Top 7 Maintenance Tips to Avoid Truck Breakdown

Truck breakdown can happen at any time at any place if not maintained properly. Proper truck maintenance can reduce downtime and generate more profits for the fleet owners. We have made a list of the most important maintenance tips to ensure minimum downtime for your business.

Below we will uncover the leading causes of truck breakdowns along with a detailed list of the top 7 maintenance tips to avoid truck breakdowns in India.

Causes of Truck Breakdown in India

A wide range of different causes can lead to truck breakdowns in India. These causes are mostly related to poor maintenance. Sometimes the cause of breakdown can be extreme weather conditions leading to accidents. A list of potential causes of truck breakdown is discussed below in detail.

Faulty Tyres

Faulty, flat and underinflated tyres are the leading cause of truck breakdowns in India. Tyres are a major cause of concern especially for trucks because of their sheer numbers. Most heavy duty trucks in India have an average of 18 tyres which makes tyre maintenance the number one priority for road safety.

Damaged Brakes

Faulty brakes are another one of the leading causes of truck breakdowns. Oftentimes brake failure can cause serious accidents for truck drivers and even pedestrians. Brake failure can happen due to many different reasons such as corrosion, air leaks and airline freezing.

Also Read- Key Points to Maintain BharatBenz Truck in Winter

Electrical System Failure

The electrical system of a truck consists of the starter motor, battery and alternator. Most of the time if the truck doesn't start, it is possibly because of the electrical system.

Body Rust

Body rust is another cause of breakdowns for Indian trucks. The rusty body can be hard to repair which can cause a truck to retire early.

Truck Age

In India, most trucks have a service life of around 10 years. The older a truck gets, the chances of breakdowns increase significantly. Older trucks face more challenges and are more prone to damage or complete breakdown.

Top 7 Maintenance Tips to Avoid Truck Breakdowns in India

The top 7 maintenance tips to avoid truck breakdown in India are discussed below in detail.

1. Check Your Tyres Regularly

As mentioned above tyres can cause serious accidents and truck breakdowns which is why they must be checked regularly. Key points to avoid tyre-caused breakdowns are listed below.

Inspect the Tyres

Regular inspection and timely tyre rotation can help reduce the chances of breakdowns. The simple way is to look at the tyres and check any signs of damage, worn signs and misaligned axles. Additionally, change out worn tyres with newer ones when they start getting old.

Maintain Tyre Pressure

Tyre pressure also plays an important role in keeping your truck safe. Both underinflated and overinflated tyres can contribute to tyre blowouts which causes truck accidents.

2. Inspect Truck Brakes before Driving Truck

Truck brakes need to be serviced timely for proper working. Trucks carry heavy freight every day which makes a healthy braking system even more crucial. One thing you can do is inspect the brakes every time you change truck oil for any damages.

If the brakes make any noise or if they are stiff, you may need to repair or replace them.

3. Always Keep Electricals Tuned Up

Electric system failure can increase downtime for fleet owners which can delay cargo delivery for the customers. This negatively affects the overall growth of your business and increases maintenance time for your vehicles.

Electric system problems can be hard to identify. Fleet owners can replace the old electricals with new ones to avoid any issues.

4. Paint Truck to Avoid Rusting

Rusting is bound to happen at some point in a truck’s lifespan. Although rusting can’t be avoided altogether it can surely be slowed down. One effective method to avoid rusting is to regularly paint your truck. Paint slows down rusting significantly. Truck drivers can also wash trucks regularly to avoid rusting.

5. Inspect the Truck Engine

The engine of a truck is the most important component. Normally, engines are designed to last the longest time given they receive proper maintenance. Faulty engines can lead to long downtime and sometimes complete truck breakdown. To avoid this, use only the best quality fluids.

6. Use Best Quality Fluids

Fluids play a crucial role in keeping the engine of a truck in the best shape. Truck drivers need to use the best quality fluids such as engine oils and coolants for a long life of the engine. Drivers can use the fluids recommended by the truck manufacturer because they know their engines the best.

7. Avoid Vehicle Overheating

Vehicle overheating can be caused by various factors such as leaking fluids, problems with the engine and electric system problems. While the cause can be hard to determine, fleet owners can schedule timely maintenance for their trucks to avoid any chances of overheating.

Also Read- 10 Ways to Reduce the Maintenance Time of Your Commercial Vehicles

Summary

This concludes our list of the top 7 maintenance tips to avoid truck breakdowns in India. These maintenance tips can help reduce downtime and in some cases even the breakdown of a truck. Most of the time the responsibility of maintaining a truck falls on the shoulders of drivers, so drivers need to be knowledgeable and trained to handle certain types of trucks.