Delivery trucks play a crucial role in the supply chain and logistics industry as they are responsible for transporting a large volume of goods on land from one place to another. Moreover, their capacity to carry heavy loads makes them suitable for carrying machineries, large furniture and more. In India, about 70% of domestic freight is carried out by delivery trucks. Therefore, to ensure efficient operations, they need proper maintenance and timely repairs. Neglecting regular maintenance can lead to costly breakdowns, delays in deliveries, as well as safety hazards.
This article will discuss the importance of maintenance and repairs for delivery trucks and provide some best practices for ensuring their optimal performance.
Explore Porter’s Goods vehicle for rent.
Tips to Maintain and Repair Delivery Trucks
Following are some effective maintenance tips for delivery trucks:
Keep a Maintenance Log
Keep a detailed history of all maintenance, placements, and repairs performed on your delivery trucks. This will include dates of repair, kind of maintenance, and the parts replaced. Having a maintenance log will help you keep a record of your truck’s maintenance history and will allow you to plan and budget for future repairs more effectively.
Regular Truck Inspection
Perform routine inspections of your delivery trucks to catch any potential issues early on. This includes checking the tires, brakes, lights, fluid levels, and other essential systems. In general, the gap between the two inspections depends on the age, usage, distance travelled along with types of oils used. However, it is advisable that goods vehicles for rent are inspected every 6 months.
Inspect the truck body for any damages or signs of wear and tear. Addressing these small problems promptly will eventually prevent them from turning into major repairs in future.
Check and Repair Before Every Use
Before each use, you must inspect your delivery trucks thoroughly to ensure maximum safety while transporting the goods. Some of the important components and parts that you should check for signs of damage or wear and tear are:
- Tyre inspection and checking if they are properly inflated
- Checking oil level, colour and battery condition
- Checking brakes and light condition
- Measuring proper levels of brake fluid, power steering fluid, and coolant, transmission fluid, with a syringe
Routine Engine and Parts Change
The engine of the delivery truck is its most important part. Therefore, in order to keep it running properly, you must follow the manufacturer’s recommended schedule for engine oil changes, air filter replacements, fuel filter change and other routine maintenance tasks.
Moreover, ensure regular checking and replacement of worn-out parts, such as hoses, belts, spark plugs, etc. to keep the engine running smoothly and extend its lifespan.
Maintain the Truck Body
The body of the goods vehicle is generally exposed to various weather conditions and can suffer from rust, dents, and other damages. Therefore, in order to avoid issues with the truck body, you should clean and inspect it for any signs of damage. Additionally, address rust spots promptly to prevent them from spreading.
The best ways to take care of your car body includes:
- Washing regularly every 10 days to prevent damaging reaction with harmful/corrosive contaminants.
- Applying protective paints, coatings or wax to the truck body to provide an extra layer of protection against the elements.
- Washing trucks right after rain as the harmful pollutants mix with rainwater to produce “acid rain”, which can damage the protective layer of the truck if not washed off.
- Avoiding driving through muddy roads or big puddles as much as possible in order to protect the undercarriage.
Get Insurance for the Business
Having a proper insurance plan is a must for every delivery truck. Accidents and unforeseen events can occur anytime and can cause damage to your vehicles. In such cases, insurance can help cover the repair costs. Also, ensure reviewing and updating your insurance coverage regularly as per your business needs.
Check Porter’s Goods vehicle for rent.
Ensure Uninterrupted Deliveries Through Regular Maintenance
Maintenance and repairs are essential for ensuring a steadfast operation of delivery trucks, including goods vehicles for rent. Therefore, implementing best practices of routine maintenance using genuine parts, regular inspections, keeping detailed records, etc. can help optimise the maintenance and repair processes and ensure that the delivery trucks are in optimal condition for efficient and safe operations. Choose Porter for reliable transportation services and professional driver-partners which ensure the seamless delivery of anything, anytime, anywhere. Book now for hassle-free delivery.