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Building a PM cadence that matches your duty cycle
Maria Castillo2025-09-226 min read
Why OEM intervals are a starting point, not a finish line, and how to right-size PMs across different vehicle types.
OEM PM intervals assume a generic duty cycle. Most fleets do not run a generic duty cycle. A short-haul box truck doing 200 stops a day stresses brakes, transmission, and tires very differently from a long-haul tractor. Build PM tiers around your actual duty cycle. Tier A: short, every 6,000 to 10,000 miles, focused on safety items and consumables (oil, filters, brakes, lights). Tier B: every 25,000 to 50,000 miles, deeper inspection plus driveline, cooling, charging, EBS. Tier C: annual, full DOT, suspension geometry, frame, full fluid analysis. Adjust intervals based on oil analysis trends and DTC frequency. Document everything. The right cadence costs less than the wrong cadence by a wide margin.