Commercial heavy vehicles play crucial roles in delivering products right in time and keeping the business wheels in motion. So, regular maintenance is necessary. When a heavy duty truck breaks down, it hampers the delivery instantly. Again, it causes the company a hefty cost while interfering with the entire schedule. However, with a few tactics, commercial goods vehicle maintenance becomes easier. As a result, it does not impede the way you do business and keeps your employees safe during operations.
So, how to do it?
Vehicle downtime can only be reduced by taking preventive measures beforehand. So, it’s wise to inspect the vehicle regularly and note down shortcomings. However, fleet owners find it hard to go through regular check-ups for additional tasks in most cases. In a situation like this, the transport manager can come in handy. Alternatively, you can hire transportation consultants to get things done efficiently.
But if you are high-spirited and ready to face it yourself, here’s your short guide to heavy duty goods vehicle maintenance checklist.
Fundamental Goods Vehicle Maintenance Checklist To Reduce Downtime
A stable transportation system is the key to a successful fleet business. Here, we’ve gathered the very essential heavy duty truck maintenance and repair checklist for fleet owners.
1. Preventive Maintenance
Preventive measures can save your vehicles from unexpected breakdowns and business interruptions. Besides, every transport business must take steps beforehand as a part of a steady business plan. While your run a quick goods vehicle maintenance test, make sure you are checking the following terms —
- Fuel availability
- Oil condition
- Air filter
- Components tightening
- Engine tuning
- Brake pads and fixing
- Tire rotation
- Joint lubrication
- Radiator inspection and maintenance
2. Demand Maintenance
To run a successful transport business, you must check and look out for possible breakdown issues. But, demand maintenance is a bit different from preventive maintenance as the latter one has to be checked every day. To run a full-scale heavy duty truck maintenance check, you need to look for existing problems and be prepared for upcoming emergencies. Your transport manager and other concerned individuals must look forward to the below items while running a demand maintenance check —
- Faulty light bulbs
- Suspension problems and current conditions
- Steering system check
- Inspecting window glasses for minor/potential cracks
- Gauges and dashboard
- Air conditioning system
- Inspecting seats and relaxation compartments
- Running diagnostic on engine and transmission
- Power suppliers and batteries
3. Crisis Maintenance
Crisis maintenance is required to tackle totally unexpected situations and breakdowns. Heavy duty goods vehicles and trucks cover long distances on different roads. Therefore, they may wear out even after regular maintenance. Crisis maintenance helps you in emergencies and keep the schedule uninterrupted.
Proper goods vehicle maintenance requires a backup option. So, when your vehicles are delivering products faraway, you need to have backup options to ensure that products get delivered despite odds.
4. Legislative Maintenance
Legislative maintenance means complying with the UK traffic law. As per UK government law, you cannot let your transport manager handle more than 50 vehicles. So, one transport manager for every fifty vehicles.
Besides, goods vehicle maintenance also requires operators licence compliance. If you are not sure what your status is at this moment, you can hire a transportation consulting firm to run an operator licence compliance audit.
This way, your fleets will be spared from hefty fines by the traffic commissioner. Again, the law suggests you install tachographs for heavy duty goods vehicles. With this, you can identify driver infringements and performances.
To get help with this, unless you have an in-house facility, a digital tachograph analysis consultant can assist you in learning more about your drivers’ performances. At the same time, it will help you maintain 100% compliance with the road and safety laws.
Final Words
Commercial goods vehicle maintenance requires close inspection of the trucks, drivers, and overall processes. While you are busy handling other important tasks, there is a high chance of overlooking minor problems. But, those silly issues can hamper the entire operation unexpectedly. And in the worst scenario, untimely delivery and irregular maintenance can prompt legislative bodies to seize your goods vehicle operator licence. Therefore, it is wise to have in-house facilities capable of heavy duty truck repair and maintenance. Alternatively, you can hire a professional transport consultation firm that will help you maintain 100% compliance and attain scalable growth.