Are you a truck owner? Then this article is written for you. You need to know about truck repair, its service and maintenance to run your business profitably. More importantly you need to watch out and identify what could possibly lead to truck repair. That is the trick of the trade. If you know it, you can avoid unexpected truck repairs and ensure prompt delivery to your clients and win their trust – the secret to success.

What to watch out for:

The more your truck travels, constantly pulling and hauling extra weight, the more it wears out. Hence, good maintenance should be on top priority for your truck.

Here is how you could watch out for truck repair

• Read the manual, understand how your truck works, and follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule.

• Never allow an untrained person to repair your truck. Always choose a certified mechanic to maintain your truck. He will be able to immediately assess the repair and rectify it.

• Change the oil every 3000 miles or every 3 months. Clean oil keeps the engine parts running smoothly. Choose good oil for high mileage and it will protect seals and reduce leaks. This saves wear and tear.

• The oil pressure may not be as per the standard and the oil pressure light could go out, thereby shutting off the engine.

• The radiator could heat up and end in heating up the engine too, wearing away its parts. Check to see if the radiator is in perfect working condition

• Check the tire pressure. This increases tire life and ensures smooth run and better stability. Retread the tires every 3000 miles to check brakes. A decreased tire pressure will produce heat that wears out the tires and may even cause accidents. Get your tires rotated at every tune-up or every other oil change to avoid unexpected flats and blowouts. Always remember to align your tires for better performance.

• Check on fuel leaks. Fuel leaks are quite common in high-mileage vehicles but cannot be ignored as they could be an indication of a forthcoming repair.

• Check on engine fluids and coolants. A truck on town delivery will be warmer than a highway truck. Bearing more weight, it creates more strain wearing off suspension components.

• Tune-up your truck regularly it will help you to identify forthcoming problems. Your brake line should be inspected regularly, spark plugs and filters replaced as per schedules, and the fuel-injection system checked for potential problems.

• Warning signs like screeching of brakes, the rattles, rumbles and vibration could be due to bad motor mount, a bad wheel bearing or a bad clutch throw out that needs attention. Thumps, bangs or pings are sounds that warn you of a forthcoming truck repair. You should be able to identify abnormal sounds from the normal sounds that a truck is bound to make. Make a note of when the noise started as this information could be of great use to the truck mechanic.

• The rubber belts wear away easily and should be checked regularly

The present day trucks have onboard computers to check engine, exhaust emission and vacuum modules making your job easier.

Take care of your truck as you would of your body. Identification and early rectification of truck repair could avoid huge costs involved and delay in delivery schedules and turn your business into a profitable one by winning the trust of your clients.