If a fleet decides that it would rather outsource its vehicle alignment services, Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Recommended Practice (RP) 642 has some advice on choosing a good alignment partner.
- Ask the alignment provider specific questions. This will help expose any “holes” in their alignment service itself, and/or their level of expertise. For example, ask for data showing how they maximize tire tread life. Ask if their alignment service includes the rear axles.
- Ask the alignment provider for references. Michael Beckett of MD Alignment Services couldn’t agree more. “Talk to other fleets and find out what they think,” he suggested.
- Ask questions to help authenticate the alignment provider’s credentials. Ask if their shop is certified by an alignment equipment supplier or association. Are the individual technicians certified? Do the technicians have the proper commercial driver’s licenses so that they can test drive a vehicle after performing the alignment? Does the shop keep a calibration log you can view so you can get an idea as to how precise and repeatable their alignments are?
- Other alignment-related services. Can the shop also do steering wheel centering, tire rotations, vibration analysis, wheel balancing, truing, and suspension and spring services? All of these services go hand in hand with alignment as part of a holistic tire management program.
