maintenance
Choosing a service center for your truck maintenance and repair can be risky, especially out on the road. However, you now have a number of qualified and reliable service centers that did not exist previously.
Quick Change Oil facilities
Speedco
Since 1991, millions of trucks have passed through Speedco's fast-lube lanes. The company offers oil and filter service for refrigeration units, tractor and trailer chassis lubes, fifth wheel and wheel hub service, transmission fluid change, differential fluid change, antifreeze/coolant top-off and testing and oil analysis.
In addition to offering the PM services on the lube side, the company has added tire lanes to Speedco stores. The company currently has 40 stores offering tire services featuring Goodyear, Michelin and Yokohama tires, along with Bandag retreads. They plan to have tire lanes at 50 stores nationwide by the end of 2006. Visit Speeco.com
T/A
T/A's Express Lane service is available at 60 locations and offers dedicated oil/lube bays , including a 73-point PM inspection that features brakes and tires.
Petro: Lube
Petro:Lube bills itself as the first national chain to introduce quick-in, quick-out lube, oil and filter services for trucks. The company offers 60 facilities that are open 24 hours a day.
Petro:Lube will complete most PM services in 30 minutes or less. The company offers a comprehensive list of service packages including DOT and maintenance inspections including Express Lube, PM Service, "The Works" Service as well as Oil Analysis Service.
Petro:Lube offers extensive options for new tires, retreads and repair services. The company participates in most National Tire Agreements and also offers 24 hour road service in case of emergencies.
The Petro: Lube technicians can handle most minor truck repair and they specialize in HVAC and wheel-end problems. No appointments are necessary. The shops average five service bays per location, operated on a first –in, first-out basis.
Some Peterbilt dealers offer quick lube services under the name QuickCare, while Kenworth's version is labeled PremierCare Express Services. The quick lube includes an oil change, complete chassis lube and 20-point vehicle inspection.
International also offers a Quick Lube with a 30-point inspection under its Performance PM program.
Truck stops
Although the major truck stop chains have been reaching out to the four-wheeler and RV trade, they are still a convenient place to get routine truck maintenance handled.
T/A
TravelCenters of America has become an authorized Freightliner express service and light-duty repair center known as Freightliner ServicePoint. It offers express service and minor repair work, warranty work, as well as preventive maintenance, brakes, electrical, heating and A/C, DOT inspections and trailer maintenance and repair.
Petro
Petro Stopping Centers have a similar arrangement with Volvo. Petro: Lube service facilities offer lube/oil/filter services, computerized wheel alignments, light truck repair and tire sales and repairs. They can also handle light Volvo warranty work.
Flying J
Flying J has a limited number of (14) J Care Service Centers, but those locations offer basic PM services such as oil/lube/filter, 5-minute oil analysis and light mechanical services such as clutch adjustments, brake servicing, batteries, belts and wheel seals.
The J Care Service Centers also offer tire ales, featuring brands such as Bridgestone, Firestone, Michelin, Continental/General and Kumho.
The manufacturers
The Freightliner Customer Assistance Center For Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star brands, will direct you to the nearest dealer and answer questions about parts, warranty or technical issues.To contact the Customer Assistance Center, call 1-866-850-STAR (7827).
Peterbilt TruckCare Services
One of the more comprehensive PM service available is Peterbilt's TruckCare Services that includes several different services. These services are offered for any make and model of truck, not just Peterbilt.
The basic package includes a lube/oil/filter service, 65-point inspection and inspection/inflation of tires, which Peterbilt says is priced competitively with similar services offered at its competitors.
There are options for increasing levels of service. Higher-level packages also meet federal DOT requirements for annual truck inspections. Of course, if any problems are discovered during the inspection, they can be repaired at the dealership.
All of Peterbilt's PM packages include free access to the web-based Maintenance Manager program, which allows you to track your maintenance on the road anywhere you can get Internet service. To sign up for a TruckCare PM program, contact your Peterbilt dealer.
Kenworth's PremierCare
This program is similar to Peterbilt's TruckCare. The PremierCare Preventive Maintenance program offers several maintenance schedule choices and service levels, ranging from intermittent "dry inspections" to comprehensive, bumper-to-taillight service packages. You can pay for the program up front, finance it with your new Kenworth or make monthly payments. You can sign up through your dealer or by calling (800) KW-ASSIST.
International
This OEM has a program called Performance PM. There are four program inspection levels, from a Quick Lube with a 30-point inspection to a "B" Wet with an 83-point inspection. All makes and models are eligible for the program. You can sign up for a service contract with your International dealer, or call (800) 248-4994 to schedule a Performance PM.
Another option
FleetPride is a nationwide supplier of truck & trailer parts and service —operates more than 150 locations in 34 states and carries a full line of brand name parts, as well as an assortment of private brand parts. In addition, FleetPride offers in-house remanufactured products such as brake shoes, transmissions, rear axles and driveline components.
Their FleetCare Truck Service Centers are part of a nationwide network of independent truck service centers that specialize in heavy-duty repair and maintenance.
The FleetCare network spans the U.S. with over 170 fully equipped locations, staffed with technicians who are "true heavy-duty experts."
FleetCare offers services for all truck makes and models at all of their locations as well as a 24/7 toll-free locator service, dedicated website, brand name parts, nationwide parts warranty and roadside assistance in many locations.
For the nearest FleetCare location, you can call (800) 967-6206 or visit www.fleetcare.info.