It’s hard to exaggerate just how important preventive maintenance is. Whether you are in Austin or Odessa, Texas, and no matter how many semi-trucks you have, regular repair, maintenance, and inspection is required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Regular maintenance and repair of your commercial trucks not only allows you to comply with federal regulations, but it can also extend the life of your vehicles, reduce the need for costly emergency repairs, and increase the uptime of your entire fleet. Here are some tips to help you plan a maintenance schedule, implement relevant maintenance checklists, and document your preventative maintenance program.
Preventive Maintenance: An Overview
Commercial trucking is not the only industry that performs preventative maintenance. For machines to operate at their peak, regular maintenance is required. Sometimes your Odessa, TX mobile diesel truck might need a mechanic to perform maintenance, but other times, you can do it on your own.
Cleaning, lubricating, checking fluid levels, and even performing simple visual inspections can be part of preventative maintenance. For vehicles in particular, preventative maintenance typically involves replacing parts that are expected to wear out over time, such as windshield wipers, brake linings, tires, and air filters.
By replacing parts and fluids on a regular maintenance schedule, you can avoid more serious and expensive issues in the long run. In addition, it decreases the chance of an issue cropping up unexpectedly, ensuring the truck driver is able to safely operate the vehicle.
Implementing A Preventive Maintenance Checklist
Even though it is challenging to plan and implement a preventative maintenance program for a large fleet of trucks that are rarely in one place at the same time, there are four simple steps you can take to get started with a program that keeps you compliant and reduces costs.
1. Take An Inventory Of Your Fleet.
Because no two vehicles are alike, their maintenance requirements may differ greatly. Preventative maintenance plans for trucks vary depending on factors such as how far they are driven, what fuel system they use, and what weather conditions they are typically exposed to.
The FMCSA asks all fleet owners to keep accurate maintenance records for each vehicle in their fleet in order to enforce their safety regulations. The records must include information about vehicle ownership and maintenance. The FMCSA asks that maintenance schedules and repairs documentation be stored for at least one year while the vehicle is in use, and for at least six months after it is decommissioned. As a result of this requirement, having a preventative maintenance plan for each vehicle well documented and planned in advance can actually save you time and money by preventing failed DOT vehicle inspections.
2. Prepare A Schedule For Each Vehicle.
The preventative maintenance and repair that needs to be performed on diesel trucks in Odessa, TX varies greatly depending on how the truck is used. Indicators such as engine hours, fuel levels, and mileage can often be used as benchmarks to predict when a truck will need service next, so it’s critical to closely track them for every vehicle you have in your fleet.
3. Instruct Drivers On Inspections.
Your drivers are the eyes and ears of your operation, and they are almost always responsible for conducting the vehicle checks necessary to maintain a preventative maintenance program. Consider creating a maintenance checklist to equip your drivers with the knowledge to perform a thorough pre-trip inspection.
4. Keep A Record Of Your Preventative Maintenance.
Pre-trip checklists are a great way to start documenting preventative maintenance, but the FMCSA requires each vehicle to have one year of documented and planned maintenance. In the past, many fleet managers and truck drivers relied on paper documentation that was vulnerable to being lost, destroyed, or stolen.
We Can Help You With Your Maintenance Needs
WTX Truck Repair, LLC is an Odessa, Texas truck repair and maintenance company that offers customers a fast turnaround time, the best rates, and personalized service. Commercial delivery trucks are our specialty. We work with both local operators and national fleets. Our specialty is getting you back on the road quickly, affordably, and correctly.
Whether you have a medium-duty pickup or a heavy-duty truck, we are equipped to service and repair every type of diesel truck in Odessa, TX. No job is too complicated for our mobile diesel mechanics.
To learn more about our truck services, call us at (432) 444-3284.
