CUAUTITLÁN, EDOMÉX.– Keeping a unit operational doesn’t depend solely on addressing breakdowns when they occur; the quality of supplies, preventive maintenance , and proper system diagnosis can also make the difference between continuing the route or facing a shutdown that ends up increasing costs for trucking companies.
This was announced during the 1st Noxguard Automotive Urea 2026 Executive Summit for Transportation , held in collaboration with the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) , where specialists addressed the operation of aftertreatment systems, the quality of urea and its impact on the operation.
In this scenario, automotive urea and its correct use become relevant with the incorporation of aftertreatment systems in heavy vehicles , so choosing this input solely for its price can have consequences for the operation if it does not meet the required quality.
During his presentation, Rubén Díaz , a specialist with experience in the maintenance of motor transport at Noxguard , explained that a failure can involve not only the repair of some component, but also expenses related to roadside assistance, transport of the unit to the workshop, spare parts and technical personnel.
As an example, he presented the scenario of a fleet of 100 units in which 10 had this type of problem, which could represent an impact of more than 2.3 million pesos, considering general expenses of 230,956 pesos per event .
That is why Díaz warned against prioritizing only a lower price when purchasing urea, since the initial savings may lose relevance compared to the consequences of using a poor quality product.
The impact doesn’t end at the repair shop. Díaz explained that a stopped vehicle can cause delivery delays, affect customer relationships, and leave both the driver and the merchandise vulnerable while the vehicle remains immobilized on the road.
Not all failures are due to urea
Another point addressed during the event was the need to make proper diagnoses before blaming urea for a failure in the post-treatment system .
Javier Zugarramurdi, Operations Director at Noxguard, explained that when faced with a problem, it’s essential to first identify its source, as a failure could be related to sensors or other system components. An incorrect diagnosis can lead to replacing parts without resolving the issue, thereby increasing maintenance costs.
Zugarramurdi also addressed the importance of automotive urea quality and explained that the presence of minerals in products that do not meet the required specifications can generate accumulations within the aftertreatment system and affect its operation over time.
Regarding product handling, Rubén Díaz recommended preventing grease, dirt, or other contaminants from coming into contact with the urea during supply and stressed the importance of operators knowing the necessary precautions to carry out this process.
Díaz also pointed out the importance of having traceability from the origin and manufacture to the shipment of the urea , since this information can help determine if the product was actually the source of a possible failure.
Thus, during the Summit it was proposed that the cost of urea should be analyzed as part of a broader equation, involving product quality, preventive maintenance, system diagnostics and operator training , factors that can help avoid downtime and higher costs for fleets.
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