Key Benefits of a Regular Truck Maintenance Schedule
Published Apr 20, 2022
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For fleet managers and business operators relying on commercial trucks to get daily work done, having well-maintained trucks is a must. These trucks are what allow delivery schedules to be met, job-critical tasks to be performed, and business operations to move forward.
Keeping up with truck maintenance should always remain a top priority. In fact, the benefits of a regular truck maintenance schedule are extensive. Here are the following reasons why you should work with your local service center to set up a regular schedule of truck maintenance.
Promoting a Culture of Driver Safety
Home safe every day. That should be the motto of any industry utilizing commercial vehicles in their work. Realistically, time spent on the road comes with inherent risk. Employees who are behind the wheel of large rigs must remain constantly alert and aware of their surroundings to prevent serious injury or bodily harm.
When you put together a regular truck maintenance schedule, you help contribute to a culture of driver safety. This is imperative for the following key reasons:
- It sets the tone for your drivers. When you show that vehicle maintenance is a priority, your drivers will take note. Soon, they might be bringing critical issues to your attention before they become a headache or safety risk. And this idea of safety as a top priority will trickle down into all their work.
- It makes your drivers feel valued. For most companies, driver retention is critical. When you properly maintain the vehicles your drivers rely on for their daily work, you help demonstrate that you value their safety. This can go a long way in retaining drivers.
- It keeps everyone safe on the road. Maintaining your fleets’ trucks will keep your drivers safe and the other vehicles on the road safe as well. That’s a win for everyone.
- It prevents drivers from being stranded in dangerous situations. Being stuck on the side of the road is not just inconvenient; it is potentially deadly. This is particularly true during inclement weather when drivers could be left stranded in unfavorable conditions. By properly maintaining vehicles, you can help create a company culture in which no one faces unnecessary roadside risks.
Preventing Costly Downtime
When even one single truck in your fleet breaks down on the side of the road, it can cause huge delays in your work schedule. Downtime is costly. It is far more costly than investing in a routine maintenance schedule.
You can catch small issues early when you take your trucks in for regular inspections and maintenance services. Problems can be quickly mitigated during routine maintenance, so downtime is rarely an issue.
Routine maintenance also makes it easier to manage fleet schedules since you can plan around predetermined maintenance. It’s not as easy to do when a vehicle goes out of service unexpectedly. You can optimize your scheduling, creating a more streamlined approach to fleet usage.
Adhering to Regulations
For commercial vehicles, a tight set of regulations exists as outlined by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regarding vehicle inspection, maintenance, and repair. According to these regulations, motor carriers must implement a regular or scheduled program to keep vehicles in a safe operating condition.
The FMCSA does not specify the exact maintenance or repair intervals, as these are fleet specific. However, it is the responsibility of a motor carrier to inspect, repair, maintain, and keep suitable records for all vehicles in their fleet.
One of the best ways to ensure that you are meeting the basic guidelines of the FMCSA is to create a routine maintenance schedule. Work with your local service center to determine the right cadence for your specific vehicles to ensure that you keep track of all vehicle maintenance with clear records.
Increasing Truck Trade-In Value
At some point, you may decide to trade in some of your fleet trucks and invest in newer models to meet the increasing needs of your business. When this time comes, you undoubtedly want to get the most trade-in value possible out of your vehicles.
When you invest in a regular truck maintenance schedule, backed by carefully organized records, the value of your trucks will remain much higher. A dealership will evaluate the trade-in value of your trucks based on several factors. For starters, they will look at the overall condition of your truck. If you keep up with maintenance, your truck will automatically be in better condition than if you let service intervals for the vehicle slip by.
Additionally, a dealership will want to know how often things like oil changes and fluid flushes were performed. This will help determine how much life is left in the vehicle’s engine and other critical components. When you can back your vehicle with a steady stream of maintenance services, you will gain a higher amount of value for the truck.
Design a Truck Maintenance Schedule with Transwest
At Transwest, we are passionate about ensuring driver safety on the road. And we know one of the best ways to do this is to keep your commercial fleet properly maintained. Our service center employees are ready to work with you to design a truck maintenance schedule specific to your vehicle’s make and model.
We can help you with everything from alignments to oil changes to air brake services. We also offer DOT inspections and Diesel Emission Testing at many of our locations. And when the time comes, we are here to evaluate your vehicle’s trade-in values and assist you with picking out the right upgrades for your fleet.
Stop by today and talk to our team about keeping your fleet maintained. We look forward to being your partner in fleet management.
