As a Georgia driver, your commercial truck is an important part of your livelihood. Regardless if you are operating a rig, semi-truck, or other commercial vehicles, you want to operate well, from the steering wheel down to your tires. Well-managed commercial truck or owner-operator maintenance programs are critically important.
Both company fleets and owner-operator trucks will experience neglect due to the rising demand for transporting goods and services and conflicts in scheduling. However, the amount of time you spend keeping your truck maintained will outweigh the potential for continuing, costly, and potentially life-threatening damage to your truck.
Particularly for industries that transport equipment or cargo, there are direct benefits from an effective commercial truck maintenance program, such as
- A decrease in accidents, and the liability that will follow due to a defective commercial truck
- A reduction in operational costs because you will not have to purchase as many new commercial trucks
- Improved reputation
Every year, over 150 fatal truck accidents occur in Georgia, accounting for nearly 15 percent of total motor vehicle crash fatalities in the state. Although truck accidents are rather prevalent across the state of Georgia, the majority of the crashes can be prevented by careful operation of the commercial truck and by complying with federal, state, and local regulations.
Effective and efficient commercial truck or owner-operator truck maintenance takes a little additional care, but it will be worth it for the improved productivity and reliability of your truck. There are several factors you should consider when implementing maintenance options, including the impact your maintenance program can have on your commercial truck or owner-operator insurance and everyone’s overall safety.
Preventative Maintenance
You should have a realistic preventative maintenance program to get the most service out of your trucks. Preventative maintenance differs from crisis maintenance because preventative maintenance attempts to foresee problems and plan for their solutions before they become major problems. Preventative maintenance means you will keep your trucks in the best conditions, avoiding situations like equipment failures and blown tires.
Scheduling consistent maintenance checks will be more affordable and convenient than having an emergency repair or scheduling an appointment with an unfamiliar mechanic. When you can catch problems as they develop, you will be able to save a significant amount of money on sudden repairs. Scheduled maintenance can also help you in legal matters because you will be able to prove you have fulfilled all your responsibilities as a commercial truck driver.
You should schedule your truck maintenance checks according to your truck’s usage. You can use the time between maintenance checks to observe how your truck is operating. You should be able to identify certain truck issues as they develop by having the oil checked, replacing filters, and listening to the sound of the truck.
Maintain a Log
One of the best ways to keep up with preventative maintenance is to have a log. While you may be aware that something is happening to your truck, you may not be able to remember all the key details. When you write the details down, you will know exactly what went wrong with your truck. When you take the time to inspect your truck, it is important to write down the results so you will have them for future reference.
After any type of maintenance task has been completed, your log will be able to help you determine when it will be time for another inspection, tune-up, oil change, etc. Maintaining a great log will provide you with the valuable information you will need about your commercial trucks and their proclivities. You can learn how to avoid common mistakes by maintaining a log and using it as a reference.
Do Not Forget Your Insurance
Commercial truck maintenance can save you a significant amount of time and money, so it is important to invest in the upkeep of your trucks. It is also important to obtain an insurance policy to protect your truck. The right insurance policy will give your truck the additional care it deserves, and it will ensure you will be covered at all times. Maintained commercial or owner-operator trucks will lower trucking insurance premiums. Regular maintenance and the purchasing of new trucking equipment will impact rates because trucks that need to be constantly repaired will generally mean more liability on the road.
Creating and maintaining a trucking maintenance program will lead to a better trucking experience, improved reliability, and improved productivity. J.E.B. Insurance Services, LLC can provide you with a free commercial truck insurance quote. Contact us today at 888-225-2258 or 904-352-1803,
