If you work as a truck driver, it might feel like your truck is almost your second home. After all, you probably spend more hours in your vehicle than you do in your own home, and even if the transport company you work for assigns you a different truck for each job, you will get to know all those vehicles during your time with that particular firm. Even if fleet maintenance is not your primary job duty, here are some tips to keep your vehicle in good shape while on the road, making your job and your whole life a lot easier.
Always check the tires
Tire blowouts are one of the main causes of road accidents in the United States. Losing control of your vehicle due to a tire blowout can be extremely dangerous, and unfortunately, often results in fatalities. To minimize the risk of a tire blowout while on the job, buy the right truck tires and always check the tires of your truck for fraction and pressure levels before setting off for your destination. Performing this kind of check doesn’t mean that you don’t trust the people in charge of fleet maintenance at your transport company—it simply means that you care about the health and safety of both yourself and your vehicle tires.
Always check the oil levels
While running out of engine oil might not be quite as dangerous as having a tire blowout in the middle of the freeway, it would cause the engine to overheat and eventually stop working, leaving you stranded until someone can come and pick up the truck for servicing and bring you a replacement vehicle to continue on your journey. To avoid this problem, always check the oil levels when you get in your truck, and request a top-up if needed.
Always check that the load is secure
Driving a truck with an improperly secured load is illegal, dangerous, and likely to result in littering. Therefore, one of the most important aspects of trucking work is making sure that truck loads are properly secured. Truck loads tied down with ropes or bungee cords are, unfortunately, a very common sight on the freeway; however, ropes and bungee cords are generally not rated for weight. Rachets straps, tie-downs, and cargo nets should be used instead, and the truck bed should always be swept before loading to ensure that no debris has been left behind from the previous load, which could cause items to slide around and fall.
Always check your exterior lighting
In many states, driving with a broken taillight is considered a misdemeanor. Penalties vary, but in Georgia, for instance, you could be fined up to $1,000 and even sentenced to imprisonment for up to a year for driving with a broken taillight. While imprisonment is very rarely enforced, avoid the hassle of being pulled over and potentially fined for a malfunctioning taillight by walking around the exterior of your truck before you set off and checking that all the lights are working properly.
