With an increasing number of businesses predominantly depending on truck fleets for their inner workings, we witness more trucks on the road lately. This directly translates to truck breakdown becoming more commonplace and most businesses will have to go through this hurdle in their operations.
The truck is a huge vehicle and when it breaks down, it tends to burn a hole in the pocket of its owner. The losses involved are twofold - costs incurred and loss in productivity and income due to a broken-down truck. Calling in truck recovery services might increase the costs further. Hence, it is vital for business owners to keep their trucking fleet safe and sound.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Breakdown?
Before jumping into the tips that can help prevent truck breakdowns, we must educate ourselves on why these things happen in the first place. It is not a matter of chance that one fine day your truck decides to break down. There are some factors such as erratic weather and poor maintenance at play. We have enlisted some of the most common reasons behind truck breakdowns. However, if your truck still breaks down in the middle of nowhere, it is best to call truck roadside assistance, a 24/7 truck breakdown service at your disposal.
● Worn Out Batteries
One of the most common reasons behind truck breakdown is dead batteries. This holds true in places with cold temperatures because the vehicle needs a greater amount of power to heat up and work efficiently. Extreme weather conditions do impact the lifespan of the batteries significantly.
● Faulty Brakes
Your truck can breakdown if the air brakes are due for replacement. Any issue in the air break can affect the performance of the vehicle brakes and even cause dangerous accidents. If not maintained, brakes can depreciate over time. This happens because they are constantly exposed to heat and friction. Make sure to check up on the air brakes before traveling anywhere.
● Problematic Tyres
Under-inflation of tyres is a common problem which can eventually cause truck breakdowns. This happens mainly because it can lead to the build-up of heat in the tyre’s sidewall. Similarly, overinflated tires can also cause the truck to start acting up Missing treads can also cause breakdowns in a lot of cases.
● Leaky Engine
The older your truck is, the more prone it is to oil leaks. If your engine is leaking, it is best to check it and fix it as soon as possible as it can cause your fuel to run out. Sometimes, there are faulty seals in the fuel system. They are very hard to detect until a breakdown has actually happened.
Tips to Prevent a Truck Breakdown
To avoid the unnecessary costs associated with the truck’s repair, as established above, there are steps that can be taken. Some of them are:
● Checking the Tires
It is advisable that you test your tire’s pressure as frequently as once a week and even more often if it is a long journey. Under-inflation directly impacts the vehicle’s mileage and hinders the steering, whereas overinflated tires can pop any time and get damaged by rocky roads full of potholes.
● Replenishing all the Fluids
Before taking on the journey make sure that you check the fuel, oil and radiator fluid in your truck. Better safe than sorry.
● Run a Preventative Maintenance (PM) Program
Some disasters can be steered clear of if you invest in a thorough PM program. This might come at a bit of a cost initially, but it can reap many long term benefits for your business, in terms of savings and reduction in the extent of the breakdown.
● Keep an Eye On the Brakes
This goes both on and off the road. Pay heed to the tell-tale signs of impending brake failure. These include but are not limited to vibrations, squealing sounds etc. If you witness any of these, call a professional to have a look at them.
● Avoid Over-speeding
As a principle, follow road safety guidelines and never drive beyond the speed limit. If you drive rash, you will have to slam the brakes hard when you need to stop. Avoiding over-speeding will not only prevent risky accidents but will also do your truck a giant favour by saving it from unnecessary damage to its insides.
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