Editor profile

Dale Ostrowski

Founder and editor of TruckMaintenanceCost.com. Former owner-operator and small fleet manager with 14 years of hands-on experience managing semi-truck maintenance costs in the Midwest.

Background

Dale started hauling flatbed freight out of Columbus, Ohio in 2003 with one leased Peterbilt 379. Over the next several years he grew the operation to four company trucks running steel coil, pipe, and building materials across the Ohio Valley and Southeast corridors. He managed maintenance in-house for routine PM and outsourced major engine, transmission, and emissions work to regional independent shops and a Cummins dealer.

After selling the fleet in 2017, Dale began writing about the planning side of truck ownership — specifically the gap between what owner-operators expect maintenance to cost and what actually shows up on invoices. TruckMaintenanceCost.com launched in 2026 to give working truckers a structured resource for reserve planning, PM scheduling, and repair cost reference.

What He Writes About

  • Repair cost ranges for common semi-truck systems (engine, emissions, drivetrain, brakes)
  • How to set aside a monthly maintenance reserve before repairs happen
  • PM checklists built around real pre-trip, quarterly, and annual routines
  • Maintenance log templates that hold up during a DOT audit or truck sale
  • Used truck inspection priorities for buyers evaluating high-mileage equipment

Perspective and Limits

Dale is not a certified diesel mechanic, attorney, insurance agent, or DOT compliance consultant. The cost pages on this site are built from parts-and-labor planning logic, public references, and the kind of shop invoice reading that comes from managing maintenance budgets across a working fleet. They are planning estimates — not shop quotes, not compliance advice, and not diagnosis.

For decisions that affect safety, compliance, or a large purchase, readers should consult a qualified mechanic, inspector, or professional adviser. The site exists to help you ask better questions and plan more accurately — not to replace the professionals who do the actual work.

Corrections and Source Suggestions

If a cost range, methodology note, or checklist item looks wrong, Dale wants to know. Email [email protected] with the page URL, the specific line or estimate, and the source or invoice you think should be reviewed. Corrections that improve accuracy for other readers are taken seriously.