Different yet similar: a fleet's wants and needs are not mirror images. (truck fleets) (Commercial Tire Dealer)

What fleet customers want from commercial tire dealers and what they need depends on your point of view.

According to Modern Tire Dealer's 1994 Truck Tire Dealer Survey, fleet owners first and foremost want a low price, followed by emergency on-site service.

Commercial tire dealers, however, believe that fleets should put more emphasis on emergency on-site service because of the importance of keeping the vehicles moving.

They don't even list low price in the top three.

Both agree on at least one thing -- that a proper retreading program is important.

A different perspective

Dealers surveyed said commercial fleet medium/heavy truck tire customers demanded, in order of importance, the following from them:

1. Low price.

2. Emergency on-site service.

3. Retreading program.

But when asked what they felt were the …