Preparing for Spring Trucking: It’s That Time Again!

 

It’s officially spring trucking time! Maybe your truck has been in storage all winter long. Maybe you followed our tips and winterized your truck in preparation for the cold weather. Either way, it’s time to spring forward and get it back on the road in top condition!

But, if you hit the road without first taking care of a few important things, you could regret it later. These quick and easy heavy truck tips will show you how to prepare your truck for spring and be ready to handle whatever the roads have in store. From ideal climate conditions to everything in between, we’ve got you covered.

 

Part Replacement And Spring Truck 
Maintenance Services Are Required
 

When emerging from harsh winter and stepping into the bustling spring, it’s important for truck drivers to complete necessary part replacements and routine truck maintenance. This truck upkeep guarantees the well-being of the vehicle and driver, and it also enhances safety for other people on the road.

In addition, be aware that if your commercial vehicle doesn’t get the proper maintenance services, you may have to deal with costly roadside breakdowns.

Regardless of whether heavy trucks are utilized to pull hardware to construction job sites, or to tote leisure materials for home projects, heavy work trucks go through a lot of difficult things during the busy spring season.

Keeping this point in mind, we’ve come up with a few significant part replacement and truck maintenance tips to help guarantee that the season ahead is smooth as well as productive.

 

Scheduling Spring Maintenance Services
 

When completing your maintenance checklist for spring, incorporate a couple of routine administrations. We’ve also added other maintenance services that are worth keeping in mind to keep your heavy truck in its best form.

 

 Oil Changes: Oil changes are an inextricable part of standard heavy truck maintenance. Therefore, you should never ignore them. This is especially true for heavy trucks that frequently travel high mileage intervals in brief time frames. How often an oil change is needed depends on the following elements:

Vehicle Type: Understanding the type of vehicle is very important. You can read the vehicle’s manual to distinguish how regularly the manufacturer recommends an oil change.

Type Of Oil Utilized: From mineral oil to semi-synthetic to fully synthetic, they all vary. The type of oil you most recently used will likely be the same as what is needed for your spring oil change. For drivers that are highly occupied throughout the spring and summer, it merits considering a move up to fully synthetic oil to safeguard your truck’s engine. Additionally, it decreases the time a heavy truck spends in the shop on average.

Air Conditioning and Reefer Trailer Maintenance: This is something else to consider as it relates closely to spring trucking. When it comes to spring truck maintenance, you need to keep an eye on the truck’s air conditioning. Keep it properly serviced and tested. Air conditioning systems play a vital role during this season as it keeps the cabin comfortable during the hot busy months. There are also heavy trucks furnished with refrigeration frameworks. These reefer trailer trucks are used to deliver cold products. Well, if you have this type of truck, you must keep the cooling system serviced and inspected. Reefer trailer maintenance is very important and ensures that the products delivered remain at an accurate temperature.

Alignments: It does not matter what type of heavy truck you have, having proper vehicle alignment is important. Sadly, wheel alignments suffer a lot over the course of a harsh winter. This is especially evident in vehicles that were driven on unpleasant and pothole-ridden streets. Proper tire alignment ensures a smoother ride. Moreover, if you keep the tires of the truck adjusted, it offers the most ideal fuel mileage. And that has a significant impact on business organizations that see an uptick in mileage throughout the summer and spring.

Fluid Services: Fluid services play an incredibly significant role when it comes to a smooth driving experience. You’ll want to make sure that your truck has gone through a wide range of fluid services before cruising into the busy spring season. Speaking of different fluid services, these can include Transfer Case Fluid Change, Coolant Replacement, Power Steering Fluid Flush, Differential Fluid Change, and Transmission Fluid Flush. Depending upon the type of truck, you will have to choose the appropriate service(s).

DOT Inspections: If you have a heavy truck you know the importance of getting your annual DOT assessment done by professionals. If you haven’t done it yet, please consider this article as your reminder. Basically, a DOT assessment guarantees that all the accessories and parts of commercial heavy trucks are good to go and street safe. Booking a DOT inspection before entering the busiest seasons is a basic practice for those who work in over-the-road delivery, agriculture, and mining. And many businesses rely upon heavy trucks during the spring and summer so again, DOT inspections are very important.

Truck Upfits: There is no doubt that routine maintenance plays a very key role in keeping your heavy truck in good shape. Apart from this, you should also think about fleet upgrades before rolling your rig into the busy spring season. For organizations and truckers that may have used workarounds in the past to make their work trucks fit assigned tasks, upfits can make your truck a more productive and safer workspace. Truck upfits can include a lot of things, including dumps, utility bodies, service bodies, contractor bodies, and more. In preparing to have these upgrades done, you’ll want to have with you all detailed documentation regarding previous maintenance services and upkeep. This ensures that no significant upkeep dates are missed, and it is vital for any heavy truck working with DOT numbers. 

