Servicing your fleet is a vital part of ensuring that it lasts for years to come. You might focus more on maintenance for the trucks, but the trailers are just as important. You want to keep customers satisfied and prevent any potentially expensive problems down the road.
Let’s take a look at tractor trailer servicing and its benefits.
Why maintaining your semi trailer is crucial
Regular maintenance for any vehicle, from a car to a semi trailer, is important to keep it going. For trailers, you want to make sure that they are safe, fuel efficient, compliant with all regulations and able to be on the road as much as possible.
That’s why regular checks ensure that your trailer is compliant with regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has stipulations that all operators must regularly inspect, maintain and repair their semi trailers, so it’s important to stay up to date.
What semi trailer maintenance entails
Performing routine maintenance and repairs is an investment in the health of your fleet and the viability of your business. Here are some of the things that need to be regularly checked:
- Tires: Avoid unexpected costs and hassles by inspecting the tires regularly. This will keep drivers safe as well. Check the tires before every trip for damage and leaks. Unusual wear on tires could be related to problems elsewhere, such as the suspension and shock absorbers. That’s why it’s vital to inspect the tires before and after every trip and during all service appointments.
- Lubrication: Make sure that you’re always following the manufacturer’s instructions when applying lubricant to any of the semi trailer’s parts. If you fail to do so, it could lead to more frequent repairs. Check around the main rail, drag link and kingpin once every 12,000 to 24,000 miles.
- Brakes: This is one of the most common things you might think of when going over a maintenance checklist—and for good reason. They’re essential to the truck’s safety. Have them inspected per manufacturer’s guidelines. In most instances, you can have the brakes checked every time the truck needs an oil change.
- Lights: Functioning lights are important for keeping your fleet safe. Even a single light blowing out can be a major issue. Fortunately, most issues with lights are a quick and inexpensive fix. Lights are also a common target for violations, which is another reason you should look at the lights before and after every long trip and during any service appointments.
- Security: This is about more than just locking the doors. Semi trailers include many mechanisms to secure the freight, doors and other loose components. Make sure to inspect them prior to each haul.
Do you need tractor trailer servicing? Emergency Response LLC is here to assist with roadside repair and maintenance for commercial tractor trailers, large commercial trucks and RVs.
Dead battery? Flat tire? Out of fuel—or worse—have a mechanical failure? We can help! We also specialize in trailer refrigeration repair, brake changes, tire changes, mobile repair, mobile servicing and RV repair. We can replace parts on-site or have your vehicle towed. Give us a call today for the best in comprehensive repair services.