He said flexibility and competitive finance options are the most effective ways to reduce truck and finance costs. For example, the new index could show that a daycab tractor operating 30,000 miles per year with an unbundled finance lease with maintenance can save $50,646 compared to a full-service lease. While it depends on details such as OEM, application, utilization, and more, Antonellis said fleets are likely to see savings compared to full-service leases.
Many fleets today are in full-service leases because of the included maintenance program. Through its new partnership with FleetNet America by Cox Automotive, Fleet Advantage facilitates fleet maintenance service offerings to private fleets that want flexible, unbundled lease structures.
Antonellis said that the unbundled, flexible leases also help fleets overcome the mindset that equipment should last a set time period. “You need to have an option to early-exchange the truck if it’s run a higher mileage, so you’re matching your warranty and your maintenance strategy,” he explained. “Or you can extend your truck if you’ve run lower miles, so you can still get the value out of that truck at a lower cost.”
He said these strategies can help fleets prepare for upcoming emissions regulations expected to increase 2027 prebuy strategies in advance of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California-specific regulations.
