Refurbishment: essential considerations to refurbish a fleet
Trailer refurbishment has become increasingly vital due to rising new equipment costs and corporate ESG demands. Refurbishment checks all the boxes, it’s cost efficient and environmentally responsible. A key alternative to purchasing new equipment. In this article, we explore the key benefits of refurbishment and outline essential considerations to refurbish a fleet.
Financially attractive alternative
For companies aiming to control costs, refurbishment presents a financially attractive alternative. Purchasing a new trailer can require a significant initial investment. Refurbishment offers a way to refresh existing assets at a fraction of the cost, lowering capital expenditure, especially for companies that prefer a full-service lease option or wish to extend the life of their existing equipment.
In many cases, refurbishment can provide nearly the same performance as new equipment, with a much lower initial outlay. This makes refurbishment an appealing choice for companies looking to balance performance with financial prudence.
Another option to consider is Sale & Leaseback, where companies sell their existing trailers and lease them back after refurbishment. This arrangement eliminates the need for significant upfront investment, reduces maintenance costs compared to ownership, and frees up capital tied to fleet assets.
More reliable fleet operation
Maintenance is a substantial cost for fleet operators, particularly as trailers age. During refurbishment, essential repairs and upgrades are performed on critical components, such as brake systems, suspension, and structural elements. This level of attention ensures that refurbished trailers are equipped to handle the demands of regular usage.
A key aspect of refurbishment is proactive component replacement, which extends the time between repairs and helps avoid costly, unscheduled maintenance. This means more predictable maintenance expenses, fewer unplanned service interruptions, and ultimately, more reliable fleet operation.
Extend the life of a trailer
One of the main advantages of refurbishment is the ability to significantly extend the life of a trailer across various asset types. Whether it’s a van, curtainsider, or chassis trailer, refurbishment can include anything from cosmetic updates, such as fresh paintwork and new curtains, to technical repairs and component replacements, like brake systems and axles, or full structural overhauls, tailored to the trailer’s condition and usage. In practice, the typical asset types are Van trailers and Curtainsider trailers between 7 and 10 years old, for which refurbishment can mean extending life.
Tangible environmental benefits
“Refurbishment aligns directly with circular economy principles by maximising the use of natural resources, reducing waste, and extending the lifecycle of assets,” explains Markus Pretzl, ESG Director at TIP Group. “The circular economy is about taking resources, putting them into products, and using them as long as possible. When they reach the end of their life, we reintroduce these materials back into the cycle, avoiding waste and significantly reducing the industry's environmental footprint.”
A refurbished trailer – over its lifetime - can save an estimated 15.7 tonnes of CO2 emissions compared to the emissions required to manufacture a new one. A calculation from TIP Group. These savings make refurbishment a powerful tool in meeting corporate sustainability objectives.
Faster availability of trailers
The ability to quickly secure additional trailers can be a decisive factor, where refurbishment offers a fast solution to meet demand.
“When companies choose refurbishment over purchasing new trailers, they can significantly cut down wait times. While a new trailer can take up to a year due to supply chain issues, refurbishment allows us to turn trailers around in just a few months,” says Jan van Vugt, TIP Group's Global Maintenance and Development Director. “In a time when lead times for new trailers are long and unpredictable, refurbishing gives businesses a quicker, more reliable way to maintain fleet capacity without the need to invest in new assets. This approach keeps operations smooth and reduces the risk of downtime.”
The streamlined process for refurbishment, often taking just a few months, allows companies to efficiently manage fleet requirements. In many cases, other assets can be quickly deployed to fill the temporary gap in capacity. In fast-paced logistics, where delays can mean lost revenue, the faster availability of refurbished trailers provides a valuable advantage.
By refurbishing existing trailers, companies can achieve significant savings, reduce maintenance costs, extend asset life, and minimise environmental impact. For companies exploring fleet management strategies, refurbishment offers a solution that balances performance with cost savings, faster availability, and a commitment to a greener future.
