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The main preventive services are: oil and filter changes (every 10,000-15,000 km depending on the vehicle), brake inspection and adjustment, electrical system checks, chassis lubrication, tire and pressure checks, fluid changes (transmission, differential, brakes), and a general shop inspection at set mileage intervals.

It depends on the manufacturer and unit type, but a general rule is: oil changes every 10,000-15,000 km for medium trucks and every 20,000-25,000 km for tractor-trailers with synthetic oil. A general preventive inspection every 30,000 km is recommended in most cases.

The most effective actions are: sticking to the preventive maintenance schedule without exceptions, training operators in efficient driving (harsh acceleration and braking wear out brakes and transmission), logging each unit's history to anticipate recurring failures, and investing in preventive scanner diagnostics before a minor failure becomes a major one.

Maintenance (preventive + corrective) represents on average between 15% and 25% of total operating cost. In poorly managed fleets this percentage can exceed 35%, mainly due to corrective repairs. Keeping it below 20% with a good preventive plan is achievable and makes a significant difference in profitability.

It depends on the fleet size. With fewer than 5 units, an external shop tends to be more economical than keeping an in-house mechanic. From 8-10 units, having at least one in-house mechanic starts to be worthwhile due to reduced wait times and familiarity with the units. With 20+ units, an in-house shop is generally more profitable.