TIPS TO KEEP VOCATIONAL TRUCKS ROLLING
As truck fleets age, driver inspections and preventative maintenance will keep you in motion.
BY CURT BENNINK SENIOR FIELD EDITOR, EQUIIPMENT TODAY & FORCONSTRUCTIONPROS.COM
PHOTO COURTESY OF MACK TRUCKS
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odern trucks are packed with technology that helps monitor system health. “To maximize vehicle uptime, take advantage of the electronic monitoring systems available on vehicles today, like tire pressure monitoring systems, preventive maintenance (PM) schedulers and telematics reports that notify you of key fault codes that could provide advanced warning of a potential failure,” says John Crichton, director of fleet service, Navistar. You should also perform daily walkarounds to identify potential trouble spots. “Daily walkarounds are commonly used to look for lube or coolant leaks, but it’s also important to listen for air leaks,” says Ray Hasting,
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Mack Trucks director of e-mobility and national vocational accounts. “Air leaks can be occurring at several different locations, including airline fittings, a bypassing brake valve, a loose exhaust clamp or a cracked exhaust flex pipe.” A pre-trip inspection is a must for vocational commercial trucks. It is a CDL requirement and should be documented. Develop a list and routine to ensure critical items are not missed. When you approach the truck, check underneath to make sure there are no fluid leaks. Make sure the truck is not leaning or listing in a certain direction. “Lights and tires are two big issues a driver can monitor that will increase uptime,” says Tom Bray, senior business industry PAGE
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Journal of Equipment Management
