Boy, this is a great thread. Took me 30 minutes to read it- but I found it very informative. Reading BB and Mr Fixit, and being an independent myself, I have the same challenges. Through the years by reading informative posts here, being provided with needed resources, and by purchasing manuals from the dealer we have muddled through. I became very concerned around 2004 when EPA engines began showing up in my customers fleets, but as BB's dad said, 10-15 years behind the auto industry helped work out most of the bugs it seems. Fast forward to today. Those dependable trucks from 8-9 years ago are showing their wear, and EEC problems are becoming more commonplace. Thankfully between common sense, pedal dances and phone calls/emails most problems get sved. But here is the rub. We occasionally still have a machine that we cannot repair- due to lack of software and training. BUT, as that wise woman I married so long ago often said, "Let em take it to the dealership. They'll be back". And she is right. We are to the point that a couple of times a year as needed, I will arrange for the dealer to come out. Sometimes we pass the invoice on at cost to our customer (I'm usually fortunate enough to watch and learn from the tech), and other times our customer gets the invoice from the dealership and usually feels he got "The Treatment"! Either way, we come out fine. The reality to me is, as was mentioned earlier- that there are only a few things the laptop is actually needed for. The machine still needs PMs, brake jobs and secondary lift chains adjusted. When a new machine shows up at one of my customers, I generally like to let them know that I can handle almost all of their repair and service needs, and for the rest I can arrange it with the supplying dealer.