Trucking is one of the most essential industries in the country, and it takes a special owner to run a trucking company. Even so, there are over 500,000 trucking businesses in the US, which is still growing. Fortunately, with it being so popular, there are time-tested ways to protect your most expensive assets and keep your business on the road for as long as possible. Let’s talk about some important commercial truck maintenance tips to help keep your trucks running for as long as possible!
The Importance of Commercial Truck Maintenance
First, it’s important to note that maintenance is different from repairs. Maintenance is what you should do to your trucks regardless of their condition. Doing this regularly prevents certain repairs.
For example, keeping fresh oil in your truck prevents engine damage, saving you thousands of dollars on a new engine or even a new truck. With the average commercial truck lube costing $250 to $300, that’s a no-brainer.
Like it or not, there are dozens of these maintenance steps that you need to take seriously. Not only could one repair cost tens of thousands of dollars, but if you’re managing a fleet, those costs can add up to hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.
Consequently, maintenance is an essential aspect of your budget. While this isn’t exact, the rule of thumb for commercial trucks is that you should allocate 5 cents per mile on a new truck, 6 cents after 150,000 miles, and 7 cents after 300,000. Add another penny every 150,000 miles after that until the truck has reached retirement age.
Fortunately, if you set that money aside and know the proper maintenance, you won’t have to worry as much about unexpected repairs. Here are some of the most important maintenance tips to consider.
1. Read Your Owner’s Manual
One of the best things you can do for your commercial truck is to familiarize yourself with the owner’s manual. Their checklist will be much more comprehensive than anything you’ll find online. Nobody knows how to maintain a truck better than its designers.
The reason this is so important is that every truck is slightly different. They will all have different maintenance schedules, fluid types, and more. Here, you will find the most accurate information about your specific model.
Unfortunately, a quick search on Google for the right type of oil is a dangerous game. You’ve likely encountered this with your car. If you ask someone at the store for an air filter, they ask you for the make, model, year, engine type, and everything else except your social security number.
Therefore, it’s best to at least skim through the owner’s manual. The average new semi truck costs around $200,000. That isn’t pocket change for most business owners.
However, it can prevent you or a mechanic from using the wrong fluids or parts, which can save your truck. Following the schedule as designed will ensure that you keep your truck for as long as possible.
2. Don’t Forget the Tires
You’re going to see plenty of tips out there about your oil changes and everything else. If you’re doing it right, then your tires are the only part of the vehicle in contact with the ground.
Consequently, it’s essential to retread your tires and replace them as needed. This can prevent a collision, prevent your tires from damage, and potentially save lives. If you’ve seen a commercial truck tire blowout on the highway, then you know how dangerous it can be.
Keep an eye on your tires and make sure they maintain their treads, especially during the winter. Commercial truck tires aren’t cheap, but you can keep them in good shape for a long time with proper maintenance. That includes regular rotations and retreading.
If you find any defects while looking around, address them right away. This is especially important for long-haul vehicles. The old saying “a stitch in time saves nine” certainly applies to tires, which are much more expensive than a sweater!
However, when the time comes, you will need to replace them. Modern truck tires should last 50,000 to 60,000 miles on average (with proper maintenance). After that, you will need to replace your tires.
3. Keep Everything Aligned
Wheel alignment is essential for safety, tire longevity, fuel economy, and performance. Even so, many owners neglect their wheel and axle alignments and allow them to get bent out of shape over time. This will cause more damage to your vehicle over time if left to persist.
Fortunately, it’s an easy and routine maintenance task that any truck mechanic can help with. We strongly recommend getting a 3-axle alignment every 12 months, regardless of how often you use the vehicle.
4. Oil Changes, Oil Changes, Oil Changes
Yes, everybody’s favorite maintenance tip. Most semi-trucks need a lube every 15,000 miles, but we’d recommend shortening that to 10,000 miles for heavy-duty vehicles. Oil can burn out quickly when your engine has to pull severe loads regularly.
If the pistons in your engine don’t have the proper lubrication, this creates friction in your engine. Unfortunately, engines don’t last very long when this occurs.
Remember, your pistons fire thousands of times per minute. This will deteriorate the piston rings and tracks quickly with old oil.
As oil burns and accumulates debris, your engine oil gets sludgy. As a result, your engine isn’t protected with the lubrication it needs.
Therefore, changing your oil is one of the few maintenance tasks that it’s okay to do ahead of schedule. It’s relatively inexpensive and it can protect your engine for as long as possible.
5. Service Your Battery
Every six months, it’s a good idea to inspect your batteries. Testing them for their output will let you know how they are holding up.
You shouldn’t have to replace them every six months, but it doesn’t hurt to check. Batteries should last for at least two, and typically three to five years.
