The trucking and logistics industry is notorious for its blue-collar work ethic, long hours, and strenuous job duties. Couple that with high turnover rates and you have a high percentage of employees who don’t always understand basic maintenance protocols.Commercial truckers face an average of 1,600 vehicle maintenance hours per year, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Each hour of missed maintenance can result in an estimated $15,000 in repair expenses, so it’s important for drivers to stay on top of truck maintenance.But thanks to the media and social media, there are many misconceptions about commercial truck maintenance. To help dispel some of these myths, we turned to our friends at the American Road and Transportation Builders (ARTB). An independent nonprofit organization that promotes transportation solutions and builds safe and sustainable communities through research, education and community development.
There are lots of misconceptions out there about commercial truck maintenance. Let’s start by dispelling the top three most common myths about truck maintenance:
This is not true! Different trucks are built for different purposes, so it’s important to know what your truck can and cannot do.Knowing the difference between a daycab and a double-decker van can help you determine when to perform certain maintenance tasks.If you drive a daycab, you’re limited to what can be installed on the roof of the cab. If you drive a double-decker van, you’re free to install whatever you’d like on the roof.This is not to say that the roof of a van is inherently better than the roof of a daycab. It’s just a matter of functionality.
Wiping down your truck once a week is not only ineffective, it’s dangerous. Dirt, dust, and other contaminants can get caught in the nooks and crannies of your vehicle, and the only thing that will remove them is time. You should also look at the type of truck you own.Durable and semi-duty trucks are built for a certain amount of mud and other debris. While a normal passenger car can be cleaned with a hose and some water, commercial trucks are built for the road.You’re better off cleaning the inside of your truck instead of just the outside. Make sure you know the difference between the two, as you could end up damaging the paint job on your truck if you don’t know the difference.
Yes, they do. Oil changes are one of the most important maintenance tasks for your truck. While you do need an oil filter, you don’t need to change your oil as often as you would in a car.A good rule of thumb is to change your oil every 7,500 miles. Your mechanic can provide the proper oil change amount for your specific truck.
This is also not true. Just like an automobile, trucks need tires that are properly inflated to perform optimally. Many drivers think they can get away with underinflating or overinflating their tires.This is not a good practice, and it’s actually quite dangerous. Drivers who underinflate their tires or overinflate them can exceed the tire pressure limit and run the risk of blowing a tire and/or damaging the rim and/or tire.If your tires are underinflated, you’ll have decreased traction and increased rolling resistance, which will decrease your fuel efficiency. If your tires are overinflated, you’ll run the risk of a tire going flat and wearing out faster.
This is a common misconception. While diesel trucks are the most common type of commercial vehicle, that doesn’t mean they’re right for every job. Some trucks are built for gasoline; some are even electric.It’s important to know what type of truck you have and what it’s capable of doing before you sign on the dotted line. Trucking companies are usually more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the type of truck you’re interested in driving.
It’s true that trucks are complicated machines with lots of parts and moving parts. But that doesn’t mean that they’re rocket science. In fact, many people would argue that they’re actually quite simple.If you understand these five points, you’re well on your way to becoming an expert on truck maintenance. They are:
The commercial trucking industry is notorious for its blue-collar work ethic, long hours, and strenuous job duties. But thanks to the media and social media, there are many misconceptions about commercial truck maintenance. To help dispel these myths, we turned to our friends at the American Road and Transportation Builders (ARTB).An independent nonprofit organization that promotes transportation solutions and builds safe and sustainable communities through research, education and community development.