As a trucking business, you must be well aware of the importance of a well-maintained cargo truck. After all, a properly maintained truck is essential to the success of your trucking business. However, truck owners and people in general often misconceive maintenance as a practice to be done when something’s broken.

Instead, maintenance refers to periodic checks of a vehicle (or any equipment) to make sure it continues to work efficiently. And no, we don’t mean the quick pre-trip inspections that your drivers conduct before hitting the road.

We mean that your trucks need a thorough, planned, and effective preventive maintenance schedule. So what is it exactly, and how will it benefit your trucking business? Let’s find out:

What is Preventive Maintenance?

Preventive maintenance refers to scheduled inspections that help truck owners identify or predict issues with their heavy-duty trucks or semitrailers. Ideally, a preventive maintenance plan includes changing the oil and air filters, looking for signs of wear and tear, and lubricating the truck.

You may also need to check the tires’ inflation according to the guidelines of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Benefits of Preventive Maintenance

If you’re unsure why preventive maintenance is essential for successful trucking business, take a look at these benefits:

Improved Fuel Economy

A properly maintained truck with an oil change after every 3,000 miles gives a better fuel economy. This is surely a lucrative benefit that you want to enjoy amid the rising fuel prices.

Lower Maintenance Costs

In case of unexpected breakdowns of road transportation, businesses suffer longer downtime and higher maintenance costs. By implementing preventive maintenance, you will have a planned and reduced downtime and overall lesser costs of fixing issues.

No Legal Liabilities

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires truck owners to periodically inspect their vehicles and fix issues in time. This is to ensure that the truck on the road isn’t a safety hazard for others. By opting for preventive maintenance, you can also avoid legal liabilities that may arise with an ill-conditioned truck on the road.

Longer Lifespan of Vehicle

If you want your precious truck to last years, opt for preventive maintenance. Timely inspections and repairs of your vehicle result in longer life of your dump truck or light cargo van.

And in case you’re looking to expand your fleet with the latest Sinotruk howo 8x4 dump truck and China semitrailers, reach out to us at Sinotruk. We have a wide range of trucks, semitrailers, and container side loaders that you can buy online.