In reality, companies looking for 10, 30 or more identical trucks are often limited to ordering directly from manufacturers at higher prices and with long lead times. Most dealers and brokers simply do not hold such quantities of identically specified vehicles. Finding the right partner can be difficult, but the effort pays off, savings accumulate across many areas over time.
Whether companies expand or renew their fleet with identical vehicles – be they Volvo FH, Mercedes-Benz Actros or any other model – they gain immediate operational advantages thanks to predictable performance metrics.
With a standardised fleet, you work with known variables: fuel consumption differences typically stay below 3% across vehicles, and service schedules can be synchronised, for example every 60,000 kilometres. This predictability alone shortens planning time and improves delivery accuracy. The larger the fleet, the greater the effect.
Fleet standardisation also enables more advanced route optimisation. When dispatchers know that every tractor–trailer combination is fully compatible and performs the same, they can focus on efficiency rather than equipment matching. This flexibility is particularly valuable during peak periods or staff absences.
Simplified supplier coordination
Procurement becomes far more efficient when purchasing large batches of vehicles with identical specifications. One major order instead of multiple smaller ones reduces administrative workload significantly: fewer contracts to negotiate, fewer delivery schedules to manage and fewer invoices to process.
Buying vehicles in bulk from a single partner also cuts the time and logistical costs associated with coordinating multiple suppliers. This consistency ensures uniform vehicle quality, reducing future discrepancies in performance and maintenance needs.
Streamlined maintenance and servicing
The most tangible benefits of standardisation appear in the workshop, particularly when combined with modern preventive maintenance solutions. Research by the Deloitte Analytics Institute shows that periodic service maintenance – most effective for uniform fleets – increases workshop efficiency by 25%, reduces breakdowns by 70% and lowers servicing costs by 25%.
A breakdown on the road can cost around €2,000, compared with roughly €500 for planned maintenance. For fleets of 30 identical trucks, component failures become predictable across the group. If 10 vehicles show similar wear at around 180,000 kilometres, the remaining 20 can be serviced proactively before problems arise.
Parts inventory management also becomes much more efficient. Instead of stocking 15 different types of filters for a mixed fleet, only three may be needed. Buying parts in bulk typically brings discounts and lowers storage costs.
Less complex training
Standardising the fleet also simplifies driver training. When drivers only need to learn one vehicle type, onboarding time decreases significantly and the learning curve becomes far easier to manage.
Safety benefits follow naturally. When a driver switches from a Scania R one week to a Volvo FH the next, the risk of errors increases due to different braking responses, blind spots and control layouts.
Standardisation also improves driver satisfaction and retention. Truck drivers surveyed by Volvo and other industry bodies consistently state they prefer to stay with employers who provide comfortable, well-maintained and familiar vehicles.
Finding the right quantity in a constrained market
The core challenge remains: where can operators source large volumes of identical vehicles? The used truck market is usually too fragmented, with most dealers offering only 2–10 units of any specific model.
This gap is why specialised suppliers such as ClassTrucks focus on young, used trucks available in large numbers. Stock levels of 10, 30 or more identical units – same model, year and specification – allow companies to standardise their fleets without the premium prices or long lead times associated with new vehicles. For operators seeking immediate availability, savings of 15–25% compared with new trucks, and all the operational advantages of a uniform fleet, this approach offers a practical solution.
