A truck breakdown is among the worst things that may happen during a key transport. Sadly, mechanical breakdowns are unavoidable in trucks due to their nature. Every lorry driver has had a malfunction at some point, and every client knows to anticipate one from time to time.
The good news is that there’s a number of easy things drivers may do to reduce their risks of breaking down. In the trucking industry, preventive maintenance is crucial, and following these guidelines will almost always result in a seamless delivery. In this article, we’ll discuss some tips for avoiding typical truck breakdowns.
Check Tire Conditions and Tire Pressures
Check your tire pressure at least weekly, and if you’re going on a lengthy journey, check it even more regularly. Tires that are underinflated or overinflated can both cause problems. Underinflated tires can reduce fuel efficiency and make maneuvering more challenging, but overinflated tires are more prone to rupture or be damaged by bumps.
Remember that your tire pressure will fluctuate depending on the ambient climate, how fast you’re going, and your elevation.
Check your Battery Condition
A dead battery is one of the most common causes of vehicle breakdowns. Fortunately, a dying battery will show indicators such as dimmed lights, a cracking sound when you power on your truck, and a slow engine revving. Furthermore, if your battery has exceeded its usual lifespan of 3 to 5 years, it may discharge at any time.
You can prevent your battery from being drained by switching off your headlights and disconnecting items like navigation systems while exiting your vehicle. Also, check your batteries on a regular basis to verify that all connections are secure and that any issues, such as cracks or bulges, are addressed before you are left stranded in the dead of night
Check all fluid levels
Whenever you hit the road, make sure all of your fluids are in good working order, including the oil, radiator fluid, and, despite what you would think, your gasoline levels. Making sure everything will be in its proper place might help you avoid any harm to your truck down the road.
Work with a service center at major oil change intervals (every 10,000 miles), particularly after your secondhand truck has accumulated 300,000 miles. Transmission shops in Whitby can examine how your motor is using oil, breaking down viscosity, or running outside of OEM limitations.
The number of kilometers you drive, the volume of the cargo you carry, and the sort of driving you do (highway, desert roads, or city traffic) will determine how often you should change your fluids. Strictly follow the manufacturer’s fluid-changing recommendations. Trying to squeeze more life out of your consumables may save you money in the short term, but it will cost you a lot more in maintenance and malfunctions in the long run.
Check all your lights
Before you hit the road, do a quick walk around your external lighting to check for worn out lamps and change them. Verify that all of your driving, brake, turn indicators, and warning lights are functioning fine as part of your preventative maintenance to avoid being pulled over by cops and wasting valuable time due to a burned bulb.
Don’t ignore warning signs
A car emits multiple warning signals before it breaks down. Perhaps you’ve noticed a shift in the way your car drives or heard weird noises. In addition, thanks to technological advancements, your automobile will advise you of a potential problem via warning indicators on the dashboard. A battery warning, check engine light, oil pressure light, or temperature warning sign could appear.
Never ignore a warning sign, regardless of its location. When an issue is ignored, it can become much worse, and you could wind up with a huge repair price. Paying attention to warning indicators is a low-cost strategy to avoid a car breakdown.
Have a Thorough Preventative Maintenance Program
Although some breakdowns are inevitable, most can be avoided by following a proper maintenance schedule.
Although a preventative maintenance plan has certain upfront expenditures, it can save your organization money by lowering the incidence of failures and the severity of those that do occur. Consider investing in upgrades as well. Forklifts have stand up reach truck rear post or stand up reach truck rear guard. Your truck should also be enhanced with, say, suspended animation or shock therapy.
Identifying your cars is essential to running a preventative maintenance program. Pay close attention to the manufacturer’s recommended preventive maintenance periods for each truck and make sure your business vehicles have a full service when needed.
If your fleet is continuously on the move and under intensive use, preventive maintenance is especially crucial. It’s often advisable to plan PM servicing ahead of time so that you have a reminder when the next servicing date approaches.
Maintenance and service are not inexpensive. However, the cost of paying constant attention to your trucks over time is small when compared to the massive costs that can follow from an unexpected failure.