february2021 - 28

SPOTLIGHT ON DRIVETRAIN

Delivering
on last-mile
vehicles
Maintenance
practices for
last-mile delivery
vehicles are more
important than
ever with the rise
of ecommerce
sales and parcel
deliveries.

By Emily Markham

ith the COVID-19 pandemic came an upsurge of
ecommerce sales and, in turn, parcel deliveries.
While ecommerce consumption has been steadily
increasing over the years, the pandemic expedited this growth. According to Chris Reamsnyder,
vice president of sales, commercial vehicle for
Raybestos, a brand of automotive brakes, projections suggest that this level of demand will not
go away when COVID-19 subsides.
The rise in ecommerce and parcel deliveries means fleets with last-mile delivery (LMD)
vehicles are in greater demand with more stops
than ever before. They must be prepared for the
increased wear and tear and have the proper
maintenance routines in place to keep these LMD
vehicles on the road and out of the shop.

Last-mile delivery vehicles

»Tires on last-mile delivery vehicles
should have all-season performance
capabilities for rough, year-round
work conditions and wet braking
in high-stress applications.
Photo courtesy of Michelin

28 Fleet Maintenance | February 2021

LMD vehicles are the final step in the delivery
process; they deliver packages to their final destinations. Compared to medium- and long-haul
vehicles, LMD vehicles are smaller in size making
them easier to maneuver wherever packages need
delivering - whether to a retail store or a residence.
Raybestos's Reamsnyder makes the comparison
that most LMD vehicles are closer in size to a minivan than a traditional freight hauler, though some
LMD vehicles are liftgate trucks.
As the demand for LMD vehicles continues
to rise, more companies are shifting away from
single trucks delivering large shipments to a
central location, notes Beth Mooney, senior
manager, marketing and ecommerce for Dana
Aftermarket, a provider of commercial vehicle
parts and products.
" This trend is driving significant growth in
light and medium duty vehicle platforms like the
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit, and Nissan
NV, " Mooney says. " The light and medium duty
classification of last mile delivery vehicles opens
the door for owner operators and non-CDL drivers
to get into localized package delivery. This, in turn,
creates a new opportunity for repair shop owners
to build their businesses, as service patterns shift
away from large fleet repair contracts. "
In the midst of this shift, repair shops must
ready their technicians for the increased number

»The Isuzu LMD vehicles have a low cab-forward
design, giving the vehicle a longer body with a
similar footprint compared to a conventional
vehicle, leaving more room for cargo.
Photo courtesy of Isuzu

of LMD vehicles that will require maintenance
and repairs.

Wear and tear

Due to the stop-and-go nature of LMD parts and
components such as drivetrain components,
brakes, and tires, they are easily and frequent-

february2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of february2021