Medium-Duty Trucks Need Heavy-Duty TLC

People call K.I.D. Truck & Trailer Service in Oakville, Ontario to enquire curiously if we work on medium-duty trucks.  In our nearly four decades in business, we’ve serviced every make and model of diesel engine equipment, literally.  It seems like a good time to review our commitment to this class of vehicles and explain why it’s an important part of our business.

Medium-Duty Market Share is Growing

Medium-Duty refers to truck classes 6 & 7, which have a gross vehicle weight rating range of 19,501 – 33,000 lbs.  There are several reasons, even now, that this category of commercial vehicles is experiencing healthy and continuous growth.  The percentage has been between 5 – 10% on a North American-wide basis.  As examples, Mack resumed production of Medium-Duty models after a 17-year hiatus.  In July 2019, Ford reported record-setting sales of its F-650 and F-750 medium-duty chassis cabs with an 80% year-over-year gain.

This category of truck has been supported by strong growth in the Construction industry fueled by low housing levels and high consumer demand.  The adoption of e-commerce and local home delivery has been accelerated by the “Great Shift in Perspective.”  The need for shorter routes and more last-mile destination delivery in urban areas is prompting companies to evaluate their transportation options.  Owners and Fleet Managers are looking to add new vehicle capabilities that fit specific use cases and dedicated business applications.

They’re focusing on new developments that the current choices offer for powertrains, fuel economy, maintenance, safety, and ergonomics.  Their goal is to lower the overall cost of ownership.

Medium-Duty Trucks Work Hard

Medium-Duty trucks are used in vocational applications such as those involving hauling, towing, lifting, disposing, and maintaining infrastructure.  These trucks work hard in tasks requiring a lot of idling, which can use up to two litres of fuel, per hour.  Idling is one of the reasons, many fleet managers track hours instead of mileage.  When the truck is stationary and the engine is on, it’s accumulating the equivalent to mileage of 40 – 50 kilometres.  This usage needs to be accounted for accurately.

Both hours and kilometres driven are important when determining the optimal service timing for equipment.  Any systems that directly interface with the engine (fuel, cooling, exhaust, etc.) are strongly affected by engine hours.  Lower mileage units with higher hour usage often found in vocational applications experience more wear and tear than a truck driving on the highway.  An aerial bucket truck may travel only a few kilometres to its destination where the mileage stops but the engine continues to run for hours.  After several weeks of this regime, the odometer doesn’t tell the truth that the hour meter will.

Another area where this operating environment might cause issues is with diesel regeneration.  Because vehicles are accumulating hours without kilometres, the diesel oxidation catalyst is less likely to achieve temperatures high enough to perform optimal regeneration.  Shorter trips and continuous idling won’t prompt active regeneration.  It requires stationary regeneration, which takes place when the vehicle is parked.

If the DPF can’t get up to the temperature required for active regeneration, the truck will issue a notification warning light.  If the warning light is ignored, then a second warning light appears that causes the vehicle to go into limp mode.  In this state, the truck will not operate over 10 -15 kilometres per hour and will remain this way until the vehicle is properly serviced and full regeneration process is engaged.

Medium-Duty Trucks are often running in harsh environments.  They are exposed to debris such as leaves and trash, which can be pulled into the A/C condensers and radiators.  Severe elements can prevent vocational vehicles from operating at peak capacity.  Contamination comes in many forms and is where an investment quality filtration products will demonstrate their value.

Heavy-Duty Service is The Right Choice

When people call and ask if K.I.D. Truck & Trailer Service in Oakville, Ontario works on medium-duty equipment, we give an enthusiastic and positive answer.  We actively support this category of trucks because it’s what our customers need from a trusted service provider.  We display the value of speaking with a knowledgeable service expert who always answers the phone.  With a couple of questions, time is saved, and valuable insight is delivered.

It helps that we’ve worked on all types of OEM diesel engine equipment, our people have decades of experience and they enjoy solving problems.  Most medium-duty trucks are often more complicated that heavy-duty vehicles because of upfitting and customized accessories.  We service, repair, and maintain that too.  Sometimes we work on equipment that has been to another service provider that has less diesel engine expertise, doesn’t have the right tools, qualified technicians or software to correctly diagnose, trouble-shoot and fix the problem.

A reputable truck and trailer service provider cares about quality work and respects your need to make an informed decision.  The advantages medium-duty truck owners enjoy is receiving the same benefits that K.I.D. Truck and Trailer Service delivers to our Class 8 truck customers.  Our heavy-duty shop management software ensures that estimates are pre-approved and tracked.  The service history of your fleet is always available from any internet-connected device.  You have full transparency into work that has been done previously and we’ll keep track of annual safeties, wheels on or off.

As a member of the Truck Pro network family we are supported by a robust, local supply chain and continuous access to parts.  All our work is backed by a twelve-month, unlimited warranty.  We’re purpose-built to understand your equipment needs and invested in your success by delivering quality service at reasonable rates.  That’s the long answer to “Does K.I.D. Truck & Trailer service medium-duty trucks?”

Photo Credit: K.I.D. Photo Archive