For fleets with in-house mechanics
Your mechanics handle the basics. We handle the backlog.
The Knox Trailers Fleet Overflow Program is a recurring relationship for fleet managers who already run an in-house shop — and need a real partner when the bay is full, the tech is out, or the DOT date is coming up faster than the work can get done.
The reality
The math doesn't work when your shop is the only shop.
Your fleet has 25 trailers. Your in-house mechanic can comfortably handle PM on about 20 of them in a normal month. The other five sit. DOT dates start slipping. Repairs queue up behind PM. Then a tractor goes down and your tech is in the engine bay for two days and the trailer work waits.
Most fleets accept the math. They run trailers slightly behind on PM, defer non-critical repairs, and hope nothing fails on the road.
That math costs you more than it saves. We've sat down with fleet managers and run the numbers more times than we can count.
Fleet Overflow is the fix.
What it is
A real partnership, not a vendor relationship.
Fleet Overflow is a recurring monthly relationship. We get to know your fleet. You get to know our schedule. The work flows predictably, not reactively.
Reserved capacity
A predictable amount of bay time set aside for your fleet each week. Not first-come-first-served. Not waiting in line behind walk-ins.
Scheduled PM
We track your DOT inspection dates. We call you 30 days out. We schedule the work before the date slips.
Account terms
Pre-approved work scopes. Consolidated monthly invoicing. Direct account-manager line for scheduling and questions.
Emergency priority
When a trailer goes down unexpectedly, your fleet jumps the queue. After-hours emergency line for our long-term fleet customers.
Documented work
Every repair documented per DOT requirements. Inspection paperwork. Work-order history accessible to you on demand.
Honest scope
If we can't get to a trailer in your agreed window, we tell you early. If a repair turns out bigger than expected, we call before the work starts.
How it works
From first call to ongoing rhythm.
Discovery call
15-minute conversation. Fleet size, current shop capacity, services you want covered, geography, recurring pain points. No pitch, just understanding.
Fleet onboarding
We review your trailer inventory, DOT due dates, and existing PM cadence. We build a 12-month service calendar that aligns to your existing schedule.
First month of work
We pilot the relationship. You see our turnaround, communication, documentation, and billing on real work. Either side can walk after the first month with no hard feelings.
Ongoing rhythm
Monthly check-in. Quarterly review. Always-on access to your Knox Trailers account manager. The relationship gets better as we learn your fleet.
Coverage
What we cover under Fleet Overflow.
Anything we do at the shop is on the table. Your fleet's usage shapes the mix.
Specialty work outside our standard scope (paint refinishing, certain tractor work, specific OEM warranty service) we'll either handle case-by-case or refer to the right shop. We're honest about what we don't do.
Outcomes
What changes when Fleet Overflow is running.
Result 1
DOT dates stay current.
Your trailers don't run past inspection date. We track it. We schedule it. You don't have to remember.
Result 2
PM gets done.
Routine inspections, brake adjustments, lube service, lighting checks happen on schedule. The work that prevents bigger work later actually gets done.
Result 3
Your tech focuses on what only your tech can do.
Your in-house mechanic stops being a bottleneck. They focus on the work that requires being in your yard, on your trucks, with your team. We absorb the volume that doesn't.
Result 4
Downtime drops.
Trailers come in for scheduled work, not emergency work. Emergency work, when it does happen, gets prioritized. The fleet stays moving more weeks than it doesn't.
Result 5
Cost per mile drops.
Predictable maintenance is cheaper than reactive maintenance. We've documented this across multiple fleets. The numbers usually surprise the fleet manager who was sure they were already running lean.
Why Knox Trailers
Why operators trust us with the overflow.
We're operator-owned. The people deciding how Knox Trailers runs are people who've run fleets themselves. We know what it feels like to have your bay full, your tech buried, and a DOT date in two weeks. We built Fleet Overflow because we've been on your side of the desk.
We don't take fleet relationships lightly. When we agree to take on overflow capacity, we're committing to your scheduling reliability for the long term. We'd rather say no to a fleet relationship we can't serve well than overpromise and drop the ball.
Our shop runs on the same principles we recommend to fleet managers: documented systems, predictable scheduling, parts in stock, real diagnostic equipment, certified techs. We're a Knoxville shop, not a chain. The person who answers the phone is the person who'll know your fleet.
Honest disclosure
Fleet Overflow isn't right for everyone.
We'll tell you upfront if we're not the right partner. A few situations where Fleet Overflow doesn't fit:
- The geography doesn't work for recurring scheduled service in your area.
- You need a single-vendor solution that includes work we don't do (paint refinishing, specific OEM tractor warranty service, etc.).
- Your fleet size is so large that overflow capacity would saturate our shop and underserve other customers.
- Price is the only criteria. We don't compete on lowest hourly rate. We compete on total cost of ownership over the relationship.
- Your team isn't set up to share fleet data with an outside partner. Fleet Overflow works because we know your trailers as well as your in-house team does.
The questions fleet managers actually ask.
How much does Fleet Overflow cost?
There's no flat program fee. You pay for work as it's done, at fleet pricing. The relationship doesn't add cost — it changes how the work flows. We'll walk through real numbers on the discovery call.
Is there a minimum term?
No long-term contract. We pilot the relationship for the first month. After that it's month-to-month. Either side can walk with 30 days notice. We earn the relationship by performing, not by locking you in.
What if my fleet has a slow month?
Reserved capacity is reserved, but if you don't have work to fill it, you don't pay for unused time. We adjust the next month's schedule based on actual fleet activity.
What if I have to pull a trailer I'd normally bring to you?
No penalty. If you need to keep a specific job in-house, you keep it. Fleet Overflow exists to add capacity, not to take work away from your shop.
Do you do mobile service as part of Fleet Overflow?
Yes. Mobile service at your yard is included under the program. Reduces shuttling time. Many of our fleet customers prefer recurring scheduled mobile service for routine PM.
What about emergency work?
Fleet customers get priority queue placement on emergency work, plus 24/7 emergency line access. We've never had to tell a fleet customer 'we'll get to it Tuesday' on a real emergency.
Can I see what other fleets are saying about the program?
Yes. We're happy to put you in touch with current fleet customers as part of the discovery call. We don't list them on the website because we respect their confidentiality, but they've volunteered to take peer-to-peer reference calls.
Schedule a 15-minute consultation.
No pitch deck. No commitment. A real conversation about your fleet, your shop, and whether Fleet Overflow makes sense.
Mon–Fri 7am–6pm Eastern. Most consultations scheduled within a week of contact.