The technology and deployment cost estimates for the Roll Stability Control (RSC) systems include the technology purchasing price, maintenance costs, and cost of training drivers in the use of the technology. Purchasing the technology, with or without financing, was considered in these costs.

The RSC systems for large trucks are original equipment manufacturer (OEM)-installed units. Typical RSC systems have an OEM option book price of approximately $500. Yet, ABS traction control is required for the system’s operation. For one cost estimate, it is assumed that a motor carrier would purchase the traction control on the truck, regardless of the decision to use an RSC system. For the other estimate, it is assumed that traction control, at an average estimated cost of $500, would be included in the purchase of the RSC. These costs assume that the motor carrier has the capital available to pay the upfront cost of the technology.

If the motor carrier finances the purchase, the cost would increase as shown in Table 1. Note that a 6.38 percent average interest rate is assumed for these calculations:

 

Table 1: Cost of RSC System, if Financed

For completeness of the cost analysis, it is important to consider that motor carriers experience Federal tax savings due to depreciation of the stability control system equipment. Tax savings were detemined with a tax rate of 35 percent (please see source document for further information). In addition, direct driver training is assumed to be the cost for a one-time training session (per driver) of one hour at a carrier cost of $23 (an estimate of the average wage for a driver plus fringe benefits). Also noteworthy, is the fact that motor carriers reported in interviews that maintenance of stability control systems was minimal, and that any maintenance was considered a normal operating expense. As a result, maintenance costs for the RSC system were considered to be negligible.
Therefore, Table 2 provides the total costs of the technology, plus the added training costs, less the Federal tax savings, for both the financed and non-financed options:

Table 2: Total Costs of RSC System Deployment with and without Financing