Do you know that battery issues are the most common cause of vehicle breakdowns, accounting for 52% of failures in vehicles? This indicates that high-quality truck batteries can be the difference between smooth and reliable fleet operations and otherwise. According to a report by McKinsey & Company, truck batteries with a high cycle life are crucial for long-lasting performance.
This is true since fleet operators will always want their trucks running at their best. However, which categories of heavy-duty truck batteries exist, and which would suit your fleet best? Here’s everything a fleet manager needs to know about choosing heavy-duty truck batteries for their fleet!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Types of Heavy-Duty Truck Batteries
- Choosing the Right Battery for Your Fleet
- Tips for Maintaining Heavy-Duty Truck Batteries
- Best Practices for Fleet Managers
- Key Takeaways
- FAQs
- 1. Which type of battery is used in heavy trucks?
- 2. Why do heavy-duty trucks feature two batteries?
- 3. What is the typical group number for commercial truck batteries?
- 4. What is different about a heavy-duty battery?
- 5. How long do heavy-duty truck batteries last?
- 6. What battery type do semi-trucks use?
- Choose the Right Truck Batteries For Your Fleet and Order Fuel Delivery Anywhere You Want!

Types of Heavy-Duty Truck Batteries
Heavy-duty truck batteries are available in many varieties with varying performance, life expectancy, cost, and maintenance requirements. However, only 3 of them are best truck batteries that are time and again utilized in fleets. We’ve explained each of them in detail with their pros and cons:
Battery Type | Performance | Lifespan | Costs | Maintenance Needs |
Lead-Acid | Good starting power, reliable for heavy loads | 2-3 years | $100 – $200 | Needs constant servicing, examine water condition and terminals for signs of corrosion. |
AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) | Higher vibration resistance and the charging is quicker. | 4-5 years | $200 – $400 | Requires little maintenance since water does not have to be checked and eliminated constantly, but the terminals need to be cleaned regularly. |
LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) | High energy density, low energy storage, short charging time | 8-15 years | $500 – $1,000 | Maintenance-free, but it is advisable to install monitoring systems to obtain the best results. |
Lead-Acid Batteries
A lead-acid battery for fleet trucks is the most popular one among all kinds available on the market. It uses lead plates and sulfuric acid to store and release energy. In trucks, lead-acid batteries are used to provide high bursts of energy needed to start large engines. They also supply power for running extra electrical accessories.
Advantages:
- Cheaper than newer technologies like lithium-ion.
- Easy to source and replace.
- Delivers strong energy surges needed for starting engines.
- Handles tough conditions like extreme temperatures and vibrations.
Disadvantages:
- Adds weight, reducing fuel efficiency and payload.
- Needs regular checks and upkeep to maintain performance.
- Lasts 3–5 years, requiring frequent replacements.
- Can take up to 16 hours to fully charge, limiting quick turnarounds.

AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) Batteries
AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) is a superior type of lead-acid rechargeable battery that possesses a fiberglass mat to contain an electrolyte. It differs from flooded batteries in which electrolyte is in liquid form. This flexibility in design also makes AGM batteries spill-proof, and you can charge them in any position without damaging them.
Advantages:
- Heavy vibrations have little or no effect on them since they are made to stand the demands of a rough physical environment.
- Typically lasts 3 to 10 years, reducing replacement costs over time.
- Requires no electrolyte checks or upkeep, unlike traditional batteries.
- Charges up to five times faster than flooded batteries, supporting quick turnarounds.
Disadvantages:
- More expensive upfront, often 40% to 100% more than traditional batteries.
- Prone to damage from overcharging, requiring careful voltage management.

Lithium-Ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries shuttles lithium ions between anode and cathode during charging and discharging. Automotive manufacturers usually produce a type of these batteries, such as lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), for heavy-duty trucks due to the benefits they provide, such as high safety and stable voltage.
They are also favored as they deliver high energy density and nominal power. As such, they are suitable for starting engines, as a second source of power, or in electric and hybrid vehicles where efficiency and weight savings are critical factors.
Advantages:
- Much lighter than lead-acid batteries, improving fuel efficiency and payload capacity.
- Charges much quicker, reducing downtime in demanding operations.
- Stores and delivers more energy for better performance.
- Can be safely discharged to lower levels, providing more usable energy.
Disadvantages:
- Expensive upfront, which can deter some operators.
- Performance can drop in extreme hot or cold conditions.
- Requires careful management to avoid issues like a thermal runaway, though LiFePO4 is among the safest options.

