Importance of Fleet Maintenance

Trucking companies should prioritize fleet maintenance tasks for the following reasons and more:

• Reduce odds of an accident. The safety of your drivers and everyone on the road should be your #1 priority. Neglecting routine maintenance can increase the odds of regular wear and tear to fail and cause an accident.
• Prevent costly repairs. Unaddressed small problems can build up to a costly breakdown, leading to more downtime, missing deadlines, and expensive replacements, ultimately hurting your bottom line.
• Limit personal liability. Maintaining a regular maintenance schedule can limit your liability in case of an accident. Proving you stuck to a comprehensive maintenance plan may help you prove that you were not responsible for an accident.
• Stay compliant with laws and regulations. There often state and federal regulations that dictate how often owner-operators need to conduct maintenance for commercial trucks. Not complying can mean fines and other penalties.
• Maintain warranties. Warranties for tires, radiators, engines, and more often require regular maintenance schedules. Failure to comply with manufacturer guidelines for basic service and maintenance can mean voiding warranties.
• Extend the lifespan of your fleet vehicles. Proper maintenance can mean your motor vehicles last longer, saving you money in the long run.
• Improve fuel efficiency. Regular maintenance helps keep your fleet running smoothly, which can significantly cut fuel consumption.

Maintenance Tips for Semi-Truck Drivers

Pre-Trip Inspections

A comprehensive pre-trip inspection is worth its weight in gold, helping you and your drivers find and fix potential problems before hitting the pavement.

Preventative maintenance checklist items for truckers to ensure everything is functioning correctly before a trip should include:

• Air pressure test for air brakes, if applicable.
• Tire pressure test to ensure proper tire pressure.
• Check tread depth and signs of uneven wear. There should be no bulges, uneven wear, and have a minimum tread depth of 4/32″ (steer tires) and 2/32″ (other tires).
• Ensure wiper blades work.
• Visual inspection, including tires, hoses, the radiator, and the water pump for signs of wear and tear, corrosion, or other issues.
• Engine oil check. Check that engine oil levels are correct, adding new oil if needed, and ensure that the filter cap is not leaking.
• Coolant level check. Check that coolant levels are at an appropriate level, filling if needed, and ensure there are no leaks in the coolant reservoir.
• Air filter check. Visually inspect the air filter for signs of debris buildup, replacing if necessary.
• Light check. Ensure brake lights, warning lights, and turn signals all work.
• Power steering fluid check. Check that power steering fluid levels are at proper levels, adding more if needed.
• Air conditioning check. Confirm the vehicle’s AC system is working.
• Brake line check. Confirm all parts of the brake line—including hoses, fittings, and tubes—are in working order.
• Emergency equipment check. Ensure all items are accounted for and not expired.

Post-Trip Inspections

Commercial vehicles require thorough inspections after trips (usually on a daily basis) as well. These inspections include step-by-step examinations of various vehicle systems and visual inspections to check for noticeable damage.

Semi-truck maintenance checklists should include the following systems and equipment:

• Electrical system
• Cooling system
• Fuel system
• Braking system
• Mechanical components
• Tires
• Reflectors
• Suspension

Regular Maintenance Checklist

A scheduled maintenance program keeps vehicles in good condition and includes items like:

• Battery check (every 6 months)
• Fuel filter change (10,000 – 20,000 miles)
• Lubrication of mechanical components (12,000 to 24,000 miles)
• Air filter change (15,000 – 30,000 miles)
• Fuel system inspection (every 30,000 miles)
• Oil change (25,000 – 75,000 miles)
• Complete coolant replacement (every 100,000 miles)
• Brake pad replacement (3 years/100,000 miles)
• Tire replacement (3 – 6 years)
• Differential oil change (every 150,000 miles)
• Air dryer filter change (every 150,000)

Other Semi-Truck Maintenance Tips

1. Keep all documents and receipts. Keep records of past maintenance schedules, tax filings, and other important documents; this record-keeping can help keep you in full compliance of the law, warranties, and insurance policies.
2. Pick the right service provider. Choose the right provider to service trucks in your fleet; some warranties depend on only using pre-approved maintenance and service providers.
3. Stay up to date on paperwork and taxes. Owner-operators need to file taxes and IFTA reporting on a quarterly basis. Don’t forget to file on time, or you could face fines and legal troubles.

Semi-Truck Maintenance FAQs

What maintenance does a semi-truck need?

Semi-trucks are hardworking vehicles; treat them right, and they’ll serve you well on the road. Parts of a truck’s routine maintenance should include:

• Fluid and oil checks
• Brake checks
• Tire checks
• Electrical system checks
• Cooling system checks

How often should I change the transmission fluid on a semi-truck?

While each vehicle is different, generally semi-trucks need transmission fluid changes at the following intervals:

• Automatic transmission: 60,000 miles to 100,000 miles
• Manual transmission: 30,000 miles to 60,000 miles

What is the 10% rule of preventive maintenance?

The 10% rule means that vehicle maintenance should be completed within 10% of their due dates. For example, if a vehicle needs valve adjustments completed by the 30th of each month, they should be completed within the 27th to 30th of that month.

How often do semi-trucks need to be greased?

Greasing is important to improve the safety, lifespan, and efficiency of heavy-duty commercial vehicles.

The entire chassis requires greasing roughly every 12,000 miles to 24,000 miles, with fifth wheels requiring more frequent greasing. This schedule can vary based on factors like mileage or the specific type of vehicle and equipment.

What are the most common semi-truck repairs?

Some of the most common repairs that semi-trucks require are due to issues like:

• Tire blowouts
• Tire wear and tear
• Oil leaks
• Brake failures
• Overheating

Regular inspections and maintenance can reduce the odds of these issues

What are the consequences of poor semi-truck maintenance?

It may be tempting to neglect routine servicing and maintenance to save on operating costs. But that’s a bad idea. Not keeping up with a preventative maintenance schedule can lead to:

• Higher repair costs
• Longer downtime
• Voided warranties
• Fines and penalties
• Greater odds of breakdowns and accidents
• Greater liability

What are some of the most common mistakes that truck drivers make?

Some of the most common mistakes that commercial truck drivers make include:

• Neglecting preventative maintenance and pre-trip inspections
• Speeding or other types of reckless driving
• Disobeying safety regulations
• Driving while fatigued
• Not staying up to date on training

How much does diesel maintenance cost?

Diesel fuel vehicle maintenance costs more than gasoline-powered vehicle maintenance does. It often costs at least several hundred dollars annually, if not a few thousand, per vehicle.

How can I save money on semi-truck maintenance costs?

The best semi-truck maintenance tip to save you money? Keep up with comprehensive preventive maintenance to reduce downtime, liability, odds of an accident, costly repairs and more. A preventive maintenance program isn’t the only way owner-operators and truckers can cut costs, though.

Investing in the right fuel card, like the one from Motor Transport Alliance, can also mean serious savings and discounts at the pump and when taking fleet vehicles in for maintenance.