Top 5 Reasons to Use an On-site Maintenance Provider

Updated March 17, 2025

When your business relies on a commercial fleet, uptime is everything. Deliveries must be on schedule, customers expect reliability, and every hour a truck is down costs money. But maintaining a fleet has become more challenging than ever. Advances in engine and exhaust technology require specialized skills, and the industry-wide shortage of qualified technicians makes it difficult to find and retain top talent. Managing in-house maintenance also comes with added risks, from compliance headaches to unexpected repair costs.

That’s where on-site fleet maintenance, managed by a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, comes in. By bringing expert technicians, cutting-edge diagnostic tools, and industry-best practices directly to your facility, a 3PL can eliminate the operational complexity of fleet maintenance while reducing downtime and overall costs. Instead of dealing with the challenges of hiring and training technicians, sourcing parts, and maintaining shop equipment, businesses can focus on what they do best—serving their customers.

In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of outsourcing your on-site maintenance to a 3PL provider. From reducing liability and administrative burdens to optimizing vehicle performance and ensuring compliance, we’ll break down the key reasons why more fleet-dependent businesses are making the shift.

What is On-Site Commercial Truck Maintenance?

On-site fleet maintenance is a vehicle maintenance shop the covers all aspects of commercial vehicle upkeep and repairs directly at a business’s location. It can be managed by the business itself or a third-party provider, like Ryder. This approach integrates certified technicians, tools, and technology into a company’s operations, ensuring optimal fleet performance while reducing downtime and administrative burdens.

Whether you need to optimize your fleet for peak performance or make repairs to avoid costly downtime, dedicated shops can offer preventive, on-demand, or full-service maintenance services from certified technicians. When you partner with a 3PL for on-site maintenance, the provider manages all fleet maintenance related to your business, such as hiring and training new technicians, parts procurement, and repairing your vehicles completely in-house.

Top 5 Reasons for On-Site Maintenance from a 3PL

Below, we examine the top reasons to shift your on-site maintenance to a third-party provider:

1. Employee Risk: Employer Liability, Worker’s Compensation, Hiring, and Training
2. Administrative and Vehicle Operations Expenses
3. Environmental & Compliance Expenses
4. Shop Investment: Tooling, Technology, Parts Inventory
5. Transition Risk

On-Site Maintenance Covers Employee Risk

Aside from vehicle operations, employer liability and worker’s compensation are two of the most important factors businesses consider when outsourcing to a 3PL for on-site maintenance. Even if keeping maintenance in-house provides some gross cost savings, it can be quickly wiped out by one employer liability claim. Additionally, employers often overlook the ongoing costs in recruiting, hiring, training, and compliance to avoid costly mistakes on or off the road. As an example, Ryder technicians get about monthly training to ensure operations run smoothly. Lastly, soft costs are another important factor to consider when deciding whether to employ someone in a role that may not be core to your operations.

On-Site Maintenance Manages Administration Duties and Vehicle Operations

Administrative duties cover a wide scope of tasks and often come with expenses that add up. Sometimes, these costs are not included in a company’s evaluation of its total maintenance spend and can impact the budget that influences fleet management solutions. These include:

• Parts procurement coordination
• Inventory management
• In-house and outside repair (like body damage) coordination
• Record keeping
• Vacation/sick coverage costs

As previously mentioned, the costs associated with vehicle operation is a critical component of fleet management. From analyzing commercial vehicles to diagnosing issues, fleet managers are responsible for making the final decision on ordering automotive parts. But they are also in charge of route optimization, setting driver delivery schedules, requesting emergency road service when needed, and keeping all vehicles compliant with the latest Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. This is a common reason logistics professionals consider outsourcing to a third-party logistics provider to handle these responsibilities, especially when making large-scale purchases involved with fully updating a fleet.

On-Site Maintenance Handles Environmental & Compliance Expenses

When you outsource to an on-site maintenance provider, that 3PL can help reduce or eliminate future environmental and legal responsibilities, as well as related expenses. You can transfer the responsibility of handling OSHA or DOT safety matters to the 3PL, including cleaning up environmental waste to prevent environmental hazards. The on-site maintenance provider will be the party going forward holding those important future obligations, and we know these costs can be significant.