 

Parts Replacement
 

Apart from scheduling the above-mentioned truck maintenance services, you need to focus on parts replacement. Here’s everything you need to keep in mind when it comes to the parts on your truck that may need replacing:

 

Batteries: Personal vehicles generally work with the same battery for several years. However, this differs a bit when it comes to commercial trucks. Most work vehicles and commercial trucks require battery replacements every 6 months. Make sure proper battery checks/replacements are done to avoid putting your truck at risk for roadside failure. This can help guarantee that tight timetables are maintained during this busy season.

Brakes: Brakes are another important component. Semi-trucks commonly use air brakes these days. More specifically disc brakes, and it’s important to keep up with their upkeep. This includes replacing important parts, as applicable, to ensure basic driver safety. If the semi-truck has compressed air brakes, it is important to schedule those routine brake jobs.

Tires: After a long, snowy winter, your tires could be worn or cracked in places. A good set of spring tires is worth every penny to keep you safe! Tires are not all created equally, especially when it comes to spring tires, so take time to compare tire options. You may end up spending more than you planned, but it will be worth it in peace of mind. If new tires are not in your budget right now, make sure your existing ones are properly inflated and have no visible cracks. You can always contact a company like us, LKQ Heavy Truck to discuss your tire needs and see if we have the right parts to fit!

Shocks And Struts: If you were thinking shocks and struts were designed only to provide a smoother driving experience, you’d be wrong. These components provide safety when riding corners. Therefore, you should definitely get these components checked by a mechanic before entering spring. Who knows what the roads will reveal when all the snow and other rough weather conditions clear? You should also replace shocks and struts whenever needed outside of changing weather conditions.

Lights: From running lights to brake lights to fog lights, you need to do an exhaustive inspection to guarantee each light is sparkling splendidly. If needed, replace any burnt-out, damaged or dull lights. Old lenses and dull bulbs make night driving difficult. Ensure that both of your headlights are clean and have been inspected by a professional technician before you hit the road again. It is always better to be safe than sorry on a spring highway.

Hoses And Belts: Work trucks are typically outfitted with hoses and belts. Over continuous long hauls, particularly after the winter months, these components can crack and fray. Therefore, it is imperative to check them. More importantly, it’s crucial to replace them, if damaged, before sending your truck on the road this spring.

Windshield Wipers: During the spring and summer, truck drivers deal with heavy precipitation. Therefore, it’s important that trucks are equipped with fully functioning windshield wipers. No one likes wipers that seem to barely scrap or dramatically squeak. Make sure you’re regularly changing your wipers at the end of their life cycle. The timeline can vary based on the kind, quality and size of blades that fit your semi-truck.

Filter Replacement: From fuel filters to air filters- everything is important! Therefore, you need to take time to inspect all the filters and replace any clogged or dirty filters with new ones.

 

Other Essential Spring Trucking Tips
 

So far, we’ve talked about important maintenance services and parts replacement for spring trucking. Now, let’s get into a few other essential tips.

 

Clean Truck Trailers: Nothing catches your eye on the road like a beautifully taken care of rig! Ensure that your truck trailer is nice and clean. It’s one way to go the extra mile to prepare your heavy truck for spring driving. And it’s not just for style either, although riding clean does feel good! Tidying off the built-up salt and dirt from the exterior parts helps you navigate the highways and byways aerodynamically.

Test Brakes Before Hitting The Road: Even if you replaced your brakes, you need to test your brakes before hitting the road this spring. Making sure that you are familiar with how hard or gentle your new brakes stop is necessary for attentive driving. Again, this is an essential tip to give you additional peace of mind.

 

Get The Essential Components For Your
Trucks From LKQ Heavy Truck
 

After reading the above, you should be well aware of all the things you should be doing now to prepare your rig for spring trucking. With that being said, if you are looking for a place to get the truck parts you need at the best price, you can get in touch with LKQ Heavy Truck today.

It does not matter what kind of operation you do with your heavy truck in spring, LKQ Heavy Truck is here to prepare your heavy truck for the spring. We recycle and resell heavy truck parts in a professional and conscious manner. Established in 1998, we have a history of ensuring that our customers get the parts they’re looking for at fair prices. Visit LKQ Heavy Truck today and let us help you prepare your heavy truck for spring trucking.