TCO Hino L8 vs Freightliner M2: real comparison (cost/km)
To remember (TCO Hino L8 vs Freightliner M2):
In our 5-year (400,000 km) scenario, the Hino L8 costs less to operate than the Freightliner M2, even though both trucks are comparable for a 26-foot box.
- Lower total TCO: $470,626 vs. $507,197 → savings of around $36,571 over 5 years
- Lower cost per km: $1.18/km vs. $1.27/km → you pay ~$0.09 less per km
- Monthly savings: $7,844/month vs. $8,453/month → ~$610/month saved
- What’s in it for you? The Hino L8 reduces the big items that count: fuel (25 L/100 km) and downtime (less cost when the truck is immobilized), which directly protects your margin.
👉 Conclusion: if your goal is to have a profitable, predictable and economical truck for the long term, the Hino L8 is the best choice in this scenario.
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Keep your free TCO calculator on your device for life.
TCO Hino L8 vs Freightliner M2: the real comparison (total cost of ownership) for choosing the right 28-foot box truck
A truck may look “cheaper” on the order form… but cost a lot more once it’s on the road. The right metric is TCO (Total Cost of Ownership): what the truck actually costs you per month and per kilometer.
In this guide (ready-to-publish blog format), we compare a concrete Hino L8 vs Freightliner M2 scenario in typical Quebec / Greater Montreal distribution use (28′ box truck), and highlight why the Hino L8 has the TCO advantage when we look at the real cost items.
Why TCO is more important than purchase price
The TCO adds up the items that (really) make for profitability:
- Purchase + interest
- Fuel
- Maintenance + tires
- Insurance + registration
- Downtime
- Resale value (deducted at end)
👉 The final result gives two figures that are easy to compare:
- Actual cost / km
Average cost / month
The “real-life” method: how to calculate a TCO without lying to yourself
TCO = (Purchase + Interest + Fuel + Maintenance + Tires + Insurance + Registration + Downtime) – Resale value
Fuel formula (5 years)
Carburant = (km/an × 5) × (L/100 km ÷ 100) × prix du diesel
Cost/km formula
Coût/km = TCO total ÷ km totaux
Scenario assumptions (adjusted according to your figures)
- Duration: 60 months (5 years)
- Mileage: 80,000 km/year → 400,000 km over 5 years
- Diesel price : 1,85 $/L
- Financing (example): 6.99% APR, 15% down payment
- Downtime cost : 450/day
- Average consumption :
Hino L8: 25.0 L/100 km
Freightliner M2: 26.5 L/100 km (scenario reference)
TCO comparison Hino L8 vs Freightliner M2: figures (5 years)
| Cost item (5 years) | Hino L8 (scenario) | Freightliner M2 (scenario) |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price (truck + box) | 195 000 $ | 205 000 $ |
| Down payment (15%) (info) | 29 250 $ | 30 750 $ |
| Interest (60 months, 6.99%) | 31 126 $ | 32 722 $ |
| Fuel (400,000 km) | 185 000 $ | 196 100 $ |
| Maintenance & consumables (excluding tires) | 68 000 $ | 76 000 $ |
| Tires | 12 000 $ | 12 500 $ |
| Insurance | 36 000 $ | 36 000 $ |
| Registration & miscellaneous | 9 000 $ | 9 000 $ |
| Downtime (immobilization) | 4 500 $ | 7 875 $ |
| Resale value (deducted) | -70 000 $ | -68 000 $ |
| Total TCO (5 years) | 470,626 | 507,197 |
| Actual cost/km | 1.18/km | 1.27/km |
| Average cost / month (all-inclusive) | 7,844/month | 8,453/month |
Assumptions: 60 months, 80,000 km/year (400,000 km), diesel $1.85/L, downtime $450/day, Hino L8 consumption 25 L/100 km, M2 consumption 26.5 L/100 km.
Results (clear and publishable)
✅ In this scenario, the Hino L8 costs ~$36,571 less over 5 years, or about :
- 0.09/km less
- ~$610/month less
Download our free TCO calculator!
Keep your free TCO calculator on your device for life.
Or calculate your TCO here
Online TCO calculator (click to view)
Calculateur TCO Camion Hino
Why the Hino L8 gains in TCO (the levers that really count)
1) Fuel: the #1 item (and the gap adds up fast)
Over 400,000 km, even a 1.5 L/100 km difference becomes real money.
With your figures:
Hino L8 (25.0 L/100) → 100,000 L over 400,000 km
M2 (26.5 L/100) → 106,000 L over 400,000 km
Difference: 6,000 L
At $1.85/L → ~$11,100 difference just in fuel
👉 And that’s before we even talk about maintenance or downtime.
2) Downtime: the “hidden cost” that drives up cost/km
A stopped truck is not an abstract accounting line: it’s undelivered revenue, roads to be taken back, sometimes a replacement unit.
With a cost of $450/day, reducing even a few days of downtime per year becomes a direct gain in TCO.
3) Maintenance: predictability beats “cheapness
What protects a fleet is regular operation: fewer deviations, fewer surprises, better planning. The Hino L8 is often chosen precisely to stabilize operating costs over time (which is reflected in the TCO).
4) Resale: recover more = pay less over 60 months
Residual value is a key factor: the better you resell, the lower your real cost.
The right truck for the job
Choose a Hino L8 if...
- You work in distribution (frequent stops, mixed routes, variable loads).
- You want a stable cost/km and predictable operation
- You want to maximize uptime + productivity + residual value
Choose a Freightliner M2 if...
- You need an ultra-specific configuration (engine/transmission/very specific options)
- You prioritize "made-to-measure" personalization for one-off use
Download our free TCO calculator!
Keep your free TCO calculator on your device for life.
Is the Hino L8 really more cost-effective than a Freightliner M2?
Often YES, in terms of TCO, because it’s the big factors like fuel consumption, maintenance, downtime and resale value that create the difference, not just the purchase price.
Does the price of diesel make a big difference to the TCO result?
Yes, fuel is usually the #1 factor. The higher your mileage, the greater the difference in fuel consumption.
Does TCO include resale value?
Yes, the resale value is subtracted from the total: this is what you get back at the end of the term, and it has a strong influence on your cost/km.
Does financing change depreciation?
No. Depreciation is still purchase – resale. Financing adds an interest cost that increases your TCO.
What's the best way to reduce TCO?
In practice, the three most effective levers are :
reduce actual consumption (idling, road, load, driving)
stabilize annual costs (planned maintenance + insurance)
maximize resale value (history, condition, maintenance)
Why compare in $/km?
Because it neutralizes the “I drive more/less” effect, and makes it possible to compare two configurations more accurately.
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