The commercial truck plays an important role in getting the desired goods and services to consumers who require them. When there is a break down of commercial vehicles, it wreaks a huge impact in the same way a company does business. When they work properly, employees feel safe, your products and services are delivered on time, and your business is able to run effectively. Here’s the list of commercial vehicle maintenance checklists that can help you to keep your vehicle or fleet in great condition.
By using the mobile device and performing routine inspections is one of the simplest ways to keep your drivers compliant.
The Importance of Preventative Maintenance
In order to ensure that the business is, as usual, preventive maintenance on your commercial vehicles becomes crucial. The stalled vehicle is what your business cannot afford. Moreover, safety for your drivers and other drivers on the road is a concern as well.
There is a recommendation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to maintain a required checklist that drivers should go through before they hit the road. There are some things that should be regularly checked which include checking the tires, brakes, fluids, and all components of the wiring and electrical system. One must be very vigilant and careful while inspecting each of these areas carefully. By doing this, it can prevent accidents and breakdowns in transit. Let’s have a closer look.
You’re Vehicle Maintenance Checklist
To keep your entire fleet up and running preventive maintenance is critical. Here are the things you should inspect regularly:
Brake Inspection
- Inspect the brake system.
- Measure the width of the brake pads. If they are 1/8 inches thick or less, they need a replacement immediately.
- Check the emergency brake.
Interior Inspection
- Honk the horn to make sure it is working right and is loud and audible enough to let other vehicles on the road know where you are.
- Make sure all seat belts are in good proper condition and work properly.
- Inspect that the defrosting system is working. It is especially important for vehicles that do a lot of driving in the snow or cold weather.
- Inspect the cooling and heating systems.
- Some states need commercial vehicles to have certain emergency equipment in their vehicles at all times. Even if the state does not, it is highly recommended to have emergency equipment, for instance, a flashlight, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, shovels, chains, reflective jackets, and a warning triangle in the vehicle.
- Lights Inspection
- Check high and low beams to make sure they’re working correctly and can light up the road in front of you.
- Look for condensation in the lighting case, as well as cracks.
- Check the taillights and the brake lights.
- Test that both turn signals are working and that your reverse lights start off when you back your vehicle up.
- Check the emergency flashers.
- Test the bulb that illuminates the license plate.
Mirror Inspection
- Inspect the exterior driver side and passenger side mirrors. Look for cracks or mirrors that are heavily scratched.
- Make sure that the mirrors are mounted to the exterior of the vehicle securely.
- Test the inside mirror. Move it around to make sure it is properly secured.
Tire Inspection
- Inspect that the tires and wheels match to provide persistent support.
- Inspect the condition of the tire and look for cuts, breaks, embedded objects, and excessive wear.
- Check the alignment of the wheel.
- Test the condition of the spare tire(s).
- Make sure you have all the tools needed to change a tire.
Windshield & Accessories
- Make sure the windshield and back windows are free of cracks or deep scratches.
- Check all window controls to make sure windows go up and down properly.
- Check windshield wipers.
Under The Hood
- Inspect and top off all fluids, including wiper fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and oil.
- Carefully inspect the battery.
- Check all hoses.
Documenting Commercial Vehicle Maintenance
Routine maintenance and inspection of company vehicles is the first step to help ensure the safety of employees. It also calls for the uninterrupted transfer of goods and services. However, maintenance is not enough. There must be proper documentation of all vehicle inspections and maintenance for the upkeep of your vehicles. Drivers should have easy access to relevant forms that help them conduct their maintenance routine efficiently and effectively.
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8 Comments
It was surely helpful when you mentioned how important it is to check brakes regularly and replace them right away if they’re less than 1/8 inches thick. My cousin recently started a moving company, and he just invested in a truck fleet to use for his business. I’ll be sure to tell him about this so he can do proper routine maintenance for his commercial truck fleet.
Thanks for mentioning that inspecting the brake system is crucial for semi trucks. I’d really like for my husband to take his truck in for maintenance while he is home this weekend. I just want to make sure that his engine and brakes are working before he heads out on his next long trip.
Thanks so much for the list of things to check to ensure your truck is safe to drive. My grandpa is a truck driver and he’s always worried about the maintenance of his truck. We’ve been looking into places where he can go to get the truck serviced so he can feel safer on the road.
I agree when you said that there must be proper documentation of all vehicle inspections. My uncle owns a truck and wants to get it repaired since he had a minor accident yesterday. Thanks for the article and I will forward it to him so that he can find a good truck repair service near his area.
I appreciate what you said about preventative maintenance of commercial trucks being crucial for the welfare of your business. I think that it would be very beneficial to find a reputable truck part suppliers that provide quality parts to keep your truck in good shape for longer. Thank you very much for all of the information you provided about truck maintenance.
Hi Charlotte Fleet,
Thank you for your comment!!
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I totally agree when you mentioned that all components of a truck need to be checked regularly in order to avoid accidents and breakdowns during a journey. A regular inspection needs to be done every once in a while to ensure everything is in perfect condition. Therefore, I would like to think if a company that manages truck vehicles, it should make sure the components are in good condition, but if they are not, consider getting the replacement parts from a reliable supplier.
Hi,
Thank you for your comment!!
Refer JapaneseCarTrade.com to your friends, relatives, and known who wish to buy used cars direct from Japan: https://www.japanesecartrade.com/stock_list.php
JCT Team