Tristar Group (Daimler Trucks Canberra) says its role does not end at vehicle delivery, with tailored maintenance, preventative support, finance and buy-back options forming part of a whole-of-life approach to fleet customers.
Daimler Trucks Canberra is a finalist in the 2026 Fleet News Group Fleet Supplier of the Year Award.
For fleet operators, purchasing a truck or bus is only the beginning of the ownership relationship. The vehicle may spend years in service, accumulating kilometres, moving through maintenance cycles and eventually reaching a point where replacement or disposal becomes part of the fleet plan.
Daimler Trucks Canberra General Manager Mark Purser says that is why a strong heavy vehicle supplier needs to think beyond the initial transaction. The dealership’s aim is to support customers across the operating life of the vehicle, from purchase and finance through to maintenance, aftersales support and future replacement decisions.
“Our aim is to give customers confidence not only when they buy the truck or bus, but every day they operate it,” Purser said.
That whole-of-life approach starts with recognising that maintenance requirements vary from one fleet to another. Duty cycle, annual kilometres, operating environment, payload, utilisation and internal workshop capability can all change what an effective maintenance program looks like.
Purser says Daimler Trucks Canberra works with customers to customise maintenance programs around their operation rather than applying the same approach to every fleet. Preventative maintenance is a key part of that process because identifying and managing issues before they become roadside failures can improve availability and give fleet managers more control over planned downtime.
The support model also includes finance, aftersales services and buy-back options. Together, those services can help fleet operators look at the vehicle as an asset across its entire ownership period rather than separating the initial purchase from the costs and decisions that follow.
That matters because a purchase price alone does not tell a fleet manager whether a vehicle will provide good value. Maintenance requirements, uptime, service support, replacement timing and residual value can all influence the whole-of-life outcome.
Purser says the dealership’s responsibility is to give customers confidence throughout that ownership cycle. In practical terms, that means being available when service issues emerge, communicating clearly, planning maintenance around the fleet’s needs and helping customers think ahead to their next vehicle decision.
“We customise maintenance programs to suit each customer’s operation, focus on improving uptime, and apply our ‘make it happen’ mindset to ensure customers feel supported well beyond the initial sale and are confident when planning their next vehicle purchase.”
The approach also reflects what Purser believes fleets should reasonably expect from a heavy vehicle supplier. Clear communication, fast action, value for money and protection of vehicle uptime should not be exceptional service; they should form the baseline of a dependable supplier relationship.
“Fleet operators should expect a heavy vehicle supplier to communicate clearly, act quickly, provide value for money, and protect their uptime.”
Delivering that standard consistently requires investment in people as well as equipment. Daimler Trucks Canberra places emphasis on employing skilled technicians, providing ongoing training and giving workshop teams access to modern diagnostic equipment and tooling so repairs can be carried out accurately and efficiently.
For the customer, those capabilities are intended to create a more predictable ownership experience. A fleet manager needs confidence that the supplier can support a new vehicle after delivery, respond when operating conditions change and help keep the asset productive throughout its working life.
Purser describes the dealership’s philosophy as a ‘make it happen’ mindset. Rather than viewing the relationship as a series of separate transactions, the goal is to become a supplier customers can rely on through acquisition, operation, maintenance and replacement.
That whole-of-life approach has contributed to Daimler Trucks Canberra being named a finalist in the 2026 Fleet News Group Fleet Supplier of the Year Award. The award gives fleet professionals the opportunity to recognise suppliers that they believe contribute to better fleet outcomes beyond the point of sale.
