TMC Fleet & Service Provider Average Standard Repair Time Survey results

July 27, 2020

TMC reported average standard repair times on 98 of the most commonly performed labor tasks through surveying 50 TMC fleet and service provider members.

Tyler Fussner

The Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) hosted a webinar to discuss the results of the second annual Fleet & Service Provider Average Standard Repair Time (SRT) Survey. Robert Braswell of TMC hosted the session and Jack Poster, TMC’s VMRS services manager, detailed the results of the survey.

The Fleet & Service Provider Average SRT Survey is designed to establish baseline repair times to improve shop productivity and profitability, said Poster. In this year’s iteration of the survey, 50 TMC fleet and service provider members responded to grade 98 commonly performed labor tasks. The survey is based in Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standards (VMRS).

“Like VMRS, this is another tool in the maintenance toolbox,” said Poster of the SRT Survey.

Data presented in the report is based on the labor description and the corresponding VMRS Code Keys for each task using VMRS Code Keys 15 (Work Accomplished) and 33 (Component Code).

The survey measured the time, in hours, it takes respondents to perform labor tasks in their facilities. Participants were asked to list the average repair time for the labor task; hours were recorded to the nearest hundredth of an hour.

Survey result highlights

The five most labor-intensive tasks reported in the survey were:

Clutch Assembly: 023-002-001 (9.49 hours)
Automatic Transmission: 027-037-001 (9.07 hours)
EGR Cooler: 043-001-049 (6.37)
Air Brake Compressor: 013-009-001 (5.26 hours)
Radiator: 042-002-001 (5.17 hours)

The five least labor-intensive tasks reported in the survey were:

Aero Wheel Cover: 004-013-001 (.25 hours)
Wiper Blade: 002-035-015 (.27 hours)
GladHand: 013-010-031 (.32 hours)
Lube Fifth Wheel: 059-001-001 (.35 hours)
GladHand (Service & Emergency): 013-010-030 (.43 hours)

In year-to-year comparisons, A/C repair times increased: Expansion Valve repair reported 2.78 hours in 2020 compared to 1.72 hours in 2019; Accumulator repair reported 2.14 hours in 2020 compared to 1.59 hours in 2019; Receiver Drier repair reported 1.76 hours in 2020 compared to 1.18 hours in 2019. Coolant repair times also saw an increase this year. Radiator repair reported 5.17 hours in 2020 compared to 4.61 hours in 2019; Thermostat repair reported 2.45 hours in 2020 compared to 1.81 hours in 2019; Water Pump repair reported 3.28 hours in 2020 compared to 3.08 hours in 2019.

In year-to-year comparisons, DEF repair times decreased: Doser Valve repair reported 1.40 hours in 2020 compared to 1.93 hours in 2019; DEF Tank repair reported 2.31 hours in 2020 compared to 3.07 hours in 2019; DEF Tank Heater repair reported 1.68 hours in 2020 compared to 2.61 hours in 2019. Battery and Starter repair times also reported decreases in time spent to repair. Battery repair reported .86 hours in 2020 compared to 1.06 hours in 2019; Starter repair reported 2.58 hours in 2020 compared to 2.64 hours in 2019; Starter Relay reported .75 hours in 2020 compared to .81 hours in 2019.

Of the 10 most labor-intensive tasks, two were related to emissions/exhaust systems and two were related to drive train repairs. Three of the least labor-intensive tasks were associated with brake system repairs. Of the labor tasks reported on, 44 saw an increase in time to repair from last year’s survey, while 31 tasks saw a decrease in time to repair (with the other tasks indicating no fluctuation in amount of time spent on the repair task).

Click here to download and view the full results of the survey.

About the Author

Tyler Fussner | Associate Editor | Fleet Maintenance

Tyler Fussner is Managing Editor - Community Manager at Supply Chain Connect, part of the Design & Engineering Group at Endeavor Business Media.

Previously, Fussner served as the Associate Editor for Fleet Maintenance magazine. As part of Endeavor's Commercial Vehicle Group, his work has been published in FleetOwner magazine, as well as Bulk Transporter, Refrigerated Transporter, and Trailer-Body Builders.

Fussner's May 2022 print feature 'The dawn of hydrogen trucks' was named the best single technology article in B2B by the judges of the 2022 Folio: Eddie and Ozzie Awards. Fussner was also awarded Silver in the Technical Article category for the Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI) 2021 Tabbie Awards.

Fussner previously served as Assistant Editor for Endeavor's Transportation Group on the PTEN, Professional Distributor, and VehicleServicePros.com brands.

Fussner studied professional writing and publishing at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He has experience in shop operations, is a Michelin Certified Tire Technician, and a Michelin Certified Tire Salesperson.