The Heavy Duty Manufacturers Assn. (HDMA) has compiled a study that reveals heavy-duty truck owner-operators and maintenance managers for construction fleets report the highest per-mile maintenance expenses.

The study, titled Heavy Duty Truck Maintenance in the U.S.A. 2005 said the following averages in per-mile maintenance costs were posted:

1. Owner-operators:25 cents
2. Construction fleets: 20 cents
3. Commercial carriers: 16 cents
4. Private fleets: 15 cents
5. Aagriculture/mining/forestry:14 cents
6. Production/distribution:12 cents

“It is apparent that the owner-operator is not able to garner the economies of scale available to larger operations,” said Frank Hampshire, HDMA director of research. “Construction fleets’ higher maintenance costs are attributed to their need to maintain road-ready vehicles in extreme environments.”

Copies of the study may be ordered. For more information, go to www.hdma.org.