The maintenance and repair of heavy-duty vehicles present a significant challenge for transport companies, fleet operators, and repair workshops. These vehicles, which include not only transport trucks but also agricultural, construction, material handling, and marine equipment, require efficient management to ensure their performance and reliability.
In this article, we examine the challenges of heavy-duty vehicle maintenance, explore current trends, and propose innovative solutions to optimize operations.
Overview of the truck market
The heavy-duty vehicle market in France encompasses a wide range of industrial vehicles, from transport trucks to agricultural, construction, material handling, and marine equipment. Here is an overview of the key segments within this market:
Transport trucks
In France, transport trucks account for a significant share of the heavy-duty vehicle market. The main brands in this market include Renault, Mercedes, DAF, Volvo, MAN, IVECO, and Scania. In 2023, Renault held a market share of 27% for heavy trucks, followed by Mercedes with 16% and DAF with 13%. (Source : Auto Infos).
Agricultural machinery
The agricultural equipment market in France is essential for the mechanization of the agricultural sector. In 2023, this market is valued at approximately $170 billion globally, with leaders such as John Deere and CNH Industrial. In France, the agricultural equipment market represents a significant share of the heavy-duty vehicle industry.(Source :mordor intelligence).
Construction machinery
The construction machinery market in France, comprising excavators, bulldozers and other heavy equipment, is valued at around 207.14 billion USD in 2023 worldwide. Major market players in France include Caterpillar and Komatsu. (Source :mordor intelligence).
Handling materials
In 2023, the forklift market was valued at $81 billion, and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 6.5% between 2024 and 2032, driven by increasing investment in technological development and innovation, improving efficiency, safety and versatility.(Source :Global Market Insights).
Vessels
Marine equipment in France, used for shipping and offshore operations, has reached a worldwide value of $50 billion by 2023.
Current challenges and market trends:
- Reduction in workshop entries: Repair shops in France have observed a decrease in the number of weekly entries for heavy trucks. In 2022, data indicates a continuous decline:
This trend is attributed to a general improvement in vehicle reliability and the growing adoption of preventive maintenance strategies.
- Growth of maintenance contracts: Despite the decrease in entries, maintenance contracts and warranties are experiencing significant growth.
By 2023, around 35% of truck sales in France will be linked to maintenance contracts. This trend reflects a proactive approach by companies to avoid unexpected breakdowns and reduce maintenance costs.
Maintenance processes for heavy-duty vehicles
Initial assessment
- Visual inspection of the vehicle to identify signs of deterioration or damage.
- Check basic systems (brakes, lighting, suspension) for obvious problems.
Precise diagnosis
- Use diagnostic tools to read and clear error codes.
- Analyze electrical, mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic components to locate faults.
Repair and maintenance
- Dismantle defective parts for repair or replacement.
- Carry out repairs according to manufacturer’s specifications.
Functional testing
- Carry out road tests to ensure that repairs have been effective.
- Adjust systems (injection, ignition, etc.) to optimize vehicle performance.
Final inspection
- Verification of correct installation and operation of parts.
- Inspect systems and components to ensure compliance with safety and performance standards.
Customer advice
- Provide recommendations on future use and maintenance of the vehicle to extend its life and improve its performance. (source: fastercapital).
To illustrate this process, let’s take the example of Jaltest, an advanced diagnostic solution for heavy-duty vehicles:
- Initial diagnosis: Jaltest enables in-depth inspection by providing real-time data on the status of vehicle systems. Jaltest can read and analyze fault codes to identify electrical, mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic faults.
- Repair and maintenance: Jaltest offers detailed wiring diagrams and repair manuals, making it easy to repair and replace parts in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Functional testing: After repairs, Jaltest enables in-depth testing and adjustments to ensure that the vehicle is running smoothly.
- Final inspection: The solution enables a comprehensive final systems check to ensure that all repairs have been carried out correctly.
Customer advice: Jaltest provides recommendations based on the data collected, helping customers to keep their vehicles in optimum condition.
With its comprehensive technical database, Jaltest simplifies the maintenance and repair of trucks and other industrial vehicles. Its advanced features, such as assisted diagnostics and wiring diagrams, enable rapid fault identification and efficient resolution, whether for haulage trucks, agricultural, construction or marine equipement.
