Datatruck Raises $12M Series A to Accelerate AI-Native TMS for Carriers
9/25/26, 9:59 PM
Semi Truck Preventive Maintenance Schedule by Mileage and PM Level
Most trucks put out of service at the roadside fail on a brake, a tire or a light that a scheduled check would have caught. A semi truck preventive maintenance schedule should start from your engine manufacturer's intervals for your duty cycle, not a generic mileage chart. Federal rules already require you to keep one in writing.
Key takeaways
|
Why Your Duty Cycle Sets the Preventive Maintenance Schedule
A semi truck preventive maintenance schedule is a written plan of inspections and services, set by mileage, engine hours or time, that follows the engine and chassis manufacturer's intervals for your duty cycle and meets FMCSA's 49 CFR 396.3 recordkeeping rule.
The oil drain interval anchors everything, and engine makers set it by fuel economy. Detroit's DD15 Gen 5 operator manual uses four bands:
7.0 MPG or better: 75,000 miles
6.0 to 6.9 MPG: 60,000 miles
5.1 to 5.9 MPG: 45,000 miles or 1,000 hours
5.0 MPG or less: 35,000 miles or 750 hours
The 2020 to 2021 Cummins X15 runs 25,000 to 75,000 miles by MPG band, capped at 12 months.
The catch is that PM A, B and C are fleet and shop conventions, not federal standards. Confirm every interval in your OEM or engine manual, because it varies by duty cycle.
Semi Truck Preventive Maintenance Schedule by Service Level
Use this as a framework and fill in the numbers from your manuals. Letter labels vary by shop.
Service level | Typical interval | What gets done | Rule or source |
Every trip / daily | Before driving and at the end of each day's work | Walkaround of brakes, steering, lights, tires, coupling, wheels. DVIR only if a defect is found. | 49 CFR 396.13, 396.11 |
PM A (light service) | Set by your fleet between oil changes | Chassis lube, brake adjustment, tires, lights, air leaks, fluid levels, open DVIR items | Fleet or shop convention |
PM B (oil service) | OEM oil drain interval, such as 35,000 to 75,000 miles on a DD15 | PM A plus oil, filters, coolant check | Detroit DD15 manual, Cummins X15 guide |
PM C / annual | At least every 12 months, time-based, plus major service at the intervals in your OEM manual | Appendix A annual inspection plus OEM major service | 49 CFR 396.17, 396.21 |
What Skipped PM Costs a Carrier
Maintenance costs rise either way. ATRI's 2026 cost report put the average cost to operate a truck in 2025 at $2.336 per mile, a record, with repair and maintenance up 8.6%.
Roadside, the failures are mostly PM items. At the CVSA 2026 International Roadcheck, 23.5% of vehicles given Level I, II or V inspections were placed out of service.
Brake systems: 24.3% of vehicle out-of-service violations
Tires: 20.9%, so check tread depth at every service
These are among the most common DOT violations. An out-of-service truck earns nothing, while a scheduled PM happens between loads on your timeline. Your work-order history is the first place to look to reduce operating costs.
What FMCSA Requires in Every Maintenance Program
Under 49 CFR 396.3, carriers must systematically inspect, repair and maintain their vehicles. For each vehicle controlled 30 consecutive days, records need "a means to indicate the nature and due date of the various inspection and maintenance operations to be performed." Your PM calendar is a compliance record.
396.17 requires every CMV to pass an annual inspection at least once every 12 months, whatever the mileage. Your own qualified inspector or a commercial garage acting as your agent can perform it.
Maintenance records: 1 year, and 6 months after the vehicle leaves your control
DVIRs and repair certifications: 3 months
Annual inspection reports: 14 months
These sit alongside the other FMCSA regulations every carrier must know.
Facts schedules often get wrong
|
Daily Inspections and Seasonal Checks
Drivers are the first layer. Under 396.13, before driving, the driver must be satisfied the truck is safe and must review and sign the last inspection report.
The DVIR is prepared at the end of each day's work under 396.11, and only when a defect is found. You repair or certify each defect before the next trip. Electronic DVIRs are allowed.
Before winter and summer, add these to the next PM:
Air dryer service and air tank draining
Batteries and charging system
Coolant condition
Fuel filters and gelling protection
A/C system
Tire condition and pressure
Track Maintenance Cost by Truck, Not by Fleet
A fleet-wide maintenance number hides the truck dragging it down. Preventative maintenance only pays when you can see where the money goes.
Log every service as a work order against the unit, then compare each truck's repair cost per mile against its own history. When one truck's line keeps climbing, the truck age sweet spot frames the replace decision.
Where Datatruck Fits
Datatruck is a TMS for carriers with work orders built for trucking, a Maintenance Report, truck and trailer inspection lists, and a Truck Annual Inspection Report. Custom inspection forms go to the DT Driver App, where drivers finish them in a few taps.
Comparing tools? Start with choosing truck maintenance software. You set the schedule, and Datatruck shows what each truck costs to run.
FAQs
How often should a semi truck get serviced?
Follow your engine OEM's oil drain interval for your MPG band, roughly 35,000 to 75,000 miles on a DD15. Add daily driver inspections and an annual inspection every 12 months.
What is the difference between PM A, PM B and PM C?
They are shop labels, not federal terms. PM A is a light lube and safety check, PM B adds oil service, and PM C is the annual or major service.
Is the DOT annual inspection the same as a PM?
No. The 396.17 annual inspection is a minimum check every 12 months, while 396.3 requires an ongoing maintenance program with due-date records.
How long do you keep truck maintenance records?
Keep maintenance records 1 year, plus 6 months after the vehicle leaves your control. Keep DVIRs 3 months and annual inspection reports 14 months.