By admin 
Preventive truck maintenance is an important part of operations for businesses that rely on these vehicles for supplying or hauling goods. The same is true for self-employed, owner-operators. In the absence of timely maintenance, your trucks can break down without warning. Preventive maintenance is a must-have and it can help you save a lot of money in the long run.
Learn about the different ways that preventive truck maintenance can help you save money and, in fact, theoretically pay you back over the long term.
1. Preventing Minor Issues from becoming Major Problems
Preventive truck maintenance prevents minor problems from turning into costly repairs and this saves you big money. Make sure to follow a routine maintenance schedule so that problems don’t arise and every issue is detected in its early stages.
The basic preventive maintenance schedule should include:
- Oil checks and replacements
- Coolant and brake fluid levels check
- Tire condition checks and rotation
- Wear checks on tires, brakes, and other parts
- Timely wheel alignment and balancing
- Windshield wiper checks and replacements
Changing oil costs a tiny fraction of an engine repair job.
2. Improving Fuel Economy
Regular heavy truck maintenance further saves money by improving fuel economy. An engine that is clean and running smoothly tends to burn fuel more efficiently.
Lack of proper maintenance can cause an increase in fuel consumption and a decrease in fuel economy. The key culprits in such a situation can include:
- Dirty or clogged air filters
- Dirt and carbon deposits in fuel injectors
- Dirty spark plugs
- Low tire pressure
When these problems persist, you will be spending more money every time you fill up.
3. Improving Safety
Well-maintained trucks are safer than those that do not receive regular maintenance. When your truck drivers drive properly maintained vehicles, it will be safer for both the drivers and others on the road. Braking, suspension, and steering systems work more effectively and reliably when they are in good condition. And increased safety translates into cost savings by avoiding potential road accidents.
Lack of maintenance can mean having worn-out brakes that can take longer to slow down the truck. Your drivers can have difficulty avoiding collisions with such brakes. So, it is important to replace brake pads in time.
4. Benefiting from Warranty
Regular maintenance helps you avail the benefits offered by your truck’s warranty. Warranties typically come with the condition of ensuring regular servicing. If you do not keep up with the maintenance schedule and something goes wrong, the repair may not be covered by the warranty. Thus, preventive truck maintenance can help you avoid getting stuck with a big bill that could be covered by the vehicle’s warranty.
5. Increasing Truck’s Lifespan
Proper maintenance helps you get the most years out of your truck. In other words, it helps your truck last as long as possible. Thus, you will be spending less money replacing a truck before its service life ends.
Basic maintenance services can add thousands of extra miles to your truck’s life. It is best to spend a few hundred dollars today to maintain your truck than spend hundreds of thousands of dollars because your vehicle starts breaking down.
Recommended Preventive Truck Maintenance Checks
Here is a list of items and systems that need checking or service as part of your truck’s routine maintenance:
- Oil & filter should be checked or topped up at least every 5,000 miles
- Brakes should be serviced annually
- Transmission fluid should be checked or replaced every 30,000 miles to 60,000 miles
- Battery & electrical system should be checked before the winter season
- Cooling systems should be checked before every seasonal change
- Tire pressure must be checked monthly and rotated regularly
- Fuel system should be cleaned every 15,000 miles to 30,000 miles
It is recommended to check your truck’s owner’s manual for the ideal maintenance schedule. There can be variations depending on your truck’s usage and the local conditions. Your truck’s maintenance and repair shop can guide you on the ideal preventive maintenance schedule.