No matter the size of your fleet, you want to make sure that your trucks are always in great shape and ready to run. Many different things have the potential to go wrong with big trucks, so having professional preventative maintenance can help to reduce the possibility of breakdowns in the future that could be quite costly. The following are some tips that will help to keep your truck running and in great shape for a long time to come.
Check Tire Pressure Regularly
You need to be able to handle your vehicle, and if the tire pressure is off, it can make controlling a large truck rather difficult for many drivers. It is therefore extremely important that you check the tire pressure regularly. It’s a good idea to check the pressure before and after most large deliveries.
In addition, you want to make sure that the tires themselves are in good shape and that they have excellent tread. If the tread wears away, it makes stopping and other actions more difficult and could lead to accidents. This is why professional preventative maintenance is important.
Listen and Feel for Changes in Performance
The driver of the truck knows it better than just about anyone else except for a professional mechanic. When you are in the truck and driving, you want to keep watch for, and listen for, any changes in the vehicle’s performance. Do you notice that it is not stopping as easily as it once did? Are there any strange sounds coming from the engine? Being aware of these changes can alert you that you need to take the vehicle in for a checkup and a possible repair. By catching the problems early, it can often cut down on the cost of repair.
Keep It Clean
While this might not affect how the vehicle runs, it is still important to keep your truck clean and looking good. It’s important for the image that you present to the public, as well as for inspections. Many inspection companies won’t be able to examine your vehicle if it is caked in mud and dirt, for example, they may not see cracks in the frame or hear small air leaks that are plugged up with dirt.
Have Regular Professional Preventative Maintenance
In addition to the maintenance that you can do for your own truck, you also need to have regular professional preventative maintenance to ensure that it doesn’t have any hidden issues that could cause a breakdown later.