Beyond the Price Tag: Why Total Cost of Ownership Matters for Fleets

When shopping for new trucks, experts say fleets and owner-operators should look past the sticker price and focus on the total cost of ownership (TCO).

A low upfront cost may seem appealing, but over years of service, factors like uptime, reliability, fuel economy, diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) consumption, duty cycle and driver satisfaction ultimately determine profitability.

“If I have learned one thing in my 40 years in trucking, it’s that all decisions are made looking at all capital and operating costs. Many fleets know these costs to the tenth of a penny per mile,” said Mike Roeth, Executive Director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE).

Cummins plans to publish a series examining factors that affect total cost of ownership in trucks featuring its X15 integrated powertrain.

“There’s an initial cost to purchase, a cost to operate that asset, a cost to maintain it and then ultimately the residual value of that asset,” said Kyle Richardson, X15 Product Manager. 

Fuel Economy—and Beyond

Fuel economy often tops the list of considerations. The 2024 X15 Efficiency Series delivers up to 1% better fuel savings while EX ratings can add up to 1.75% more miles per gallon in certain duty cycles. That is a meaningful boost for TCO—but it is not everything and for some, it is not even the top priority.

“I think uptime is more important than fuel economy. Uptime is extremely important,” said Kristopher Ptasznik, Cummins Powertrain TCO & Consultancy Leader for North American Customer Support.

A truck sitting idle in a shop adds no value, regardless of its fuel economy.

Every Mile Counts

Trucking is a business where every mile and minute matters. Over time, small savings snowball into big gains.

“It’s that snowball effect of every little bit of savings adding up to a net positive total cost of ownership,” Ptasznik said.
He would know. After 18 years at Cummins, Ptasznik has earned a reputation as a go-to expert.

“He’s the master when it comes to spec’ing,” said Richardson.
Ptasznik credits a dedicated team that brought the X15 to full production in 2017.

“I am not the only person at Cummins who knows how to spec a truck. I get involved with some of the really weird stuff,” Ptasznik said.

The Evolution of X15

Both point to the X15’s steady evolution since its late-2016 debut. Customer feedback and Cummins’ digital tools—such as Acumen, INSITE Engine Diagnostics and Connected Solutions—have combined to deliver data-driven value that strengthens TCO.

“The X15 has never been more reliable,” Richardson said. “The data shows these modern engines are way more reliable than their predecessors. The X15 has continued to mature and is in the sweetest spot it has ever been.”

Ptasznik agreed, recalling Cummins’ trusted N14 which the X-Series replaced in 2001 under stricter EPA regulations.

“I think it’s important to note that the X15 is more reliable than the N14 in spite of modern emissions components, even including the aftertreatment system the N14 didn’t have,”

Ptasznik said. “We still touch it less. High-pressure common rail, EGR, VG turbos—N14 had none of that and yet the X15 is still more reliable.”

Next in the Series: Reliability and uptime—why they matter most.