As maintenance vehicles get older, it can be challenging for any transportation agency to balance the price of replacement with the increasing costs of maintenance and repairs. Taking a data-driven approach, researchers for the Utah Department of Transportation conducted life-cycle analyses for three common maintenance vehicles: loaders, sweepers and graders. Considering the vehicles’ acquisition price, depreciation value and estimated maintenance needs, the researchers’ recommendations can help agencies prepare for the substantial expense of replacing these vehicles.
Read the report: Analytical Framework for Life Cycle and Performance Assessment of Equipment Programs, May 2021.
Image source: Pennsylvania DOT