Choosing the Right Battery for Your Fleet
Selecting the most suitable battery for your fleet is crucial if one has to improve efficiency, drive down costs, and increase performance. Here are some variables to remember when opting for one:
1. Vehicle Specifications
To pick the correct commercial battery for your fleet, you must match it with your heavy-duty truck requirements, like Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) and Reserve Capacity (RC).
CCA indicates a battery’s capacity to crank engines in cold weather, and higher CCA is crucial for larger engines or fleets in cold climates. RC indicates how long do truck batteries last when powering them without an engine. Higher RC is ideal for trucks with high electrical demands or frequent engine-off operations.
2. Fleet Size and Usage Patterns
High-cycle batteries featuring frequent charging and discharging are required for high-usage fleets, such as delivery fleets. AGM or lithium-ion batteries are suitable for such situations as they come with longer life and better performance.
On the other hand, lead-acid batteries are more appropriate because they cost less for fleet operators seeking to cut down on upfront costs. For high-power driven vehicles such as trucks with fridges, batteries of higher capacity like AGM or lithium-ion are suitable.
3. Climate and Operating Conditions
Prefer battery makes and models that are appropriate for your area’s temperature, degree of humidity, and practical usage conditions. For example, batteries might perform worse when operating in cold environments, which can make it difficult for heavy-duty trucks to start.
Whereas, high temperatures promote battery degradation and increase the dangers of thermal runaway for lithium-ion batteries in particular. Additionally, high humidity increases corrosion which makes more frequent maintenance necessary. Flooded lead-acid batteries are also more susceptible to water damage.
Compared to that, in rough terrain, AGM and lithium-ion batteries have a higher resilience to vibrations and shocks than flooded lead-acid batteries.
4. Budget Constraints
The most stringently regarded parameter when selecting a battery for heavy trucks is its price. AGM batteries are relatively costlier compared to other lead-acid batteries and are found at $100-$500. Lithium-ion batteries such as LiFePO4 cost more than all kinds of lead-acid batteries, including AGM, and retail between $500-$1000.
5. Battery Technology
While selecting a battery for heavy-duty trucks, you have to opt between lead-acid/AGM and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) technologies. Lead-acid flooded batteries are mostly favored to start-stop heavy-duty vehicles but they are also heavier than their counterparts and, thus, degrade vehicle efficiency.
AGM-type models, in turn, do not require any kind of maintenance, which is typical of lead-acid batteries. However, LiFePO4 batteries are more costly than the former, yet they charge faster, are lighter, and have a higher energy density. They also require minimal replacement and are cheaper to run.
6. Battery Life and Warranty
One must also take into account variables like battery capacity and length of warranty before settling for a battery for heavy-duty trucks. On one hand, lithium-ion batteries have a lifespan of 8-15 years. While on the other hand, lead-acid batteries, including AGM, have 2-5 years.
The warranties of these batteries are usually from 1-15 years, depending on their type, and include options of either replacement or reimbursement based on a proportion of the purchase price after a certain time. A longer warranty usually signals greater durability.
7. Environmental Impact
When selecting a battery for your fleet, also think about recycling, disposal, and sustainability. Recycling should be encouraged to avoid leaking chemicals to the environment since batteries consist of poisonous materials like lead and lithium.
It also recovers these materials to reduce the need for mining them. Lead-acid batteries are among the most easily recycled ones. Compared to that, lithium-ion batteries have higher efficiency and longer service life. So you won’t need to replace them often.

Tips for Maintaining Heavy-Duty Truck Batteries
Regardless of what battery type you pick for your fleet, it is also critical to maintain it to boost its performance, durability, and reliability. Here are some tips to do that:
Regular Inspections
Look for corrosion, cracks, or leaks on the battery, and make sure to examine it once every month. Also, inspect voltage. For instance, healthy batteries should measure around 12.6 volts. Also, conduct load tests after 6 months to determine weak or degrading batteries.
Cleaning and Corrosion Prevention
Tidiness and avoidance of rust are primary maintenance tasks to protect your fleet batteries. To do that, make sure to clean their terminals with baking soda-water solution, scrub off corrosion, then, rinse and dry.
Proper Charging Practices
A smart truck battery charger should be used to charge your fleet batteries. This is to avoid overcharging, as well as deep discharging, and to follow the right charging cycles for better battery health.
Monitoring Battery Health
Use battery management systems (BMS) or wireless monitoring for real-time health checks.
Symptoms of Battery Failure
Some tell-tale symptoms that signal a battery failure include slow cranking, frequent jump starts, electrical problems, and physical damage.

