JOBSITE INNOVATIONS
A Holistic Approach to Trailer Total Cost of
OWNERSHIP
Many only think of cost in terms of purchase price, but this oversimplified approach can leave businesses with a trailer that costs more over its lifetime than they were prepared for.
W
ith a cost on par with the average U.S. home mortgage, heavy-haul trailers represent a significant investment for businesses.
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ASPHALT CONTRACTOR DECEMBER 2021
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The right trailer can provide fast ROI, greater productivity and increased profits. The wrong decision, however, can leave trucking companies with the financial burden of a unit that will cost far more in the long run than the business is prepared to take on. Unfortunately, the second scenario is all too common due to an incomplete understanding of total cost of ownership. Purchase price is sometimes the only factor buyers consider when evaluating the cost of a heavy-haul trailer. The initial cost, however, can be misleading when
considered alone. A comprehensive approach to calculating total cost of ownership requires an understanding of multiple factors, many of which cannot be found on the price tag. 1. PURCHASE PRICE The first and most obvious element of total cost of ownership is purchase price. To the seasoned equipment buyer, price is evaluated based on what the equipment needs to do and the value it adds to the business. Minimizing upfront costs isn’t as important to total cost of ownership as purchasing a trailer that
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