If your business relies on commercial trucks to transport goods, you can’t afford to ignore maintenance schedules. Truck maintenance is crucial to keeping your fleet operational, safe, and reliable. It helps extend the life of your vehicles and ensures they are in good working order on any given day. If neglected, even routine maintenance could lead to costly repairs or breakdowns on the road. This article covers the basics of commercial truck maintenance so that you can be confident identifying when your vehicle needs attention.

Is commercial truck maintenance necessary?

Yes. Commercial trucks are large, complex machines that need to be regularly maintained to ensure they are safe to operate and in working order. Neglecting your trucks’ maintenance schedule can result in breakdowns that could cause days of delays and result in expensive repair bills. Regular maintenance can help extend the life of your trucks and reduce the frequency of breakdowns, helping to keep your business running smoothly. Maintaining your trucks on a regular basis also helps to ensure that they are legally compliant and that you meet all safety regulations, which is an important part of being a commercial driver. Whether you’re a small business owner or an owner of a large fleet, it’s important to understand the importance of commercial truck maintenance and how it can help save you time, money, and effort.

What types of maintenance do commercial trucks need?

There are many different aspects of a commercial truck that you should be aware of when maintaining your fleet. In general, commercial trucks require regular oil changes, transmission fluid replacements, tire rotations, inspections, and a variety of other maintenance procedures. It’s important to know which inspections you should be doing on a regular basis, how often you should be changing the oil and oil filter, and when you should be conducting transmission fluid replacements. Depending on the make and model, some commercial trucks also require regular brake inspections and tire replacements. Depending on the type of commercial vehicle you own, there are also certain aspects of maintenance that are specific to each type.

Regular Oil Changes

Oil changes are one of the most important aspects of commercial truck maintenance. They are necessary to ensure that your vehicle’s engine oil is at the correct level, that it stays clean and does not build up harmful contaminants, and that it is effective at lubricating moving parts. Oil changes are also important for extending the life of your engine and preventing wear and tear on its internal components. It’s recommended that you change your oil at the manufacturer’s recommended interval. The EPA also recommends that you use a quality synthetic motor oil that provides better protection against wear and tear.

Transmission Fluid Replacement

Transmission fluid is a crucial part of your commercial vehicle’s drivetrain that helps to lubricate moving parts and reduce friction between them. If your commercial vehicle’s transmission fluid gets too dirty or is contaminated with debris, it can cause the transmission to fail. To help prevent this, you should be regularly replacing transmission fluid as outlined by the vehicle manufacturer. You should also be aware that you need to take your vehicle’s transmission fluid to an authorized technician to have it checked and changed.

Rotating Tires

Rotating your tires is an important part of commercial truck maintenance because it helps to extend their lifespan, reduce the buildup of harmful contaminants, and prevent premature wear on the wheel bearings. The best way to rotate tires is to follow the tire manufacturer’s recommendations. Some trucks have tire rotation sensors that can alert you when it’s time to switch to a new tire position. You can also manually check the tire pressure and tire wear before each trip so that you can correct any issues.

Inspections

Inspections are an important part of commercial truck maintenance, as they can help you to identify potential issues with your vehicle before they have a negative impact on your business. The types of inspections you should be conducting will depend on the make and model of your commercial vehicle, but there are some that are essential for every vehicle. A visual inspection is an important part of commercial truck maintenance. This is when you actually look at your vehicle and check for potential issues, such as oil drips and damaged tires. A pre-trip inspection is also an important part of commercial truck maintenance. This is when you examine your vehicle before taking it out on the road. This inspection allows you to identify potential issues and make any necessary repairs before you get underway. An after-trip inspection is another essential part of commercial truck maintenance. This inspection allows you to check your vehicle after your trip and identify any issues that may have occurred during the day.

Summing up

Commercial truck maintenance is an important part of keeping your fleet operational and safe. Regularly checking your trucks to ensure that they are in good working order and safe to operate is vital for the safety of your drivers and for the success of your business. By following the necessary maintenance schedules for your commercial vehicles and taking care to identify potential issues as soon as possible, you can reduce the frequency of breakdowns, save money on repair costs, and minimize downtime for your business.