An important task to ensure a safe, and long-lasting truck driving experience is having an effective maintenance routine. Schedule your weekly, monthly, and quarterly maintenance checks on your calendar, with each entry containing a list of the maintenance tasks for that day. In addition to the inspections and maintenance you perform every few months, there are also a few steps you can take every day to ensure that your vehicle is in excellent shape. Here are the top daily maintenance tips for truck drivers.
First things first, it’s a good idea to make a checklist for your daily maintenance tasks. This can be a typed form created by you, or you can use one of the many useful checklist apps now available for most smartphones. Make sure that your daily checklist covers the following for inspection:
Tires play an important role in ensuring a safe and smooth ride. When the tires are not inflated enough, worn, or cracked, the truck can be pondẻous and consume more fuel, even threatening the user's life.
Therefore, drivers must make sure to check the tires regularly, change the tires regularly, and inflate the pressure according to the manufacturer's regulations... Usually, if there is no abnormal damage, you should change the tire when you have driven for about 50,000km.
Figure 01. Tips for Conducting Truck Maintenance.
Oil serves like the "blood" in the body to help the truck operate smoothly, without making noise. To check the oil, you can open the truck engine for a few minutes to warm up and then turn off the engine, then use the dipstick to check the oil level, you can change or add more if the oil level is low. In fact, checking the oil level should be done about once a week; Change the oil filter after about 10,000km. If the vehicle frequently runs on busy streets or in a dusty environment, the oil should be changed every 5,000km.
Second, a truck cannot operate stably and sustainably without cooling water. This is not difficult to explain because when the truck is operating, the heat generated by the engine is very large, if there is no cooling water under the influence of temperature, the metal parts inside the engine will expand. Open the engine compartment cover and check the coolant level. As a general rule, you should flush your radiator and add coolant at least every 2 years. If you see a small puddle of water under the car when parked, this means that the car has a coolant leak and needs to be checked and repaired.Make sure all windows, mirrors, and windshields on the vehicle are clean and undamaged. Just a hole or crack in the windshield is enough to endanger the driver and front passenger.
Periodically inspect all door and glass systems for cracks and replace any damaged parts as soon as possible. Replace wipers once a year before the rainy season.Check the brightness of the lighting system, including the front headlights, taillights, brake lights, and other signal lights. All of them need to be tested for brightness and distance; especially the black phase because if it deviates, it can cause distraction and harm the control process.
When you notice any lights on your dashboard, it’s probably best to inspect your vehicle before driving. Another important light to look for is the anti-lock brake (ABS) light. If this light is on, you should inspect your brakes before you leave. Faulty brakes can lead to accidents and other problems, so you want to ensure that they’re in excellent condition.There are many steps you can take on your own to optimize the condition of your truck fleet. However, unless you have professional experience as a truck maintenance specialist, there are likely other tasks you’re not qualified to perform. These may include checking the cooling system, electrical components, belts, hoses, brakes, and much more.
In other words, search for a “truck service near me” expert and schedule regular inspections. A truck diagnostic expert will address the maintenance tasks you don’t have the tools or expertise necessary to address on your own.Unfortunately, trucks are just like all other major vehicles: they can develop problems over time. When this happens, you need help from a specialist to ensure the repairs are completed promptly and effectively.The average semi truck maintenance costs associated with truck maintenance can easily exceed $15,000 per year when you factor in all the parts at play, such as the brakes, alternators, and wires, …
and air conditioner filters periodically after 30,000 km to make the engine work smoother and save more fuel, and help the air conditioning system work well and protect your health.Learn more about the CDL exams and valuable tips to pass the tests and obtain your commercial driver's license in our CDL articles.Get ready for the CDL exams with our CDL Prep app, providing a variety of exam-like Questions and state-specific practice tests.
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