A Guide to Truck Maintenance for Your Fleet

Are trucks used as part of your business? In this case, you likely already know about the importance of ensuring your fleet functions consistently and reliably. If just one truck falters and suddenly stops working, this could cause significant damage to your productivity. 

The good news is that if you incorporate an effective maintenance plan, it’s less likely for a truck to break down. With continual upkeep and diagnostic services, your fleet can remain on the road and supply a reliable service for your customers. 

If you’re unsure about what to prioritize when it comes to fleet maintenance, this starter guide is here to help. 

The Driver Vehicle Inspection Report routine 

As you will know, a Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) needs to be completed by a driver once they’ve inspected a commercial motor vehicle. This formal record is done to not only ensure your trucks are kept in good condition but also to ensure fleet compliance and general road safety. 

The latter point is covered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). If a truck was to fail an FMCSA inspection, it could result in it being removed from the roads immediately until all necessary repairs are completed. This, understandably, is something you don’t want to happen. 

As a result, it’s essential you make it clear to your fleet team that, as part of their daily routine, they need to complete a DVIR twice – once before work begins and the other after their driving is done for the day. 

Check for any signs of damage to the truck exterior 

As part of the inspection, a driver will check all the usual areas. They need to make sure that all tires are inflated and not showing substantial wear. They have to check oil levels to minimize damage to the truck’s engine. The exterior lights need to function correctly for when driving at night. The list goes on and on. 

However, it can be easy to overlook another basic element of truck inspection – seeing if the body is displaying signs of damage. Depending on the nature of this damage, it could lead to exterior components detaching. As well as instantly causing your truck to fail an inspection, it might present a threat to others on the road. 

There’s also the case of professionalism to consider. Imagine if a bashed-up truck turns up to a client’s premises with an order. How do you think they’ll perceive this appearance? It may seem insignificant on the surface, but it’s something that can reflect badly on your brand. 

Regularly replace components 

Of course, this isn’t applicable for most truck components. Yet there are certain elements which wear down fast in comparison to others, and these should be replaced on a regular basis. 

The tires are a big example. Even if an inspection doesn’t discover any major issues with the tires, you should still ponder replacing them even if they only show minimal wear and tear. A cautious approach, yes, but it massively reduces the possibility of any major tire-related problems cropping up.