Fleets of heavy-duty commercial vehicles are a necessary part of many businesses. But keeping these fleets in good condition requires regular maintenance. Read on for tips to follow for maintaining your fleet.
What is a heavy-duty commercial vehicle?
A heavy-duty commercial vehicle is any truck or van used for business purposes. This includes delivery trucks, construction vehicles, and any other truck used for work. Among the types of businesses that use these vehicles are:
- Food and beverage companies
- Manufacturing and industrial businesses
- Construction companies
- Retail businesses
- Service companies
Most businesses that use heavy-duty commercial vehicles have a fleet of them. This means they have more than one vehicle and need to keep all those in good condition. This can be a challenge, but it is essential to maintain your fleet so that your business can run smoothly.
Importance of Heavy-Duty Commercial Vehicle Maintenance
Here are a few reasons why keeping your heavy-duty commercial vehicles well-maintained is essential. First of all, these vehicles are expensive. If you don’t maintain them, they will break down more often and need to be replaced more quickly. This can cost your business a lot of money.
Another reason why it is vital to maintain your heavy-duty commercial vehicles is they are used for work. If your cars are not in good condition, getting your job done will be more challenging. This can lead to lost productivity and profits.
Lastly, it can be dangerous if you don’t maintain your heavy-duty commercial vehicles. These large vehicles can cause accidents if they are not properly maintained. This can harm your employees, customers, and the public.
Most Common Problems with Heavy-Duty Vehicles
There are a few problems that are commonly found with heavy-duty commercial vehicles. These problems can be expensive to fix, so it is essential to be aware of them.
One of the most common problems is engine trouble. Engine trouble can be caused by various things, but it is usually due to poor maintenance. Suppose you don’t change the oil and clean the oil filter regularly. In that case, the engine can fail due to a lack of lubrication and debris deposits.
Another common problem with heavy-duty commercial vehicles is transmission problems. It is essential to have the transmission flushed and filled according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Otherwise, the transmission can overheat.
Brakes are another common problem with these types of vehicles. Brakes must be regularly inspected and replaced when they wear out. If you don’t maintain your brakes, they can fail and cause accidents.
Tips for Maintaining Heavy-Duty Commercial Vehicles
There are a few things that you can do to maintain your heavy-duty commercial vehicles.
Routine Servicing
First of all, you should keep up with routine maintenance. This means that you should have your vehicles serviced regularly. How often you must do this would depend on the type of vehicle and how often it is used. Routine servicing includes things like oil changes, tire rotations, and other types of maintenance.
If you don’t keep up with routine servicing, your vehicles will break down more often and need to be repaired more often. This can be expensive and time-consuming.
Regular Inspections
Another thing that you can do to maintain your heavy-duty commercial vehicles is to inspect your vehicles regularly. This means that you should check the tires, brakes, and other parts of the vehicle to make sure that they are in good condition. If you find any damage or problems, you should have them fixed right away.
High-Quality Parts
Another thing that you can do to maintain your heavy-duty commercial vehicles is to use the right parts. When you replace parts on your vehicles, make sure to use high-quality parts. This will help to extend the life of your vehicles and keep them running properly.
For instance, if your vehicles have Detroit Diesel DD15 engines, you must have a DD15 engine rebuild kit. Your professional mechanics will need it to fix any DD15 engines that have been damaged. The kit includes all the parts needed to restore an engine to its original condition.
When an engine is damaged, it is important to replace all the parts that are worn or damaged. This includes the piston, cylinder head, connecting rods, and bearings. An appropriate engine rebuild kit will have all the necessary parts to fix the engine.
Professional Care
It is also important that you follow the instructions in the kit carefully. If you do not, you may end up damaging the engine further. If you are not sure how to rebuild an engine, it is best to leave it to a professional mechanic or garage that specializes in heavy-duty commercial vehicle maintenance.
Proper Vehicle Storage
You should also store your heavy-duty commercial vehicles in a safe, dry, shaded place like a garage. Exposure to the elements can damage your vehicles, so it is important to protect them. Extreme heat can cause the tires to degrade and the paint to fade. Extreme cold can cause the engine to freeze.
If you follow these tips, you can maintain your heavy-duty commercial vehicles and keep them running properly. Routine maintenance, regular inspections, and using high-quality parts will extend the life of your vehicles. Storing them in a safe, dry, shaded place will protect them from the elements. This will save you money in the long run and keep your business running smoothly.
