When you’re a professional truck driver or fleet owner, your livelihood depends on your truck’s condition. It’s hard to deliver loads when you’re stuck at the repair shop, waiting for your truck and trailer to be restored to working condition. Even when you regularly take your vehicle in for preventative trucking maintenance, there’s plenty you can do between visits.
Here are five ways to keep your truck in top shape:
- Check the oil level before each trip: Checking your oil level before every trip is a quick and easy way to stay on top of trucking maintenance, but many truck drivers fail to perform this simple task. It should be part of your pre-trip routine. Remember that extreme weather conditions or a faulty engine can dramatically change your oil levels, even if it was functioning perfectly fine earlier in the day. If you notice any major changes in oil levels, take your truck in for repair as soon as possible.
- Look for blockage in your fuel vent: If your fuel vent is blocked, it will interfere with engine function and give you inaccurate gauge readings. Fuel vents can be blocked by dead insects, dirt and other road debris. Check the vent daily to ensure there’s no blockage, and clean it once per week. Since this can be a dirty job, it’s smart to wear gloves while you clean.
- Watch for radiator line leaks: Your pre-trip inspection should include looking for line leaks in the radiator. If you’ve found that you need to keep topping off your radiator fluid more often than normal, you probably have a leak. Get that repaired as soon as possible—otherwise you risk an overheated engine. Radiators help cool the engine, which also ensures that it lasts for a much longer time. Since engine replacement is very expensive, keeping an eye on your radiator is well worth the time you spend.
- Check the tires before and after each trip: It’s hard to get down the road without functioning tires. You should always do a pressure check before and after each trip, but don’t stop there. Look at the tread patterns to see if there’s uneven wear and tear. This not only shortens the tire’s lifespan, but it can indicate that you have problems with your truck’s alignment. Remember that not every tire needs the same amount of pressure, either, depending on its location. Keep a list of appropriate tire pressures by position and make sure your tires fall in the appropriate range.
- Keep an ear out for unusual brake noises: Finally, listening for unusual brake noises—and noting any strange brake behavior—will help you monitor the brake system. Trucks especially need to have perfectly functioning brakes. They’re far heavier than normal vehicles, so brake-related accidents can be far more damaging.
When your truck needs maintenance or repairs, bring it to Energy Trucking’s in-house repair shop. We’ll help keep your truck in top shape so you’re able to stay safe on the road. Reach out to schedule an appointment!