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Semi Truck Preventive Maintenance: Checklist & Guide
Preventative maintenance for any vehicle is a must to ensure all systems are running smoothly and to prevent more serious repairs that could result in neglect. Basic maintenance tasks on a scheduled maintenance plan are also the best way to prevent unexpected breakdowns.
This is particularly important when it comes to heavy-duty commercial trucks, fleet vehicles, and other types of commercial trucks, such as semi-trucks that log long mileage and are constantly on the road.
What Does Preventative Maintenance for Semi Trucks Entail?
Preventative maintenance doesn’t need to be time-consuming or complicated, but the best approach is to have a truck maintenance checklist and to stay on a regular maintenance schedule.
Vehicle inspections are critical and typically start with the engine and then cover all of the major systems. Once that’s completed, maintenance on commercial trucks should include checking all of the basics, including tires, fluid levels, and, of course, the brakes.
What Are Some Major Areas of Preventative Maintenance?
Now that you understand what preventative maintenance is, let’s walk through a few key areas where preventive maintenance is particularly crucial.
Tires
Having quality tires that are regularly checked as well as ensuring the correct tread depth may seem obvious, but it’s not an area to be overlooked. Be mindful of getting the tires rotated and avoid accidents caused by something as simple as neglecting the tire pressure.
In 2022, there were a staggering 562 fatalities as a result of crashes that could directly be tied to maintenance issues with tires. When an 18-wheeler is headed down the highway, a tire blowout can be catastrophic.
Fluid Levels
Any basic maintenance services for a semi include a thorough check on the fluids. Oil changes are a standard part of vehicle maintenance. To prevent an overheated engine, be sure to use clean, high-quality oil, following manufacturer recommendations. An in-depth oil analysis can provide valuable insights into the condition of your engine and help in maintaining optimal performance. Ensuring a consistent fuel supply is also crucial, and a reliable fuel delivery service can be a valuable resource for long-haul truckers. High-quality industrial oil is essential for reducing wear and extending the lifespan of heavy-duty truck engines, ensuring peak performance for miles on end.
Using the right type of engine oils can help lessen oil consumption and ensure engine health, promoting longevity and maintaining optimal performance.
Avoid overheating by ensuring you have the right amount of coolant in the cooling system — this is a basic task that should be on any preventative maintenance checklist.
Brakes
If you think brake maintenance is obvious, think again. One study showed that issues with brake systems contributed to 30% of crashes with trucks. The braking system can start to show minor wear and tear, and it’s not always obvious with flashing warning lights. Checking the brake pads and brake lights on a regularly scheduled maintenance program will ensure safety for the driver and others on the road.
Staying Weather Ready
Before you hit the road, perform pre-trip inspections, and always make sure you’re ready for weather changes. Storms can catch even the most experienced truck drivers off guard.
For example, the windshield wiper blades need to be evaluated periodically and replaced, as needed, as worn-out wiper blades can cause visibility issues. This type of maintenance is an easy, low-cost fix that should not be overlooked.
This is especially important in places like Nashville, known for its sudden weather changes.
Other Preventative Maintenance Areas
When you have professional maintenance done to your truck, you can have peace of mind with the major systems, and know that truck parts and components are functioning properly.
This includes checking the power steering for optimal maneuvering, checking for possible corrosion, and replacing fuel filters and air filters as needed.
What Are the Benefits of Preventative Maintenance?
Without preventative maintenance, truckers are susceptible to safety issues and downtime. The benefits of preventive maintenance for semi trucks outweigh the costs.
A regular cadence of semi-truck maintenance goes a long way in keeping commercial trucks on the road and not sidelined in the repair shop. Let’s take a look at some of the main benefits of preventative truck maintenance.
Increase the Lifespan of Commercial Trucks
You never want to let a repair get to the point that replacing the truck is your only option. This can happen more easily than you think if too much time goes by without proper preventative maintenance.
If you want to increase the lifespan of a semi-truck, invest in proper maintenance and keep up with the recommended maintenance continually.
Mitigate Major Repairs
Regular maintenance allows truck drivers to get ahead of minor issues that could easily become serious and evolve into the type of damage that can put a semi-truck out of commission for a long period.
Smaller repairs are more manageable when caught early, and regular maintenance goes a long way in making sure something simple doesn’t snowball into something more costly, or, worse, become a safety issue, such as issues with the electrical system.
Maintain the Truck Warranty
Take the easy road — and follow the warranty on your semi-truck. Be sure you understand what’s covered and what the required maintenance is so you can follow it and document it.
Neglecting to do this can void the warranty and this can be a costly mistake — and one that will surely impact the profitability of your trucking business.
Driver Safety
A well-serviced commercial truck means a safer commercial truck on the road. Our Nashville location has seen firsthand how regular preventative maintenance can significantly improve driver safety. One study showed that truck drivers have the most fatalities of any occupation. Truck drivers made up 12% of all fatalities for workers across all occupations.
Don’t let a lack of preventative safety measures contribute to the statistics.
Conducting regular preventative maintenance not only keeps truck drivers safe but also keeps others on the road safe. This also decreases liability for you or a company responsible for an entire fleet and keeps repair costs to a minimum.
The Bottom Line
Whether you are an owner-operator who has been on the road for years, a truck driver new to the road, or a fleet manager responsible for fleet maintenance, routine maintenance, a preventative maintenance schedule is key to managing maintenance costs, ensuring safety, and extending the life of semi-trucks.
Contact Cadence to learn more about preventative maintenance.
Sources
Extend Your Semi-Truck’s Life with These Essential Maintenance Tips | Sageschools.com
Report to Congress on the Large Truck Crash Causation Study | fmsca.dot.gov
Trucking Industry — Related Safety and Health Info | osha.gov