Old trucks, new tricks: preserve your aging vehicles to beat inflation

Sustaining fleet capacity during the supply crunch by prolonging the lifespans of aging vehicles.

Free consultation Learn more⁠

Vehicle retirement age is rising. With increasing purchase prices and replacement delivery delays, keeping older wheels on the road is imperative for operational continuity within the transport sector. Aging trucks and fleet cars remain in use longer than intended, running up mileage, maintenance costs and safety risks. Here we’ll explore the impact of vehicle scarcity on fleet businesses, and what you can do to extend the lifespan and preserve the quality of your existing assets during procurement gaps.

Average fleet age in the EU

The average age of fleet cars and trucks is climbing across the industry, with over 40% of vehicles on the road now over 12 years old. Trucks are currently the oldest vehicles still taking to the roads in the EU.

Vehicle type	Average age (years old)
Car	12.3
LCV	12.5
Truck	13.9
Bus/Coach	12.5

Here’s a breakdown of the average truck age across key countries, highlighting the varying operational strain on company owners.

Country	Average truck age (years old)
Ireland	10.7
Portugal	15.4
Spain	14.7
France	9.3
Italy	19.1
Luxembourg	7.6
Belgium	12.2
Netherlands	10
Germany	10.4
Austria	6.7
Denmark	7.9
Finland	14.7
Romania	15.7
Greece	23

The challenges of relying on aging vehicles and trucks

While maintaining older vehicles guarantees you a fuller fleet in times of truck shortages, their reduced vehicle health can come with complications.

Higher maintenance costs

The older the vehicle, the more wear and tear it has accumulated. In poorer conditions, aging trucks are more likely to break down, and the parts still available to repair those models may be difficult or costly to obtain. Protect your budget by structuring a robust vehicle repair strategy.

A truck mechanic performing maintenance on an old truck

A truck mechanic performing maintenance on a tyre

Increased unplanned downtime

Aging trucks and cars disrupt schedules more frequently than younger vehicles. Worn components and delayed issue detection in maturer models leads to unexpected time off road.

Regulation violations

It’s difficult for older vehicles like trucks to meet the current compliance rules in force. Outdated models may not be compatible with the regulation-required technology for safety and sustainability — such as tyre pressure monitoring systems or emissions control systems — or will first need significant upgrades.

fleet manager checking the regulations for older trucks

Fuel inefficiency

Aging trucks represent higher operational costs since they consume more oil (a.k.a fuel) than modern-engineered vehicles. This reduces operational efficiency for the company, calling for trips with more fill-up stops.

Lower resale value

Holding on to aging vehicles could mean that when you do release them to acquire new models, they are difficult to sell due to depreciated value in the industry.

Driver dissatisfaction

Aging trucks and older company cars are typically less comfortable to drive than modern designs. More crucially, they lack the safety features to protect employees and minimise driver fatigue — leading to job dissatisfaction and higher churn rates.

Delayed transition to electric vehicles (EVs)

Holding on to an aging vehicle fleet might seem like a cost-saving strategy. In reality, postponing your company’s transition to electric vehicles can end up costing you more. As emissions regulations tighten, compliance becomes increasingly difficult for old cars and aging trucks that are far less sustainable than today’s electric automotive options. Old ICE vehicles are more likely to have to pay urban zone entry fees, emissions-related fines and higher maintenance costs due to wear and tear on more moving parts.

Do aging trucks mean fleet frailty?

Delaying vehicle replacements impacts your business’ daily processes and expenses. Here’s how.

Reduced operational reliability

Service quality drops if deliveries are late or cancelled due to vehicle issues.

Higher total cost of ownership

Maintenance work, inefficient trips and downtime all raise the overall cost of managing a vehicle.

Strain on planning teams

When vehicle availability is unreliable, planners are forced to make last-minute schedule changes which could lead to errors.

More frequent service disruptions

Aging trucks have higher chances of breaking down — delaying jobs and causing other vehicles to reroute more often.

How to extend the lifespan of your aging vehicles

The key to keeping your aging cars and trucks roadworthy and controlling their total cost of ownership is checking them regularly.

What fleet managers can do

Fleet managers should build preventative maintenance into their performance strategies using a fleet management solution. These solutions are made up of hardware — to monitor vehicle components and detect faults — and software — to process and display vehicle diagnostics in a clear, actionable way.

Installing a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is also essential for maintaining aging vehicles. Tyre rotation, temperature and pressure must be kept within defined parameters to limit wear and tear and boost road safety.

What drivers can do

Before every trip, drivers should carry out a thorough vehicle inspection with a dedicated checklist to ensure every part is ready to run correctly.

How technology helps mitigate aging truck issues

Proactive maintenance

Leverage real-time diagnostics and sensor alerts for sharper fault detection. Identify small issues before they escalate.

Read more⁠

Maintenance scheduling

Keep older assets in top condition by programming regular, timely servicing sessions based on mileage and operating hours data.

Read more⁠

Driver behaviour insights

Limit wear and tear by monitoring driver performance and encouraging a smoother driving style.

Read more⁠

Live vehicle tracking

Know where your vehicles are at all times to react fast and minimise the knock-on effect on operations if a problem arises.

Read more⁠

Tyre monitoring

Reduce fuel usage, prolong tyre lifespan and prevent blowouts by keeping tabs on tyre pressure and temperature.

Read more⁠

Digitised vehicle inspection

Cut paperwork for faster, easier vehicle inspections with our app. Keep vehicles safe and compliant.

Read more⁠

All you need to know about aging vehicles

What are the most common problems with older vehicles?

The most common problems with aging vehicles stem from outdated safety features and higher levels of wear and tear that can cause unexpected mechanical repairs. It’s recommendable to plan maintenance for an older fleet at more regular intervals — accounting for likely issues including battery failure and increased engine wear. You should also expect higher costs due to lower fuel efficiency from degraded vehicle components.

How can an aging fleet impact the transition to electric vehicles?

Maintaining aging vehicles to try to beat inflation delays a fleet’s investment into newer EV technology. While saving on the acquisition of newer electric vehicles, costs rise in other areas as older automotive fleets pay the price of less sustainable operations.

How can I extend the life of my aging trucks and fleet cars?

Extend the life of your aging trucks and cars with proactive maintenance. Continuously monitor critical vehicle components such as the engine and brake system and carry out regular tyre checks and oil changes. Using fleet management technology helps identify faults while they’re still minor, keeping older vehicles safe and compliant.

Get maximum value from what you’ve already got

When new’s not an option, you can sustain productivity with older trucks. With digital solutions to facilitate safety, efficiency and compliance, you can extend mature vehicles’ lives without compromising on performance.

Get to know the solutions