On-Site Maintenance Providers are Involved in Shop Investment

Partnering with a third-party logistics provider for on-site maintenance services allows fleet managers and 3PL professionals to collaborate and build a strategy on shop investment. Due to the evolving landscape of the transportation industry and advancements in technology, IT and Telecom equipment, as well as floor equipment, needs frequent upgrading to stay ahead of the competition. The following impact your total cost of maintenance and insourcing, even if accounted for separately at the company level:

• Oil, lube, and compressor equipment to meet environmental and local compliance regulations
• Spare vehicles
• Service vehicles to perform yard checks or nearby repairs
• Fleet reporting and management systems

On-Site Maintenance Providers Decrease Transition Risk

Often, the biggest barrier companies face when deciding to outsource to an on-site maintenance provider is taking that initial leap to transition. However, the risk of transition is minimized with a 3PL that can offer a 1-year term. Lastly, the transition to a provider can come with a project and implementation management team to help with an efficient and effective transition, launch and operation.

Why Businesses Like Turkey Hill Choose Ryder for On-Site Maintenance

How Turkey Hill Benefits from On-Site Maintenance

As a leading producer of ice cream and refrigerated beverages, Turkey Hill depends on a reliable fleet to keep its products moving efficiently. To modernize its aging fleet of 80 trucks and 230 trailers while avoiding the capital investment of ownership, Turkey Hill partnered with Ryder for a full-service lease solution.

Beyond upgrading its fleet, Turkey Hill also faced challenges in managing its maintenance operations. Ryder stepped in to oversee the on-site maintenance facility, providing state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, advanced tools, and continuous training for technicians. This partnership not only keeps Turkey Hill’s fleet in peak condition but also alleviates the burden of recruiting, retaining, and compensating skilled mechanics in a competitive labor market.

“Fleet maintenance was a big part of why we chose Ryder,” said Christine Bense, Chief Operating Officer at Turkey Hill. “It was difficult to keep up with the demand and training of the technicians, the changing regulations, and technology, while also competing with large providers to pay technicians what they should be paid. Ryder provides the tools, training, and technology to keep the shop running. Our technicians knew they were going to a great employer in Ryder, so there is no people issue. Our trucks are maintained and ready when we need them.”

Reliable equipment is critical for ensuring that Turkey Hill delivers products without delay or unexpected disruptions. By leveraging Ryder’s on-site maintenance and roadside assistance, the company minimizes downtime and gives its drivers peace of mind. “It is a lot less stressful knowing I’m getting into a vehicle that is well maintained,” said David Firestone, a long-time Turkey Hill driver. With Ryder’s support, Turkey Hill can focus on its core business while maintaining a high-performance fleet that meets both operational and customer expectations.

FAQ About On-Site Maintenance

Are you interested in on-site maintenance for your business? Check out some of these frequently asked questions:

Does an on-site maintenance provider offer full-service solutions?

Yes, on-site maintenance providers offer businesses full-service solutions. However, these solutions can flex to your needs with services ranging from scheduled preventive maintenance to emergency repairs.

What vehicles benefit from an on-site commercial truck maintenance provider?

On-site commercial truck maintenance providers can repair or upgrade trucks, vans, trailers, and tractors such as:

• Box trucks
• Straight trucks
• Single- or double-axle semi trucks
• Sprinter vans
• Sleeper trucks
• Refrigerated trailers
• Flatbed trailers
• Electric commercial vehicles (vans, trucks, tractors)

What types of businesses can partner with an on-site maintenance provider?

Businesses from a variety of industries can take advantage of the services that an on-site maintenance provider offers. These include retailers, food and beverage vendors, furniture companies, businesses that sell electronics such as appliances, and many more.

Do I lose control of my fleet with on-site maintenance?

No, you gain more. Because on-site maintenance providers take over your fleet management, you may think you have little to no control over your transportation logistics. Ryder offers you real-time visibility of your fleet status; regular communication with our service managers and technicians when you need it.

How do I learn more about Ryder On-Site Maintenance?

If you’d like to learn more about Ryder On-Site Maintenance, simply contact one of our expert representatives or download the Ryder On-Site Maintenance brochure today.