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Equipment manufacturers and diversified suppliers reported mostly stronger fourth-quarter results.

Fleets that have adopted the latest in active safety technologies, such as adaptive cruise and electronic stability control and, most recently, collision mitigation, report that there is little additional maintenance associated with these complex electronic systems on trucks.

Equipment and component manufacturers are using new designs and materials such as aluminum to remove weight from Class 8 tractors, which helps fleets increase payload and maximize fuel efficiency.

While it’s no secret trucking fleets have been frustrated in recent years when it comes to getting problems with their rigs diagnosed and repaired in a timely manner, truck dealers say they are working harder than ever to improve service and uptime for their customers. But, they say, fleets need to step up to the plate as well.

Outside of brakes and oil changes, service in the aftermarket has largely operated as “fix as fail,” but that era is fading. Instead, more trucks have connected components and telematics, which means preventive maintenance is becoming the new norm. That is pushing the aftermarket to know when a truck is coming in, what part it needs and to get it to the service provider at the right time and right price, industry experts said.

The owner of Lakeville Motor Express, a company that in recent years has operated as a cartage agent for Minnesota-based regional less-than-truckload carrier LME Inc., said he has shut down the business due to “heavy financial losses” and operational difficulties, including “the inability to hire drivers.”

Commercial motor vehicle officers reported 13.2% of inspections resulted in out-of-service orders for brake violations during a weeklong brake enforcement operation, compared with 12.3% last year and 16.2% in 2014.