Why mobile businesses charge it
Every mobile job starts with costs that happen before any wrench turns: the technician drives to the site, the service truck burns fuel and wears tires, and the technician sets up lights, tools and safety equipment. If the job turns out to be quick, the labor charge alone may not cover those costs. A service call fee makes sure each trip pays for itself. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that diesel technicians occasionally repair vehicles on roadsides or at worksites, which is the work this fee is built for.
Common forms
- A flat fee per visit within a set service area.
- A flat fee plus a mileage charge beyond a set distance.
- A minimum charge that includes the first part of labor.
- A higher fee for emergency or after-hours calls.
- A reduced or waived fee for scheduled fleet work when several units are serviced at one site.
Service call fee versus labor
The fee is for getting there. Labor is for the work done. Keep them as separate lines on the invoice so the customer can see both. If the shop includes some labor in the fee, say so on the rate sheet, for example "includes the first half hour on site".
Good practice
- Publish the fee and the service area on the rate sheet and in fleet agreements.
- Tell the customer the fee before dispatch and record that they accepted it.
- Show the fee as its own line on the invoice, with the arrival time.
- Decide in advance whether a canceled call or a call where the unit is gone is still charged, and put that in writing.
Example only
As an illustration, a shop might charge one flat fee for calls within its home area and add a per-mile charge beyond it. The amounts should come from the shop's own costs.
See how much should I charge as a mobile mechanic and how to price mobile mechanic jobs.
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