Commercial trucks are a substantial economic investment. Taking care of your commercial heavy load truck and following the proper maintenance schedule may help to ensure that your truck lasts and you receive a good return on your investment.
What is Truck Preventative Maintenance?
Preventative maintenance is one of the most important things you can do for your semi-truck maintenance. Any service that serves to extend the life of your truck and reduce the occurrence of troubles before they happen is considered preventative maintenance. Oil changes, routine belts, filter changes, tune-ups, and other maintenance fall under this category.
Truck maintenance can assist you in setting up your vehicle and preventing issues such as a snapped belt, a seized-up engine, and other issues. Many problems can be resolved if basic commercial truck maintenance is followed.
What Is A Commercial Truck Maintenance Checklist?
A commercial truck maintenance checklist is a piece of paper that contains
elements that truck drivers, mechanics, and other interested parties must review
to maintain the truck’s safe operation.
Importance of Commercial Truck Maintenance
Avoiding Large Repair Bills
The first significant saving is that regular maintenance may frequently save you money on costly repair expenditures. A great example would be a belt flying apart in the engine compartment. If you get your belts changed regularly, you can avoid snapping apart and damaging the inside of your engine compartment.
Extend the Lifespan of your Truck
Regular truck maintenance help extends the life of your truck by helping to keep the engine lubricated, ensuring appropriate airflow, and so on. It will help your engine look great and function well.
Increased Customer Satisfaction
You can also ensure that your clients are satisfied and that the truck and cargo get to their destination in better condition with a truck that performs better and does not break down.
Save Time
You can save time by routine maintenance and ensure that your trucks will not be down for extensive repair. You may avoid your truck needing to be in the shop for longer and more complicated maintenance by taking care of it and keeping it in a good condition.
Reduce Accidents
Still, another benefit is that a truck that is well maintained is less likely to have accidents related to failure in the engine or other engine issues. Your mechanic can detect problems before the truck gets on the road, avoiding maintenance-related accidents.
Apart from the truck maintenance schedule, truck drivers can also follow a few safety tips to reduce risk while they are driving.
Guarantee Fuel Efficiency
A truck that is well cared for is more efficient in terms of gas mileage and fuel efficiency. Oil changes and air filter replacements have a significant influence on your truck’s overall efficiency since the better the airflow to the engine, the more efficiently it will burn and use the gasoline you put in it. Spark plugs, as well as the oil in the gearbox and how well the engine is lubricated, have a role in fuel efficiency. According to a recent report, fleets that implemented thorough preventative maintenance plans showed a 5 to 10 percent reduction in fuel use.
Increase Trucking Safety
Taking care of your truck will also ensure that your drivers are safer and able to travel where they need to go without worrying about the truck breaking down and causing any concern.
Keep Insurance Cost Low
Maintaining your truck might save you money on insurance and help you prevent accidents. Finding the right truck insurance agency in Houston can help you get a policy that fits your needs and keeps you, your truck, and your drivers safe. Comprehensive truck insurance is required, and it may make a significant difference in your truck’s safety.
Pre-Trip Maintenance Checklist
- Checking brake lights
- Check your emergency flashers
- Check headlights
- Check all of your mirrors
- Check your windshield and windows
- Check that you have all your necessary items in tow
- Check for wheel chocks
- Make sure your wheels look good
- Check the trailer and connection
- Check your steering wheel
Scheduled Commercial Truck Maintenance Checklist
- Engine Oil and Filter Swaps
- Transmission Fluid check and change
- Drive Shaft and CV joint check and change
- Drive belt, serpentine belt change, and hose changes
- Fuel system check
- Cooling system check
- Engine and transmission mount check
- Tune-up
- Wheel and rim repair
- Exhaust system check
- Electrical system check
- Brake system check
- Seat belt and safety restraints
- Steering and suspension checks
- Exterior lights check
- Fuses check and changes
Summer and Winter Truck Preventative Maintenance Checklist
- Routine engine oil and filter changes as well as lubricants
- Checking all fluid levels and topping up and changing as necessary
- Rotating tires and swapping for new if needed
- Cleaning the exterior of your truck
- Having professional inspections
These are all basic maintenance activities that can help your truck last longer and operate better. Trucks are such a significant investment, so do take some time to make a truck maintenance routine, as it may really make a big difference.
Finding the right coverage might also help you ensure that your drivers and trucks are safe every day, no matter what occurs. VL 17 Insurance Agency can be your reliable insurance partner if you have a need for commercial truck insurance in Houston, Texas. Contact us at (281) 803-8156 to get your queries addressed with our insurance agents.
