ROUTINE TIRE REPAIR: A TALE OF TWO FLEETS
Tire repairs on the road are only part of the equation. How you handle tire repairs in non-emergency situations is an area where you need to carefully look at the costs, as well.
Most fleets use outside repair services, says tire consultant Peggy Fisher. While many fleets make nail hole repairs in-house, larger repairs require special equipment and training. For that reason, they are typically outsourced. Larger fleets are more likely to handle them themselves. We talked to two trucking companies that decided not to outsource their tire repairs.
CFI in Joplin, Mo., used to outsource all its maintenance. Three and a half years ago, they brought the maintenance back in-house, with the tire maintenance following about a year afterward.
When the work was outsourced, a local Michelin dealer would come pick up all the tires that needed repair, then bring the repaired tires back already mounted on a wheel. After bringing the fleet's maintenance work back in house, says Bruce Stockton, vice president of operations, he realized he had the space and the people who could do the work. A one-time investment in the needed equipment has paid for itself quickly, he says, with in-house tire repairs saving the company about $100,000 a year.
Stockton says the main reason to bring maintenance in-house "was the ability to get the equipment and drivers out the door quicker. When you can improve productivity and efficiency, there are always dollars there."
Wisconsin-based deBoer Trucking went a step further. About 15 years ago, the company set up its own captive retreading facilities. As an authorized Goodyear retreader, they not only handle their own tires from cradle to grave, but also do retreads and repairs for other fleets.
"We don't recap any inferior tires and send them out on the road," says Dale deBoer, co-president. "We keep our costs down that way."
Nail hole patches are done at deBoer's terminals in Wisconsin and Texas, but for any larger repairs, the tire is sent to the retreading facility in Wisconsin. There, specially trained technicians with the right equipment can do a better job of repairs.
Not everyone has the facilities to handle their own tire repairs. If you decide to outsource, Fisher recommends using a full-service retreader, even if you don't use retreads. "The retreader usually provides a good warranty, pickup and delivery service, and has all of the equipment needed to make good tire repairs."
When choosing a repair facility, look for a repair area that is separate and well lighted, with wall charts showing procedures, repair unit selection, cure times, etc. Repair materials must have current manufacture date codes or expiration date codes and must be stored in a cool, dry place. If you see gummy buildup on buffing rasps and smoke generated during the repair process, walk away, Fisher says.
Look for a tire dealer with technicians certified in Commercial Tire Service offered by the Tire Industry Assn. You can find a TIA-certified facility near you at www.certifiedtireservice.com. (TIA also offers training for fleets who want to handle repairs in-house.)
