If you are a fleet owner, then you are already familiar with the wear and tear that naturally happens to semi-trucks. While this cannot really be avoided, it can be reduced. Here are some tips on how to make sure your trucks last as long as possible.

Parking Brake

If the truck needs to be parked on a hill, make sure to use the parking brake. However, this needs to be done properly to be truly effective. The truck needs to still be in drive and the driver needs to apply the brake pedal and then place the truck into park. This enables the weight of the truck to be placed upon the parking brake instead of the transmission. When starting the truck back up to leave, the vehicle should be shifted into gear and the brake applied before releasing the emergency brake.

Combining Runs

If your fleet is constantly going on short runs, they are unnecessarily being hard on the engine. While short runs cannot be avoided at times, they can be combined by using GPS to use analytics to help reduce unnecessary miles. When the short runs are combined into fewer longer runs, the oil in the engine is given a chance to warm up and get rid of the excessive moisture inside. If multiple runs continue, the driver runs the risk of having the oil gum up the engine. If the numerous short runs simply cannot be avoided even with the help of a complete GPS system, the oil should be changed according to the vehicle’s extreme usage schedule.

Riding the Brakes

Many operators have the unconscious habit of riding their brakes while driving. This bad practice causes unnecessary wear and tear on the truck and leads to frequent replacement jobs and early maintenance orders. You would be surprised by the number of drivers who do not believe they have this habit. One excellent solution is to follow them on their route while taking a video of them driving. This can then be used in subsequent training videos and also used to take corrective action.

Stopping and Starting

If possible, try to avoid frequently starting and stopping the engine. If unloading the truck at your stop will not take long, just leave the truck running. While some may claim this wastes fuel, it is still cheaper than frequent engine repairs that stopping/starting all of the time will cause.

Collisions

While large collisions are obvious in their damage potential, even the smallest of fender benders have the potential to cause underlying damage that can increase wear and tear on the engine and other parts. Some fleet companies offer refresher training courses when drivers are expected to encounter harsh winter weather or other hazardous driving conditions on a regular basis. These courses can also prepare employees for traffic scheme changes planned to keep people safe.

Warming Up

Let the truck warm up for a minute or two before taking off. This gives the fluids time to circulate through the engine and also time for the engine to warm those fluids up. This can increase the lifespan of the transmission.