The Top Ten Preventative Maintenance Tips for Trucks

Category: Equipment and Solutions

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Preventative maintenance is the best way to keep your fleet of trucks running reliably and reduce the risk of breakdown. Here at NMC Truck Centers, we have helped many customers create their own personalized preventative maintenance plan tailored to their trucks and the type of driving they do.

Here are the top ten preventative maintenance tips that we suggest all trucking businesses follow:

1. Check fluid levels:

Verifying your engine oil, coolant, transmission, brake, power steering and other underhood fluids only takes a few minutes and is an easy way to avoid major problems. If you see a drop in a fluid level between checks, it’s a good indication that you have a consumption or leak problem and can fix it before it becomes a major problem.

2. Change fluids:

The frequency for changing your fluids will depend on how many miles you drive, the weight of the loads you carry and the type of driving you do (highway, dusty roads, city traffic, etc.) Always follow the manufacturer’s suggestions for changing fluids. Trying to get extra life out of your fluids may save in the short term but cost you big in repairs and breakdowns later on.

3. Verify tire pressures:

Any trucker will tell you that tire pressure is critical to check often on your large truck or tractor-trailer. Your tires are your contact with the road and you want them inflated properly to avoid uneven wear, maximize fuel economy and provide optimum traction, braking and load-carrying ability at all times.

4. Check your tires:

Uneven tire wear can be related to tire pressure issues or problems with your alignment or suspension. Include a check of your tire condition and tread depth as part of your preventative maintenance plan. We all know how dangerous a tire blowout can be on the highway, so avoid the cost, delay and danger of a blowout by inspecting your tires often.

5. Inspect your brakes:

When you’re carrying a full load, you want to be sure you can get stopped safely. Frequently check your brakes and replace them when they reach the minimum wear condition. Also look for even wear side to side and front to back. This can be a sign that your brake system isn’t balanced and requires repairs or adjustment to provide correct braking performance.

6. Check air filters:

A clean air filter can go a long way toward reducing your fuel consumption and helping your engine run more smoothly. As a filter gets clogged, it can reduce the amount of air getting into your engine, reducing power and lowering fuel economy. Inspect and change your air filter at regular intervals and check more often if you often drive on dirty, dusty roads.

7. Do a battery load test and electrical system verification:

Long-distance driving and frequent stops and starts put your truck’s electrical system to the test. It is a good idea to add your battery, alternator and electrical system to your preventative maintenance list for a yearly check. If you operate in colder climates, a check before winter is the best way to avoid charging problems.

8. Inspect your gearbox and clutch:

The combination of high-torque engines and heavy loads mean your gearbox and clutch are worked hard every time you hit the road. A regular inspection of your gearbox and verification that it is functioning properly can help you catch problems as they arise. You will also want to ensure that your clutch isn’t slipping, as this can affect reliability and fuel economy.

9. Check out your exterior lighting:

A quick walk-around verification of your exterior lighting helps you catch burnt out bulbs and replace them before you hit the road. Avoid being pulled over and wasting time over a burnt bulb and check that all of your running, brake, signal and hazard lights are working properly as part of your preventative maintenance.

10. Service your fifth wheel platform:

Problems with your fifth wheel platform can slow you down and even keep your truck off the road if you can’t securely hook up your trailer. On a regular basis, you should inspect your platform and grease/adjust as necessary. Clean any accumulated dirt from the platform mechanism and inspect for excessive wear or components that need to be replaced.

Every trucking company has a unique fleet of trucks and trailers and needs to adapt their preventative maintenance list to suit their situation. Including these ten tips in your list will help ensure your trucks run more reliably and are less susceptible to breakdown.

Our team here at NMC Truck Centers has years of experience with truck and tractor-trailer service and maintenance, so let us know if you have any questions about creating your own preventative maintenance checklist. Get the most out of your fleet and save time and money by putting in a bit of effort upfront in your preventative maintenance plan.

Fleet trucks rely on the stability and quality of their parts. When everything is working correctly, fleets can be extremely effective. Avoiding breakdowns will ensure that drivers can make deliveries efficiently. When something does go wrong — a tire blowout, a faulty battery or an oil leak — it can severely slow operations. 

It’s important to understand the most common truck breakdowns so you can take steps to avoid them. With the right strategies in mind, you can prevent breakdowns before they happen. 

