Preventative maintenance for trucks is essential in making sure small problems don’t become larger ones. Regularly inspecting trucks and fixing issues will ensure the safety of the driver and other road users, and prepares your truck to pass the required CVSA inspections. Here are a few preventative maintenance tips.

How to Prevent Truck Issues

1. Perform Timely Preventative Maintenance 

Using a calendar will help you perform preventative maintenance regularly and on time. You can download software to help you keep track and plan for the future. Remember that a truck’s maintenance schedule is affected by its age, mileage, and type. Maintenance calendars improve safety, uphold the reputation of trucking companies, and keep the fleet in stable condition to stay on the road. You should assign specific maintenance tasks to individual members of the staff, ensuring everybody knows their responsibilities.

2. Ensure Drivers Practice Preventative Maintenance

It’s challenging to keep a well-maintained fleet if your driver’s training in preventative maintenance is not adequate. You should encourage drivers to perform inspections before and after trips, along with giving them a checklist to follow.

Fix the problems noted by the drivers right away. If they do not report issues with a particular truck, but you end up noticing them soon after, it may be a training issue that you should address with the driver.

3. Remember Environmental Factors

You’ll need to think about the weather conditions where your company is based, as well as where you send the trucks. In winter or when a truck goes to cold areas, you’ll need fuel additives, tires with sufficient treads for cold-weather driving, and heaters that work well. In hot weather, the truck’s fan and air-conditioning need to be in perfect condition. You should check coolant levels and ensure there are no leaks, and remember to confirm your thermostat works correctly. Fall is the time to prepare for winter, and spring is when you should perform a thorough inspection for any damage done during cold weather.

Professional Driver Institute in Churchville, NY, is a leading trucking school with a focus on high-quality training. Smaller class sizes and 1-on-1 interaction ensure students leave with the skills they need for a successful career. They also offer job placement at the conclusion of the class. Call (585) 293-1203 or visit their website to learn more.