A truck that won’t start at 6 a.m. costs you more than the repair bill. Deliveries slip, drivers sit on the clock, and you’re the one calling the customer. A fleet maintenance service agreement is how you stop paying for mornings like that.
Matthews Motors has kept Augusta-area fleets running since 1991. Our fleet maintenance service agreements cover medium and heavy-duty equipment: box trucks, flatbeds, vacuum trucks, tractors and trailers.
The bottom line:
- PM on a set schedule for every truck and trailer
- DOT annual inspection done during the same visit
- Mobile service at your yard, with no road call fees
- Keep your own mechanic. We handle what they can’t.
What is a fleet maintenance service agreement?
It’s a written plan that covers PM, inspections and repairs for every unit you run, with the schedule and rates set up front. The goal is simple: find the worn brake chamber or the leaking hub seal in the bay, not on the shoulder of I-20.
Every unit gets PM every three months, or at the manufacturer’s or an agreed mileage interval, whichever comes first. We set the interval by how the truck actually runs, because highway miles and jobsite hours don’t wear a truck the same way.
You set a pre-approved repair limit. That way, small problems found at PM get fixed on the spot. Anything over the limit, however, we quote before we touch it. Finally, every visit ends with a detailed report of what we found and what we recommend.
Agreements run one year and renew. You can also add trucks any time.
How does a fleet maintenance service agreement help with DOT inspections?
Any commercial truck or trailer rated 10,001 lb GVWR or more and used in commerce needs a DOT annual inspection at least every 12 months (49 CFR 396.17). That’s nearly every box truck, flatbed, vacuum truck, boom truck, tractor and trailer out there.
A qualified inspector does it during a scheduled PM, so it’s one visit instead of two. If the inspection finds a defect, we fix it while the truck is already in the bay. Trailers also run on the same schedule as the trucks that pull them.
You’re the motor carrier, so the maintenance file is yours. Our PM and inspection reports are what go in it. For the full rules, see the FMCSA periodic inspection requirements.
What’s included in our fleet maintenance service agreements?
| Service | What we cover |
|---|---|
| Preventive maintenance | Oil and filters, fuel filter, fluid top-off, and chassis lube |
| PM inspection | Brakes and air system, tires (tread and pressure), steering and suspension, belts and hoses, coolant, battery, wheel seals and hub oil, exhaust/DPF/SCR, lights, 5th wheel, liftgate, and trailer connections |
| DOT annual inspections | Performed by a qualified inspector, scheduled during a PM visit |
| Mechanical and electrical repair | Engine, aftertreatment/DPF, driveline, brakes, suspension, steering, and electrical |
| Trailer and body repair | Trailer, box, and liftgate repair |
| Vocational equipment | Hydraulics and PTO, vacuum pump flush and service, tarp systems |
| Mobile service | PM and road service at your yard, with no road call fees |
| Parts | OEM or OEM-approved parts, plus fleet parts pricing |
In addition, anything else we find goes in the report with a recommendation.
Mobile, in-shop and weekend service
Your trucks make money during the day, so we work around that.
- Mobile PM at your yard. No drop-off, no road call fees.
- Weekend PM when you can’t spare trucks during the week.
- After-hours breakdown response.
- Big jobs in our shop at 1351 Gordon Highway.
Running pickups and vans too?
Then put them on the same agreement. Same reports, same contact, one vendor. Light-duty units under 10,001 lb generally don’t need the federal DOT annual inspection, but we’ll run the same checks on them.
What kinds of fleets do you work with?
- Lumber and building materials: flatbeds, boom trucks and truck-mounted forklifts
- Tire and parts distribution: box trucks, tractors and 53′ trailers
- Portable sanitation and septic: vacuum trucks, including vacuum pump and tarp system service
- Beverage and food distribution: box trucks, tractors, trailers and liftgates
- Construction, utility and regional haul: dump trucks, service bodies and Class 8 tractors
We work on all major brands, including Kenworth, Mack, Freightliner, International, Ford, Hino and Isuzu. Parts, bodies, fabrication and a trailer division are under one roof, so your truck isn’t bouncing between shops.
Where do we provide fleet service?
Our standard area is a 75-mile radius of Augusta, covering the CSRA and the Aiken area of South Carolina. Running a bigger operation across the Southeast? We set that up case by case. In that case, call us and we’ll work out coverage for your locations.
Already have a mechanic? Keep them.
Your mechanic knows your trucks. But every shop hits jobs that are too big, need tools it doesn’t have, or land at the worst possible time. Send those to us:
- Engine, aftertreatment/DPF, transmission and hydraulic work
- Warranty repairs as an authorized Isuzu and Hino dealer, so the manufacturer pays for covered work instead of you
- DOT annual inspections, if your mechanic isn’t a qualified inspector
- A parts agreement that gets your mechanic fleet pricing
Use one or all of them. Additionally, there’s no minimum, and you can add units any time.
Keep your fleet moving
Not sure where your gaps are? The free Fleet Maintenance Audit covers what a DOT compliance review looks at: unit files, annual inspections, driver inspection reports, brakes, tires and lights. Plus, it only takes about 15 minutes.
Ready to talk? Request a free fleet review and we’ll build a PM schedule for every unit you run. Otherwise, call (706) 722-3997.
Keep reading
- What to Include in a Fleet Maintenance Plan
- Preventive Maintenance vs. Reactive Repairs
- Mobile vs. In-Shop Fleet Service — Which Is Better?
FAQ
-
Do you work on heavy-duty trucks and trailers?Yes. Class 3–8 trucks, tractors and trailers, including vacuum, boom and flatbed units. In our shop or at your yard.
-
Do my trucks need a DOT annual inspection?If it’s rated 10,001 lb GVWR or more and used in commerce, yes, at least every 12 months (49 CFR 396.17). We do it with a qualified inspector during a scheduled PM.
-
Are there road call fees for mobile service?No. Our fleet agreements don’t charge road call fees.
-
How far do you travel for fleet service?Our standard area is 75 miles around Augusta, GA. For larger fleets, we set up coverage across the Southeast case by case.
-
We already have a mechanic. Can we still use you?Yes. Keep your mechanic and use us for the bigger repairs, warranty work, DOT inspections or parts.
-
Can we add units later?Yes. Any time.
-
Can you service our pickups and vans too?Yes. They go on the same agreement as the rest of your fleet.
-
How much does a fleet maintenance service agreement cost?It depends on how many units you run, the truck types, the mileage, and how much work you want done at your yard. Request a fleet review and we’ll quote it.