If you check your battery twice a year, we recommend doing it in the fall and spring. You don’t want to go into winter with a weak battery, as your truck may not start up in time. You’ll also want to check to see how your battery is holding up after the cold months.
Also, if you have trucks that sit for long periods on your lot, start them up occasionally. Leaving discharged batteries for long periods will damage them. Let them run for at least ten minutes to charge the battery and evaporate any condensation buildup in the engine.
6. Keep an Eye on Coolant Levels
Honestly, it’s unlikely that you’ll need to fully replace your coolant or coolant filter. With proper maintenance, your coolant may last for hundreds of thousands of miles.
However, checking regularly will let you know if you have a coolant leak or an issue with your coolant. This could be caused by a number of issues with hoses, valves, overheating, and more.
Remember, your coolant keeps your engine from overheating. Without ample coolant, your pistons can actually overheat and weld to the tracks on a long drive. In this case, you’ll need to replace the engine entirely.
Radiator and engine issues are no joke. Keeping your coolant at the appropriate levels will help prevent the worst.
7. Remember Your Seasonal Maintenance
Don’t forget about seasonal maintenance schedules, as these can improve performance and safety while keeping the truck running smoothly. Before the summer, it’s important to:
- Check A/C functioning and potential leaks
- Drain, flush, and test your coolant system
- Check the battery for corrosion
- Lower tire pressure as necessary
On that last note, remember that warm air can increase your tire pressure beyond safe operating limits. This can quickly lead to blowouts, especially with heavy loads. Always check tire pressure during season changes!
Before the winter, make sure to:
- Re-inflate tires as necessary
- Check that your defrosters work correctly
- Search for pests living in the engine bay (signs of nesting or wire chewing)
- Keep fluids at optimal levels
- Verify proper tire tread
Lastly, you should check your braking system in the late fall, preferably before the first snowstorm. Drum brakes can freeze overnight, so check them regularly. Also, test your ABS system before driving a company vehicle in the snow.
8. Do a Brake Check
No, not to deal with tailgaters. Instead, remember to keep track of when brakes were installed and/or serviced, and test them periodically.
Different braking systems can have different issues, and they can happen at any time. Freezing, overheating, old brake fluid, and poor adjustments can cause serious safety issues.
If you have an air braking system, listen for air leaks coming from the truck or the trailer as you walk around. This could be a sign that your braking system needs attention.
Also, check your pads and rotors periodically. Inspecting them for proper lining, road debris, and foreign materials can save lives on the road.
9. Inspect Your Electrical System
Checking your lights is a great way to test your electrical system. Do a walk-around of the (running) vehicle and ensure that marker lights, turn signals, and others are working as needed. This is also a good time to check for cracks or damage to your lights.
Also, inspect your battery and alternator for loose wiring. If you ever read a negative discharge on your ammeter, it’s likely that your alternator has gone bad. If the numbers start to slip, get it fixed right away!
10. Have Drivers Conduct Pre-Trip Inspections
One of our most important tips is to have your drivers inspect their vehicles before driving. Make it mandatory to report any potential issues with the vehicles.
Why is this so important? Well, because we can’t expect business owners to look at every vehicle every day. However, they may need it.
Train your employees to check fluid levels, listen for sounds, and inspect for safety issues around the vehicle. You can even provide them with a checklist to complete each day, which should include:
- Tires (pressure, tread, etc.)
- Mirrors
- Engine noises
- Lights
- Horn/backup alarm
- Electronics
- Battery corrosion
- Fluid levels
- Reported smells or odors
The list goes on. If everybody is involved, then maintenance becomes a lot easier. Again, identifying problems early on is the key to saving money in the trucking industry.
11. Have a Backup Plan
Not everything goes to plan 100% of the time. Trucks break down or get damaged on the road, and there’s no way to prevent it entirely.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t keep up with maintenance, but you still need to be prepared for when issues arise. For that, you’ll need a mobile mechanic service that can help your fleet at any time.
The right services can help you with tire or battery issues wherever your truck happens to be. Remember, it’s not easy to tow a semi off of the side of the road. Always have a plan in place to keep your trucks running no matter what!
Be Proactive, Not Reactive
Now that you know some of the most important commercial truck maintenance tips, let’s sum it up. When maintaining company vehicles, it’s important to take preventative steps to avoid large costs down the line.
Even if your truck is brand new, address concerns right away by talking to your mechanic. If nothing’s wrong, the worst that happened is that you asked. Regardless, fixing something in time can save tens of thousands of dollars on each large truck, let alone a fleet.
Stay up to date with our latest tips for your trucking business, and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or for 24-hour roadside assistance!
