Why there is no single number
You will see PM prices quoted online, but no federal agency publishes an average price for a semi-truck PM service. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wages for diesel service technicians and mechanics, not shop prices. Any single "average PM price" you read is a survey, an advertisement or a guess, and it may not match your region, your trucks or your service level.
A better approach is to understand the parts of the price, then build or compare quotes from those parts.
The parts of a PM price
1. Service level. An A service with lubrication, fluid checks and a visual inspection costs less than a B service with an oil change and filters, which costs less than a C service with major fluid changes. Contents differ between shops, so always ask what is included. See what is included in a semi-truck PM service.
2. Oil and filters. Heavy-duty diesel engines hold a large volume of oil, and the exact capacity depends on the engine model. The oil specification, the number of filters (oil, fuel, water separator) and the brand all change the price. Fluids and filters are often the largest single part of a basic PM.
3. Labor time. The time to perform each service level depends on the truck, the technician and the shop. Track your own repair orders by service level to learn your real numbers. See average diesel shop labor rate for setting the rate itself.
4. Labor rate. Rates vary by region, by shop or mobile service, and by time of day. A PM at the fleet yard after hours may carry a different rate than one in the bay during the day.
5. Inspection scope. A PM with a full measured safety inspection takes longer than one with a quick visual check. If the PM includes the DOT annual inspection required by 49 CFR 396.17, it must be done by a qualified inspector and cover the Appendix A standards. Some shops price the annual inspection separately.
6. Shop supplies and disposal. Many shops add a charge for grease, rags and used fluid disposal. Ask whether it is a flat fee or a percentage.
7. Travel for mobile work. A mobile PM may include a service call or travel charge, often reduced when several units are serviced at one stop.
8. Repairs found. Repairs found during the PM are not part of the PM price. They are quoted separately and approved before work, which is where most of the difference between "cheap" and "expensive" PMs actually shows up.
How to build a PM price as a shop
A simple method:
- List the tasks in each service level in writing.
- Price parts and fluids for each engine family you service, with your markup.
- Measure labor time from your own completed repair orders for each service level and truck type.
- Multiply by your labor rate for the setting (bay, mobile, after hours).
- Add supplies, disposal and travel as separate, clearly named lines.
- Publish a price per service level on your rate sheet, noting that fluids vary by engine.
Review prices whenever your parts costs or labor rate change, and at least once a year.
Illustrative example
The figures below are made up for illustration only. Use your own costs.
| Line | Example basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil | Engine capacity times your price per gallon | Varies by engine and oil spec |
| Filters | Oil, fuel and water separator filters at your price | Varies by engine |
| Labor | Your measured hours times your rate | Track per service level |
| Inspection | Included or separate line | State which |
| Supplies and disposal | Flat fee or percentage | State the method |
| Travel | Per stop for mobile service | Spread across units |
How to compare PM quotes as a fleet
When comparing quotes, put them side by side by line:
- Same service level? Make sure each shop is quoting the same tasks.
- Oil and filters: brand, specification and quantity.
- Inspection: visual only, measured, or a full DOT annual inspection.
- Records: will you receive the completed checklist with measurements?
- Supplies and disposal: included or extra?
- Travel: per unit or per stop?
- Repair approval: how will defects be reported and quoted?
A lower total can hide a thinner inspection or missing records. Since 49 CFR 396.3 requires motor carriers to keep a record of inspection, repairs and maintenance indicating their date and nature, the records you get from the PM have real value.
Cost of skipping PMs
The cost of a PM is easy to see. The cost of skipping it shows up later as breakdowns, tows, missed loads and roadside violations. Federal rules also matter: 49 CFR 396.7 says a vehicle must not be operated in a condition likely to cause an accident or a breakdown, and roadside inspectors can place vehicles out of service under the CVSA criteria. Fleets should judge PM prices against their own breakdown history, not only against other quotes.
Fixed price or time and materials
Shops price PMs in two main ways:
- Fixed price per service level, plus fluids by engine. Easy to quote and budget, and rewards an efficient shop.
- Time and materials. The fleet pays actual hours and parts. Fair when trucks vary a lot, but harder to budget.
Many fleet agreements use fixed PM prices with repairs on time and materials. See fleet maintenance contract pricing.
Pricing PMs for a fleet program
When a fleet signs up a whole group of units, the shop can often offer better pricing because the work is predictable: parts can be bought in volume, routes for mobile work can be planned, and technician time can be scheduled. Put the PM price per service level, the included tasks and the repair approval process in the fleet agreement, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
Mobile PMs and price
Mobile PMs at the fleet yard save the fleet the time and fuel of sending trucks to a shop, and drivers are not tied up waiting. Those savings are real, but they do not appear on the PM invoice. When a mobile price looks higher than a shop price, the fleet should count the downtime and driver time it avoids. Shops, for their part, should price travel honestly and reward fleets that group several units at one stop.
When a low price is a warning sign
A PM priced far below others in the area may skip measured inspections, use lower-specification oil or filters, or depend on selling repairs to make money. None of these is certain, but each is worth asking about before you book.
Pricing questions to settle in writing
Before the first PM under a new agreement, put these answers in writing: which tasks each service level includes, how oil and filters are priced by engine, whether the safety inspection is measured, whether the annual inspection is included or separate, how supplies and disposal are charged, what travel costs per stop, how found repairs are approved, and how long prices are held. Agreeing on these points early prevents most billing disputes.
How MetaFleet helps
MetaFleet supports estimates and preventive maintenance programs with reminders, and AI invoicing that turns technician notes into clear repair lines. Get a walkthrough.