Keep Your Rig Rolling! Truck & Trailer Preventive Maintenance Programs are designed to keep you off the shoulder and between the lines. Too many Owner Operators unnecessarily fail to stay in business…
Keep Your Rig Rolling!
Truck & Trailer Preventative Maintenance Programs are designed to keep you off the shoulder and between the lines.
Too many Owner Operators unnecessarily fail to stay in business due in a large part to the lack of establishing and following a simple “Preventative Maintenance Program”!
Tips to Incorporate into you Prevention Plan
A PMS or preventative maintenance system, is a program that schedules regular inspections and maintenance of vehicles to avoid major repairs and breakdowns.
There are dozens of software packages available that allow the Owner Operator to design a maintenance to fit your needs, here is the LINK to a FREE program with possible paid upgrades available.
The first response when suggesting PMP is, no one wants any more paperwork than they already have. The next reason may be that they can keep track of maintenance in “their head” when any PM is due.
From experience, we know trying to keep up with maintenance by memory is perhaps inefficient at best!
From Pre-Trip Inspections, to 12 Month Inspections, every component check needs to be carried out per your Truck Preventative Maintenance Program.
If an item is due to be replaced then replace it, if an item is due to be serviced then service it.
Being broken down alongside the road is expensive, too expensive! Now you are going to have to call Roadside Service and perhaps incur the cost of towing.
At the least you will pay exorbitant / predator rates for their service and parts. Not only will you dish out money to the Roadside Service you will likely miss your delivery appointment.
From there it is a snowball effect, with a good chance that you will miss the next load you booked!
Please take time to think about the positive aspects of having a PMP in place:
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- Improves your Uptime, the most common components that lead to roadside breakdowns are the lighting system, powerplant, brakes, and tires, all of which can easily be checked and fixed by having a PMS in place.
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- Increases Fuel Mileage, the most likely areas revolving around Fuel Mileage that is addressed by PMS is your Fuel System and Tires / Braking System.
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- Improves CSA Score (By catching possible violations before the occur).
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- Lowers the Overall Cost of Operations
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- Reduces the Stress of Breaking Down
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- A true maintenance schedule will undoubtably increase the trade cycle of your truck(s) as it keeps you running in good shape and fewer breakdowns before moving onto your next rig.
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- *** Don’t forget your Brakes and Tires ***
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- Lastly, Keeps you in Good Graces with your Brokers / Shippers
Tips for Creating a Maintenance Schedule
To create a truck preventative maintenance schedule, you should first consult your owner’s manual for specific vehicle requirements.
There is no sense in trying to “Re-Invent the wheel”, follow the best practices and recommendations from experts in the industry. You should also keep track of your maintenance activities and records and use a reliable software or tool to help you manage your schedule and reminders.
By investing in a preventive maintenance program, you can save time, money, and headaches in the long run, and ensure your truck is always ready for the road.
Following are links to 5 sites that offer Preventative Management software:
Personally, I like JJ Keller products, I wrote / compiled over 50 Instruction Manuals using their product while working in the Oilfield. They are a great company that puts out professional materials.
Despite our best-efforts breakdowns still jump up and bite us in the rear end. When problems do come up, it is a good idea to have a decent back-up plan in place, so we aren’t caught “flat footed”.
QDS is affiliated with RoadsideMASTERS they are a reputable service company whose primary goal is to get drivers out of a bind in a hurry. If you have a breakdown, you simply call their 24/7 Hotline, they will immediately contact a roadside service that can get you back up and running!
RoadsideMASTERS also offers several “Non-Emergency” services such as financing assistance for engine overhauls and even a new truck purchase. <CLICK> on this Hyperlink and learn more about their services for Class 1 – Class 8 vehicles today!
QDS Summary:
Quality Dispatching Services has been in the freight business for over nine years, we have the experience to know what works and the pitfalls for Owner Operators.
We will keep you rolling with “Good Paying” Freight. Don’t settle for a cheap dispatcher who charges $50 per week and handles too many trucks. Remember the saying; If it sounds too good to be true…” You deserve better, don’t take a chance with subpar service and support!
We charge 5% of the load value for Class 8 rigs and 8% for Hot Shot rigs and Power Only. We respect owner operators and the challenges you face every day, and we don’t want to be one of them. If you would like to discuss having our company Dispatch your truck(s) call us at:(337) 393-0012
Remember:
Safety is paramount in our industry. Always prioritize safe practices and drive responsibly.
