The estimated useful lives for new property and equipment acquired are generally as follows:
Autos and trucks
2-5 years
Computer equipment and software
3-5 years
Leasehold improvements
Various (1)
Equipment and tools
5 years
Office furniture and other
4-7 years
(1)Leasehold Improvements are amortized over the shorter of their useful life and the remaining lease term, unless the lease transfers ownership of the underlying asset to the Company or the Company is reasonably certain to exercise the option to purchase the underlying asset, in which case the leasehold improvements will be amortized over their useful lives.
Property and equipment are summarized by major classifications as follows (in thousands):
December 31,
Property and equipment classification20252024
Autos and trucks$43,473 $38,622 
Computer equipment and software42,582 37,450 
Leasehold improvements28,228 22,489 
Equipment and tools42,558 27,530 
Office furniture and other5,320 5,164 
Finance lease assets (1)18,231 12,242 
Work-in-progress10,591 560 
Property and equipment, gross190,983 144,057 
Less: Accumulated depreciation(98,650)(70,676)
Property and equipment, net$92,333 $73,381 
(1)Refer to “Note 8—Leases” for further information.

About PP&E Disclosures

The PP&E disclosure details a company's physical asset base — land, buildings, machinery, and equipment — along with the depreciation methods and useful life assumptions that determine how these costs flow through the income statement. Capitalization policy thresholds reveal management's judgment on the boundary between expense and asset, directly affecting both reported earnings and asset values.

Key signals: changes in estimated useful lives or depreciation methods can materially shift reported earnings without any operational change. Compare capital expenditures against depreciation expense — when capex consistently trails depreciation, the asset base may be aging and underinvested. Watch for large asset impairments or write-downs that signal overvalued carrying amounts. Asset retirement obligations reveal future environmental or decommissioning costs that are often underappreciated. Compare PP&E intensity (PP&E-to-revenue) against industry peers to assess capital efficiency and competitive positioning.