Maintenance Costs Dip Slightly, but Digital Tools Help Fleets Combat Long-Term Rise

Key Details Repair expenses fell 1.3% in Q4 2025 according to Decisiv and TMC benchmark data, with labor costs dropping 2.6% and parts costs down 0.4%. This marks a relief after a steep 3.8% increase in the previous quarter. Why It Matters Despite the recent dip, parts and labor costs have surged 27.4% since early 2020. Fleets are successfully moderating increases through data-driven strategies, but long-term cost pressures remain significant for maintenance budgets. The Digital Solution Fleets increasingly leverage standardized VMRS coding systems and machine learning to track maintenance trends and identify efficiency gains. Decisiv's platform automatically assigns proper codes to service records, solving a critical gap where technicians manually enter codes only 5-20% of the time. Moving Forward Digitizing maintenance processes has become essential before deploying AI and advanced analytics. Fleet managers adopting these tools gain competitive advantages in controlling costs while technician shortages and rising parts prices continue pressuring the industry.