Tractors are expensive.
And when they break down, it’s expensive.
Unfortunately, no matter how well you maintain your truck, it can still break down. Get your oil changes on time, take it in every time you hear something knocking that shouldn’t be knocking, and you can still have a part that unexpectedly fails. It’s not your fault and it can be extremely frustrating to pay for something that expensive and so out of your control.
If you own your truck or you’re leasing it, those costs come directly out of your pocket. But even if you’re a company driver and you don’t have to make truck payments, you still have to meet certain requirements to ensure you meet your warranty requirements.
As the warranty maintenance manager here at Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), I’ll help you understand the warranties offered on tractors, how to meet warranty requirements and if you need to purchase extended warranty coverage.
When you’re finished reading this article, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of semi-truck warranties and know exactly how to navigate your next warranty claim.
Types of Semi-Truck Warranties
There are several types of warranties you should concern yourself with as a semi-truck driver. They include factory warranties and aftermarket warranties on the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) system and the engine compartment.
Semi-Truck Factory Warranties
Factory warranties are warranties offered by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the truck parts. So, whoever built the truck and the parts that are going into your semi-truck are the ones that provide a warranty on them. Typically, your primary factory warranty will be from Peterbilt, Freightliner, Kenworth, Volvo and so on — or whoever you bought your truck from. Certain manufacturers source out their parts, so there may be many factory warranties on your truck. That means not every warranty will be the same or carry the same requirements and terms.
All factory warranties have a different range. For example, some are 12 months or 100,000 miles — whichever comes first. Others are 24 months or 250,000 miles. It all depends on which manufacturer you purchased your truck through.
Factory warranties are offered at no cost to the buyer upon purchasing a new truck from the brand. However, you can decide to purchase additional coverage at your discretion.
Federal Emissions Warranty
There’s a federal emissions warranty that comes standard on all vehicles. It lasts 100,000 miles or 60 months, whichever comes first. This is the way the federal government helps ensure vehicles are following federal emissions guidelines. As a truck driver, though, you’ll burn through this warranty coverage pretty quickly and not have a chance to take advantage of it.
After-Treatment Warranties
Semi-trucks have after-treatment warranties on the DEF system and the engine. Even if your basic factory warranty terms have passed, these other components can still be covered with these after-treatment warranties.
The DEF system warranty addresses major components in the exhaust system. The engine warranty addresses parts in the engine compartment, like the crankshaft, water pump, injectors and other similar parts. If something in one of these systems fails and you’re under warranty, the fix will be covered.
Again, the warranty coverage on these can range between 250,000 or 500,000 miles. Some OEMs even let you purchase coverage that extends further than that.
Used Truck Warranties
If you’re purchasing or leasing a used truck, the company may provide you with other warranties. For instance, some of the trucks leased through the CES program here at ATS provide a 30-day bumper-to-bumper warranty. If anything goes wrong in the first 30 days, repairs are covered.
If you’re buying a used or leased truck, the warranty the truck previously held transfers to you.
Before you lease a truck or purchase a used truck from a dealer, make sure you understand what sort of warranty coverage they offer and the terms that go along with it.
Semi-Truck Extended Warranties
You can choose to purchase an aftermarket extended warranty to cover your semi-truck. Often, drivers elect to purchase this coverage on a used truck.
Semi-trucks and their parts are extremely expensive and breakdowns can set you back. While extended warranty coverage can be costly, it might be worth it to you if it’ll help cover the cost of a substantial repair.
Meeting Semi-Truck Warranty Requirements
You know how Apple won’t give you a new iPhone if you dropped yours in the lake, but they’ll send you a new one if one of their parts malfunctions? The same goes for semi-trucks and their warranties.
If you’re negligent and don’t meet the warranty requirements you won’t meet the warranty terms.
The first step is to obviously be within the warranty coverage window. Either you need to be under a certain mileage or timeframe. But you also need to take care of your truck.
By failing to take care of the semi-truck as it’s outlined in your owner’s manual, you can essentially cause your truck to fail. For instance, if you don’t go in for oil changes regularly, the components of the truck that need to be properly lubricated won’t be, and that can cause them to fail. That isn’t the OEMs fault. The failure was because the truck wasn’t properly maintained and taken in for regular service.
Remember how I said the warranty transfers to the new owner when buying a used truck (if still applicable)? Well, if the previous owner didn’t take care of the truck and go in for regular service, the warranty can be deemed null. Make sure, before you buy, you ask for access to maintenance records so you don’t get burned this way.
Additionally, you can also void parts of your warranty if you idle your truck for too long. Excessive idling can be hard on the emissions system and it adds engine hours to the truck. If something in the emissions systems failed, they may look at your engine hours or your percentage of idle time. Some factory warranties expire by engine hours, so excessive idling could prevent you from receiving warranty coverage.
The lesson in this is to closely review your owner’s manual and follow the recommended service intervals. Keep a maintenance log and receipts so you have a record of when you took your truck in for service. You may also need to get your truck fixed at approved dealers.
If you’re buying a used truck, ask the previous owner for their maintenance records and see if they still have warranty coverage on the truck. It can increase the value of the truck exponentially. Try to purchase from a dealer if you can.
Related: Understanding truck idling laws
Avoid Expensive Repairs
Semi-trucks do come with warranties, including factory warranties offered by the OEM and aftermarket warranties for specific components like the DEF system and engine. Factory warranties vary in terms and coverage, and they are typically offered at no cost when purchasing a new truck.
Meeting warranty requirements is crucial, and failure to properly maintain the truck can result in voiding the warranty. Additional coverage can be purchased through aftermarket extended warranties, which may be a wise investment considering the high cost of truck repairs.
As a truck driver, understanding and navigating these warranties can save you from unexpected financial burdens and ensure smooth operations on the road.
Want to learn how to avoid expensive breakdowns? Follow these breakdown prevention tips.