Indiana • Shop vs Mobile
There’s a time for the dealer and a time for a mobile tech — this walks through the difference in plain language.
Dealerships are not the enemy. They have tools, training, and access to software that independents sometimes do not. But they also have a different business model than a mobile fleet service, and fleets feel that difference every time a truck disappears into a bay for days at a time.
On-site fleet service shines in the day-to-day work that keeps trucks earning: PMs, inspections, electrical diagnosis, ride complaints, air leaks, and repairs that can be done safely where the trucks park. The downtime is measured in hours instead of days, and the driver usually knows the technician by name.
There will always be jobs that belong at the dealer: major warranty campaigns, in-frame rebuilds, deep transmission work, and certain programming events. A healthy fleet uses both options on purpose. The key is having a mobile partner you trust to tell you which is which without turning every visit into a sales pitch.
Next: see Services • request on-site service • more guides