1. Tire Blowouts

One of the most common semi-truck breakdowns is caused by tire blowouts. Fleets carry huge loads of materials over vast distances, so a tire blowout is one of the main issues you should be aware of. Luckily, there are ways you can minimize these blowouts:

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• Regular inspections and service: Regular maintenance and tire rotations will help avoid those blowouts. Routine maintenance will identify misaligned axels, shallow tread depth and any other problems that could contribute to a blowout on the roads. Investing in those services will give you confidence that fleets will besafe and effective on the roads.
• Maintaining accurate tire pressure: Overinflation and underinflation can both be contributing factors to a tire blowout. Make sure that you’re checking that pressure frequently to avoid problems.
• Change out worn tires: When your tires start to get old, make sure to change them out and replace them with new ones. Older tires will likely present multiple issues that could lead to a blowout.

Small steps such as these can offer great benefits for your fleet — increased efficiency, less time spent on repairs and more confidence in the ability of your trucks. Drivers will also be able to tell if something is wrong with a tire — a strange sound emanating from the wheel wells could be cause for concern.

2. Brakes

Brake issues are another huge contributor to truck breakdowns. Every year, brake problems cause accidents on the road and slow efficiency for fleets. Brakes are already under pressure in normal vehicles — the huge weight of a fleet vehicle causes intense weight on brakes, making them easier to break down. Regular maintenance will help keep your brakes reliable and free from major problems. 

3. Oil Leaks

Common truck fault codes can leave drivers stuck in their tracks, uncertain whether it’s safe to drive. Many times, this may be a problem that isn’t visible to the naked eye, but there may be something wrong with the vehicle that could pose potential issues. 

Oil leaks are one of these problems. Leaking oil could cause a loss of lubrication in fleet vehicles, which increases friction, forcing parts to rub against one another. Friction can be so harmful that it can actually cause parts to fail, so it’s important to be aware of this issue. As with many of these common truck breakdowns, routine maintenance will help uncover these problems. 

4. Electrical Issues 

If a fleet encounters electrical issues during a drive, it can delay deliveries for a long while. Electric issues usually involve problems with the alternator, starter motor and battery. Drivers will discover electrical issues by seeing flashing headlights and/or hearing clicking noises when they try to start the engine or a dead battery. 

It can be challenging to identify electrical issues until they actually start causing issues. Exchanging old electrical parts with new ones can be helpful. Using innovative software may also be effective in finding those faulty electrical parts before they start causing problems. 

5. Overheating 

Various problems can contribute to overheating. You may have leaking coolant, a faulty thermometer or a bad radiator cap. Like other issues involving fleet vehicles, the actual cause of overheating may be hard to determine. A professional inspection or running diagnostics on the vehicle can help uncover the primary cause. 

6. Engine Problems 

Overheating may fall under the broader category of engine problems — a broad range of issues that could cause a fleet vehicle to get behind on its deliveries. Blown gaskets, fuel leaks and neglecting maintenance are all reasons you may encounter engine problems. 

When engine problems do happen, they can be costly to repair and add valuable time to deliveries. Investing that little bit of extra time and money into routine repairs will help a fleet stay effective in the future. 

7. Broken Clutch

Fleet drivers are on the roads for hours at a time. All of those hours add up to a lot of wear and tear over time, which results in eventual issues with many different parts of the vehicle. The clutch is a part of the truck that can commonly break over time.

Although time is one of the main factors in causing a broken clutch, other actions such as improving driving habits can help decrease the chances of it breaking. 

8. Suspension

Constant shaking or clicking noises during driving may be signs of issues with suspension. The ball joints of one side of the truck may go first, creating a bumpy, uncomfortable ride for the driver and potentially damaging the fleet vehicle. 

Pre-trip inspections and thorough diagnostic checks may help pinpoint problems with the suspension. 

9. Exhaust System

Problems with your exhaust system may result in breakdowns and sidelining issues alike — as trucking standards become stricter, fleet managers will have to find ways to decrease their emissions and make sure their exhaust systems match desired levels. 

Along with what trucks are emitting into the environment, drivers may also be worried about what’s being blown into the interior. Regularly replacing cabin air filters and exhaust system parts will help keep a fleet on track.

10. Battery

The battery is the heart of a fleet vehicle and will only become more important as fleets start to turn electric. Staying updated on the condition of the battery, noting its age and identifying any warning signs, are all great ways to protect your battery and keep it from failing on the roads. 

Conclusion

There is a lot to keep track of when it comes to fleet truck maintenance. Whether you’re a diesel mechanic or a fleet manager, you deserve to have a little help to find the source of an issue.

At Noregon, we provide diagnostic and repair solutions that help shops and fleets maximize vehicle maintenance efficiency. Explore JPRO diagnostic software and NextStep Repair software to learn more!

For more information, please visit Industry Solutions for Heavy-Duty Transport(ru,fr,nl).