Heavy-duty trucks are an essential part of our lives. Even people who don’t drive them and companies that don’t own them rely on them. They provide a long list of vital services from bringing materials to manufacturers and delivering products to stores to fostering construction and demolition.
Of course, heavy-duty trucks are particularly important to their drivers and owners. You want to make sure they last as long as possible. Prolonging the life of your truck helps you get the most out of your investment and reduces unnecessary delays. Keep in mind the following 7 things you can do to keep your truck up and running.
1) Routine Maintenance
Routine maintenance is one of the most important measures you can take to make your truck last longer. That includes oil changes, fluid checks, filter replacements, and many other aspects. They’ll keep your truck running smoothly and efficiently while reducing wear and tear on it. At the same time, maintenance allows your technicians to catch newly developing problems so they can repair them with durable big truck parts before they get out of hand.
2) Timely Overhauls
Though routine maintenance can extend the life of your truck, your engine is going to wear out at some point. Timely engine overhauls will help keep the truck going for even longer. Proper times for overhauls vary based on several factors. In general, though, it’s best to start thinking about a rebuild every 700,000 miles or so.
3) Proper Lubrication
Lubrication is crucial for several components of your truck, including the wheel bearings, differential, tie rods, ball joints, steering linkage, and fifth wheel to name a few. Keeping those parts properly lubricated will reduce wear and tear on them. It minimizes friction and heat build-up and keeps those parts working correctly. By extension, it’ll reduce repairs and downtime.
4) Avoid Overloading
Overloading a truck can take a major toll on it, causing completely avoidable wear and tear on the engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, and tires. Be sure your loads don’t exceed the maximum weight limit for the truck to reduce unnecessary damage. Take care to ensure your loads are properly distributed and secured as well. Those efforts may not always be convenient, but they’ll make your truck last much longer.
5) Wheel Alignment and Tire Inflation
Making sure the wheels are properly aligned and the tires are adequately inflated will make a major difference as well. As is the case with passenger vehicles, a truck with alignment issues will pull to one side and be more difficult to keep straight. That, in turn, places a strain on the steering and suspension. Over- or under-inflated tires can interfere with handling, fuel efficiency, and safety. Keeping both these factors in mind will help to extend the life of your truck.
6) Driver Training
Another effective way to maximize the life of your truck is to make sure your drivers are properly trained. Be sure they’re well-versed on smooth acceleration, using downgrades to help them pull hills, and avoiding hard braking. Sometimes, unexpected issues arise on the road, such as improperly trained passenger vehicle drivers. That makes adhering to best driving practices difficult. When possible, though, being mindful of those aspects can reduce wear and tear on your truck.
Stress the importance of pre- and post-trip inspections too. They’re just as essential as routine maintenance for catching minor issues before they become major problems. Be sure your drivers know what points to cover and what types of issues to look for during those inspections.
7) Turn to Technology
Finally, technology can go a long way toward prolonging the life of your truck. Several telematics systems are available for truck owners. Those devices monitor driver and truck performance. They alert you to potential problems and remind you when it’s time for maintenance. They can keep track of an array of factors, including fuel efficiency, engine and transmission malfunctions, and tire inflation to name a few. Even older trucks can be retrofitted with these systems.
Keeping Your Truck on the Road
Heavy-duty trucks are crucial to our ways of life these days, and they’re major investments. Because of that, you want to keep them running for as long as possible. Keep the factors listed here in mind to reduce wear and tear and help you stay on top of developing problems. These measures will pay off in the long run.
