A regular body maintenance program should be established to ensure that truck bodies are kept in good repair and safe operating condition, advises Rob Porter, a sales manager with Hercules Manufacturing Company, a custom builder of truck bodies and trailers. Failure to do so could result in undesirable and/or unsafe/dangerous conditions.
It is essential that drivers and maintenance personnel understand the importance of body maintenance and that issues are promptly reported and taken care of as soon as possible, he emphasizes.
Porter offered a number of suggestions for general routine truck body inspection and maintenance that should be done on a regular basis, typically every three to four months. The first is an overall visual inspection of the body looking for any obvious issues.
Other suggestions include making sure:
- All lights, inside and out, are working.
- Reflective tape needs is securely attached.
- All warning labels are in place and legible.
- Mud flaps are not missing, damaged or coming loose.
- All grab handles and steps are in safe working condition.
- Doors.
- Check for proper operation. Do they open easily and close tightly?
- Is the roll up door level to floor when closed?
- Are door seals intact and pliable?
- On bright day, get inside body, close the doors and see if any light comes in.
- Inspect door handles and hinges for cracks, loose hardware and damaged components.
- Inspect for damage to the floor, interior walls, roof, corner caps, etc.
- Be sure body mounting J-/U-bolts are tightened to spec.
- Check the alignment of the body mounting spacers.
