Ah, maintenance. The bane of every truck driver’s existence. It’s always happening at the most inconvenient times, costing you both money and time. But is it really necessary? Can’t you just skip it sometimes? After all, your truck has been running fine without any maintenance for years now…right?
Wrong. Sorry to break it to you, but proper maintenance is vitally important for commercial trucks and trailers. Here’s why:
- Maintenance Prevents Costly Repairs: Down the road, a lack of maintenance will almost certainly lead to more expensive repairs. That’s because small problems that could have been easily fixed with a bit of preventative maintenance will end up snowballing into much larger—and costlier—issues. For example, failing to change your truck’s oil regularly can eventually lead to engine failure—something that will definitely put a dent in your wallet.
- Maintenance Keeps You Roadworthy: In order to legally operate on the road, commercial trucks and trailers must pass a yearly inspection from the Department of Transportation (DOT). These inspections are designed to ensure that vehicles are safe to be on the road and aren’t posing a risk to other drivers. Skip too much maintenance, and your vehicle will almost certainly fail its inspection—meaning you’ll be forced to take it off the road until the necessary repairs can be made.
- Maintenance Maximizes Your Efficiency: Nobody likes being stranded on the side of the road with a broken-down truck. When you neglect preventive maintenance, though, that’s exactly what will happen—and it’ll happen more often than you’d like. By regularly servicing your vehicle, you can help minimize the likelihood of a breakdown and keep yourself (and your cargo) moving down the road.
- Maintenance Saves You Money: In the long run, maintaining your vehicle regularly is actually cheaper than skipping it entirely and waiting for something to break before fixing it. That’s because many preventative maintenance tasks are cheap and easy to do yourself; things like checking your fluids and tire pressure don’t require specialized training or expensive tools.
So, there you have it: four reasons why proper maintenance is important for commercial trucks and trailers. From preventing costly repairs to saving you money in the long run, there are plenty of good reasons to make sure your vehicle is in tip-top shape. So next time you’re thinking about skipping maintenance, think again! Your wallet—and your logbook—will thank you later.