As the Australian truck parc grows, and with the introduction of alternative powertrain vehicles, a key consideration is the need for trucks to be well-maintained for road safety compliance as part of an operator’s adherence to Chain of Responsibility laws.
Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) has seen an uptick in the number of customers opting for its servicing plan, which is why it has opted to offer a limited-time deal on service packages for select models.
Until 30 September IAL is offering a six-year Essentials Service Agreement package for the price of three years on selected N Series Ready-to-Work and N Series cab-chassis models.
This is supported by Isuzu’s existing six-year truck warranty and six-years of roadside assistance on N series cab chassis, and three-year warranty on truck body equipment in its Ready-to-Work range.
Catering to a range of customers and transport end users, the key drawcard of an Isuzu service agreement is the predictable monthly or upfront fee, which flattens out maintenance costs and allows operators to better understand their total cost of ownership (or TCO) for the vehicle.
Head of Aftersales for IAL, Brett Stewart, said the goal of the program is to provide a better all-round truck ownership experience for Isuzu Trucks customers.
“We want customers to get the most from their truck ownership experience with Isuzu, a critical element of this being their truck spending more time doing what it needs to do—and not held up in the workshop,” he said.
“If we can also assist businesses to gain greater clarity around whole-of-life vehicle costs and their compliance obligations, it’s a win-win for everyone.
“A service agreement can be a useful tool in calculating TCO with a regular monthly bill or upfront payment so that there are no costly surprises in the expected servicing routine.
“This is particularly important during the first few years of truck ownership, as it often correlates with when businesses are establishing a name for themselves, and when vehicle up-time is critical.”
In 2023, IAL reported the take-up of service agreements by Isuzu Trucks customers rose by 36 per cent (year-on-year growth), exceeding the brand’s anticipated targets over a three-year period.
Furthermore, the updated Future of Trucking Report released earlier in the year indicated 41 per cent of transport industry respondents had taken out the option of a tailored servicing package.
Isuzu Service Agreements are designed to offer comprehensive coverage on a truck’s essential, high-wear componentry, ranging from engine and transmission to brakes, suspension and electrical, with additional options available for the customer’s peace of mind.
All work is carried out by factory-trained Isuzu technicians, using only Isuzu genuine parts or approved parts and consumables.
“Feedback has been extremely positive with many of our customers saying they should have done it sooner and recommending it to others as a value-add to business,” said Mr Stewart.
“This spans existing Isuzu truck buyers who are signing-up service agreements on new vehicles, to brand new buyers such as tradies upgrading from a ute to a light truck, who are clearly seeing the benefits for their business from the get-go.”