Best Practices for Fleet Managers
As a fleet manager, you should also adhere to some guidelines to increase batteries’ lifespan as well as their performance in your fleet. Here are some best practices to follow:
Battery Rotation and Replacement
Regularly rotating batteries across your fleet will help ascertain even wear and extend battery life. You can implement a replacement schedule based on battery performance data to avoid unexpected failures.
Training Drivers and Staff
Educate your fleet drivers and maintenance staff on battery care, including charging, inspections, and safety protocols to prevent incidents.
Leveraging Technology
Implement Battery Management Systems (BMS) and telematics to track battery condition and plan timely maintenance. Mobile apps can also track performance and report issues.
Building Relationships with Suppliers
Build strong ties with battery suppliers for reliable delivery, expert advice, and better pricing, which improves fleet efficiency and sustainability.

Key Takeaways
It is crucial to get high-quality batteries for your heavy-duty truck fleet. Thus, if you want the best performance from your fleet choose between lead-acid, AGM, or even lithium-ion batteries. High-quality batteries such as AGM or lithium-ion batteries have higher initial costs, but aso longer life spans, generally superior performance, and low maintenance needs.
In addition to this, you must know which batteries have good recycling capabilities, so your fleet will have minimal negative effects on the environment. You can also extend battery life and improve its performance through periodic maintenance such as battery inspection, cleaning, and charging.
But, don’t forget to introduce Battery Management Systems (BMS) and telematics into your fleet management system to increase efficiency of your current fleets and observe overall health of batteries.
FAQs
1. Which type of battery is used in heavy trucks?
Most heavy-duty vehicles employ lead-acid batteries to meet engine starting, frequent startups, heavy loads, and long-time idle requirements. Other batteries used by heavy-duty trucks are AGM and lithium-ion.
2. Why do heavy-duty trucks feature two batteries?
There are two batteries in heavy-duty trucks to make certain there is an adequate source of energy to fire up engine along with other electrical facilities. This dual arrangement increases cranking power and is important in diesel engines which require more power to start up.
3. What is the typical group number for commercial truck batteries?
The commercial truck batteries are often rated as Group 31 due to their better construction for heavy-duty usage. These batteries are available with high CCA’s and RC’s and are designed to provide service in demanding situations. They also have an adequate capacity that ranges from 90 to 200 amp-hours to feed electrical systems when on long trips or when idling for long hours.
4. What is different about a heavy-duty battery?
They are heavy-duty batteries that have thicker plates of lead than usual car batteries and are designed to work under harder conditions. Moreover, they also have superior vibration tolerance, durability, increased CCAs, and reserve capacity. This makes them ideal for starting large diesel engines in cold weather and supporting extra electrical loads without losing performance.
5. How long do heavy-duty truck batteries last?
Heavy-duty truck batteries are created to last for at least 3-5 years. Nevertheless, approximate life expectancy of such batteries may be different depending on frequency of their usage, maintenance, as well as climatic conditions. For instance, variables like deep discharges, extreme temperatures, and poor maintenance can shorten a battery’s lifespan.
6. What battery type do semi-trucks use?
Semi-trucks use heavy-duty batteries like lead-acid, AGM, and lithium-ion.
Choose the Right Truck Batteries For Your Fleet and Order Fuel Delivery Anywhere You Want!
Similar to selecting the right truck batteries for your fleet, conducting proper fuel selection is crucial as well. You also need a constant and fast fuel supply to sustain large consumption demands of your heavy-duty trucks.
Fuel Logic can assist you with keeping your entire fleet functional, by picking the correct fuel type. We also provide both on-road and off-road fuel delivery services to customer-specified addresses or desired destinations. You can either call us or just use our order form to order fuel now and get it immediately delivered to your fleet!