Every equipment owner wants machines that work efficiently and don’t break down often. Reliable equipment means:
- More revenue
- Lower operational costs
The question is, how do you measure equipment reliability?
What Is MTBS and Why It Matters
The answer is MTBS, or Mean Time Between Shutdowns.
This metric reflects the average hours or kilometers an equipment operates before it needs repair or maintenance. The higher the MTBS, the more reliable the asset.
For on-highway trucks, kilometers are used instead of hours. It’s a simple yet powerful tool to benchmark reliability across your fleet.
How do we calculate it?
The method of calculating MTBS is taking the number of hours (or kilometers) an equipment operated for the prior 12-month period, and dividing that by the number of Shutdowns that equipment had for the same 12-month period. You can use the count of Repair Jobs to represent Shutdowns. See the example below:
In the example above, Excavator # 1, over the period Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 has a higher MTBS than Excavator # 2, which means, it was able to deliver 16 hours more work compared to Excavator # 2, before it had to be shutdown for repairs. Once you have data to do this calculation, you can begin to look at how each excavator’s MTBS is trending vis-à-vis the other, and if one excavator’s MTBS consistently outperforms that of another, then you can meaningfully say that the excavator that consistently delivers higher MTBS is more reliable, and cost less to operate.
How Repnotes Helps You Track MTBS Effortlessly
Tracking MTBS manually can be tedious. That’s where Repnotes Fleet Management simplifies the job. Our system includes two powerful modules:
- Equipment Activity Log Assistant – This logs the daily operating hours or kilometers of each asset. It gives you the data you need for the numerator in your MTBS formula.
- Equipment Repair Assistant – Here’s where you log all repair jobs. This provides the denominator in the MTBS formula.
Together, these tools give you accurate, automated MTBS data. You can quickly compare multiple assets across your fleet and track performance over time.
When to Use MTBS Data
MTBS can guide major business decisions:
- Choosing which unit to assign to time-sensitive projects
- Identifying underperforming equipment
- Supporting purchase decisions for new assets
You’ll have the confidence that your choice is backed by hard data—not guesswork.
Tracking MTBS isn’t just a maintenance tool—it’s a cost-saving strategy. With Repnotes Fleet Management, you’ll always know which equipment delivers the most uptime and the lowest cost.
Ready to make smarter equipment decisions? Start tracking MTBS today with Repnotes Fleet Management. Connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn to stay updated on fleet management insights and product updates!
