Long-Lasting Pickups, Hidden Downtime, and Racing Lessons Lead This Week’s Work Truck News

A four-hour repair shouldn’t mean a week without your truck. But between approvals, shop updates, and arranging pickup, the waiting can take longer than the work.

In this week’s Truck Chat Weekly Cheat Sheet, Lauren Fletcher covers truck longevity, hidden downtime, and the preparation that keeps fleets moving. Get caught up before your coffee gets cold, then explore the stories below.

First up, which pickups are most likely to reach the quarter-million-mile mark? The updated iSeeCars longevity rankings put the Ram 3500 first, followed by the Toyota Tundra and GMC Sierra 3500HD. See how the other trucks compare and what those estimates mean for fleet replacement planning.

Next, where did the other six days go when the repair took only four hours? ServiceUp’s Brett Carlson explains how reviewing your last 20 repair orders can help uncover delays in approvals, communication, and getting finished vehicles back into service.

We also revisit what fleets should know about rerating GVWR. Changing a truck’s rating involves more than replacing a label. The refreshed article addresses engineering, certification, and the distinctions between new and used vehicles.

And what can racing teach a work truck fleet? Race car driver and mechanical engineer Isaac Johnson shares lessons from the work nobody sees, from building relationships to giving people the resources they need before the wheels ever roll.

Quick hits round out this week’s episode:

• Workhorse partners with Tristan Fleet Management, its first Canadian dealer partner, to sell and service W56 electric step vans.
• HCSS integrates with Verizon Connect to bring mileage, equipment hours, and other fleet data into HCSS Fleet without manual entry.
• Volvo unveils its new VNX vocational lineup, including Remote Steer technology for maneuvering the truck from outside the cab.
• Acela adds Ford and Ram chassis with DuraLink suspension, expanding options for demanding on- and off-road applications.

Watch this week’s episode for the quick rundown, and follow the links for the details that matter to your operation.