Consider becoming trapped on a busy highway with a heavy truck. What a terrible circumstance that would be! While driving backward would be risky, losing time and a pause in the productive cycle would be far worse.
What can you do, then, to prevent such a circumstance? Simple: You must follow the preventative maintenance schedule from commercial truck repair. You can never be certain of your truck’s condition without doing this, which will help you avoid an unexpected failure.
You can have a mobile mechanic who is available on call to get your truck fixed on the roadside, which costs more money for the convenience of a roadside repair. You can lose thousands of dollars if your commercial truck breaks down unexpectedly due to missed productivity, repairs, and towing fees. However, you may lessen your downtime by doing preventive maintenance regularly throughout the year.
Here are ways to lower your risk of breakdown:
#1 Check Your Tires.
Tires are a major factor in many highway breakdown occurrences; thus, you should always check your tires before leaving. How do you inspect the tires, though?
Tire Pressure: Overinflated tires will interfere with the steering, while underinflated tires are more likely to blow out. The fuel efficiency of a vehicle is influenced by tire pressure. Always maintain the recommended tire pressure; for the exact pressure, consult your owner’s manual or check for a placard already on the truck near the door sill or a sticker placed on the fenders showing appropriate inflation pressure.
Additionally, keep in mind that each month the tires lose around one pound of air pressure, and seasonal temperature variations of about 10 degrees remove an additional pound of air pressure.
#2 Monitor Fluid Levels
You need to check the fluid levels if you are going on the freeways. By checking the fluids, you can make sure that your engine does not run low on engine oil or engine coolant.
Maintaining the right quantity of coolant and engine oil is essential for the effective operation of the engine in your truck. Check the fuel level as well because you do not want your truck to quit on the highway with no fuel stations in sight.
You may lower the likelihood of unexpected malfunctions and truck repair by maintaining the fluids at their ideal level.
#3 Maintain Electrical Systems in Check
Truck electronics consume lots of electricity. And from where do they get it? From their alternator and batteries! The truck’s performance will be reduced by an inadequate electrical system, which will eventually cause a breakdown and expensive repairs.
What to watch out for is as follows:
Battery: Verify that the battery is charged and that the gauge on the dash indicates the charging system is working, and that it has the appropriate capacity from the manufacturer. A defective battery may cause your engine to shut off, leaving you stranded on the highway.
Maintain the cables and wires so that they are corrosion-free, undamaged, and clean. You can help prevent short circuits, dim exterior lighting, and certain significant system failures by maintaining your battery cables.
#4 Check the brakes
The brakes are one of the key components of truck failures because of the extreme friction, pressure, and heat they endure.
When stopping the truck, if you hear the brakes continually screech or vibrate, these are signs that the brakes need attention.
In Conclusion
The benefits of preventive maintenance for your truck are numerous. The nicest part about preventative maintenance is how easily it can be done enabling you to maintain a flexible approach to your truck’s maintenance.
Please contact the Truck-N-Trailer Service Department at (405) 912-5800 if your truck breaks down or if you just need regular preventative maintenance.
We have a group of professionals that are skilled in handling diesel or gasoline engine/transmission repairs and commercial truck repairs, cargo box repairs, and lift gate service and repair or replacement.
