The Leading Causes For Truck Breakdowns And How To Avoid Them

There is no doubt that the brakes of your vehicle need to be in good working condition at all times. A perfectly working braking system will get you where your freight needs to go as well as hold up through regular wear and tear.

However, the main cause of normal brake wear and tear originates from the pressure, friction, and heat produced during long trips, which can eventually cause brake problems that can leave you stranded on the roadside.

To avoid brake issues, such as air leaks and frozen airlines, you should make sure that your brakes are properly serviced by a professional mechanic.

Your tires will not give you any special sign before it explodes. The funny thing is that the explosion can occur at unpredictable moments and for different reasons. But as a truck driver, you can decrease the odds of tire shred when you regularly inspect the air pressure of each of your tires.

Furthermore, you can rotate the tires and check for low or missing tread. One thing you can do to avoid tire explosion is to check your tire’s health and gauge them before leaving for the journey. It is advisable that you use quality commercial tires with axles that are aligned properly to avoid irregular wear.

The alternator, battery, and starter all depend on the efficiency of the electrical system of your truck. This is why you should always use only high-quality batteries, and be sure to inspect battery terminals before you start your journey. You should also keep the batteries charged properly to prevent decreased starter life and always use alternators that are adequate for the total load of the vehicle.

Overheating is one of the most common causes of truck breakdowns, especially if they often navigate down the road at high speeds. If at any point you sense that your truck is overheating, the first thing is to look for obstructions that could potentially be blocking the airflow to the radiator.

If there are no obstructions, you can then go ahead and take a closer look at components like the engine fan, belts, tires, and brakes to ensure they are in good working conditions. Overheating could also be caused when your tires are dragging, or your axles are not properly rolling.

Also, the cause of the engine overheating could be the weather. For example, if you are driving on steep gradients, consider turning off your air conditioner and gear down to keep the engine at a comfortable temperature. You should also make sure coolant/oil levels are sufficient at all times.