When we have a truck or trucks designated for the transportation of goods, it is important to carry out preventive maintenance on them. In this way, we ensure the efficiency, safety, and durability of these vehicles.
In reality, it’s not so different from the maintenance we should perform on a car, with the difference being that a truck involves more things that we need to take into account.
Proper preventive maintenance is essential to ensure optimal operation of the truck and to avoid very costly breakdowns. In the long run, regular maintenance is inexpensive, and it can prevent companies from suffering extremely high profitability losses.
Let’s talk about the importance of carrying out a preventive maintenance program and its benefits for freight transport trucks and businesses.
What does preventive maintenance for trucks entail?
The first thing we need to be clear about is what preventive maintenance for trucks entails: it refers to a planning of actions and periodic repairs carried out to prevent or detect potential problems in trucks. These are carried out preventively before they become a serious and therefore difficult and costly repair issue.
These types of actions include:
- Periodic inspections.
- Oil changes.
- Adjustment and replacement of worn parts.
- Specific services related to mileage and hours of use.
All of this requires an investment of time and resources, but it can save us a lot of money in the long run and improve the efficiency and durability of our truck fleet.
Benefits of preventive maintenance in trucks
It’s important to understand the importance of this preventive maintenance for freight transport. As we’ve been saying, in the long run, it brings economic benefits to our company. In addition, we’re going to explain aspects to consider in order to understand the benefits that proper truck maintenance can bring us.
Maximization of the truck’s lifespan
When we carry out proper preventive maintenance on our truck, we are helping it maintain a much longer lifespan.
The individual components of our vehicle will always be in good condition, ensuring its proper functioning:
- Excessive wear and tear of different parts is reduced.
- Mechanical, electrical, and transmission systems are subjected to regular inspections.
- All necessary actions are taken to correct any potential issues.
Thanks to all of this, we will give our truck a longer lifespan and greater reliability, avoiding the costs of expensive repairs and acquiring new trucks.
Safety on the roads
Another factor to consider is safety, a pressing issue in society as a whole and in freight transportation specifically.
It has been proven that trucks that do not undergo proper maintenance are more prone to accidents.
Why is that? It’s easy to understand: if your vehicle doesn’t undergo regular inspections, there is a higher likelihood of failures in braking systems, tires, etc.
When these systems are not in optimal condition, the risk of experiencing an accident will increase exponentially.
During our regular inspections, a thorough check will be conducted on the condition of our brakes, steering systems, lights, tires, and any component related to road safety.
Furthermore, in the specific case of freight transportation, it is crucial to consider components such as plastic corner protector for loading securement transport, which play a fundamental role in the cargo securing system. These corner protectors provide stability and additional protection, preventing shifting or damage during transport.
Reduction in repair costs
Preventive inspections help us identify and address minor issues before they become major problems.
Major breakdowns result in very costly repairs, so by performing regular inspections, we can detect these failures in time.
Moreover, in this way, we avoid having to make emergency repairs, which are not only very expensive, but can also involve vehicle downtime. A truck that is not in operation is a truck that cannot transport goods and, therefore, does not generate profitability.
Improved operational efficiency
Energy and operational efficiency is another key factor that we can benefit from through proper vehicle maintenance.
Proper truck maintenance ensures that the engine and different systems are clean and lubricated, thereby improving their performance and reducing fuel consumption.
Furthermore, having tires with the proper pressure and in good condition reduces rolling resistance, increasing their durability and improving the truck’s energy efficiency.
Although it may not seem like it, all of this can generate a significant fuel savings for the profitability of a freight transportation company.
Compliance with regulations and standards
In addition to everything mentioned above, we must not forget about the regulations and standards that govern vehicle maintenance.
This industry is subject to various regulations that must be complied with. Preventive maintenance is essential to ensure that our trucks meet the safety standards required by the different regulations.
All of this includes, among many other things:
- Inspection of pollutant emissions.
- Speed control systems.
- Braking systems.
- Tire condition.
Carrying out regular inspections will ensure that our truck is ready to meet the established requirements and, moreover, avoid possible penalties.
Efficiency, safety, and profitability.
We have made it clear the importance of maintenance in freight trucks. It not only helps maximize the lifespan of trucks, improve road safety, reduce repair costs, and increase operational efficiency, but it also ensures compliance with regulations related to the freight transportation sector.
It is not just a matter of saving money and avoiding inconveniences, but also protecting the investment that a truck represents and safeguarding the reputation and profitability of the company.