PM items
“Everything in fleet maintenance starts and ends with the proper equipment specifications for your operational environment and use,” says Gerry Mead, executive director of innovation at Phillips Industries. “If you fail to spec the equipment properly, it will fail to meet your needs. The next important item is your PM [preventive maintenance] program. Key items when it comes to keeping costs low while balancing quality can be time-consuming, but well worth it if you are results-orientated or KPI-driven.”
- Battery: Regularly perform a battery load test to ensure the cold cranking amps (CCA) meet specifications. Clean the terminals and ensure a corrosion-free and tight connection.
- Coolant: Ensure the freeze point for the vehicle’s antifreeze well below temperatures that will be encountered.
- Windshield: Fill windshield washer fluid reservoirs with fluid that won’t freeze in cold temperatures. Verify that windshield wipers are clearing the driver’s view correctly. Winter-specific blades tend to do a better job at swatting away moisture than standard blades.
- Belts: Inspect the serpentine belt for cracks or excessive wear.
- Wiring: Inspect wiring for cracks, rubs and cuts or excessive connectors from an old repair. Always use sealable connectors and inspect the wire up past the break for additional problems. Wiring can wick moisture and additional corrosion might be present further up from the initial problem area.
- Filters: Service fuel and coolant filters, if equipped, as well as the air dryer cartridge. Specific OEM recommended intervals are a good minimum, but may need to be adjusted based on specific fleet operations to help set a better interval for replacement.
- Fifth wheel: Lubricate and clean the fifth wheel. Besides lubricating the pivot points and top plate with grease, it is a best practice to spray the jaws with a diesel fuel lube oil mixture after ensuring they are debris- and grease-free.
- 7-way trailer connector: Inspect and clean the back-of-cab 7-way connector, and don’t overlook the cap as it is designed to keep the cable secure in the socket. Inspect the cap spring to ensure it snaps back in place as well as the notch that interlocks with the 7-way connector end. Apply dielectric grease to prevent water intrusion. Check the cable itself for corrosion and worn pins, as well as a worn head. Also look at the plug and cap on the front of the coupled unit for the same issues and clean and re-grease periodically for longevity.
- Glad hands: Check glad hand seals. Mead recommends replacing these if in doubt, as they are an inexpensive item that could lead to a very expensive issue in case of failure. Also check the glad hands themselves, making sure they still lock tightly and are free from cracks and debris.
- Spring brakes: Check the air spring brake chamber dust cap. Keeping caps in place will prevent power spring contamination, which could lead to failure.
- Tires: Tires are also vital and require not only proper tread depth, but proper air pressure. Air pressure will not only affect the footprint of the tire, but also the ride for the operator.
- DPF filter: With the advent of engine regulations, fleets must ensure the aftertreatment system is ready. Look at idle time versus change interval and ensure DPF filters are changed when needed. A forced regeneration at each PM will help reduce failure, but reduction in idle is always the best. Keep in mind that during cold weather a vehicle will idle more often to keep the operator safe and comfortable. Drivers should be instructed on how to respond to DPF dash warning lights so a DPF failure does not occur.
- Wash: A wash program is often overlooked. Fleets should implement a consistent wash program that includes an environmentally-safe chemical to stop the corrosion of road chemicals from eating away at vehicle systems year-round.
On-road audit items
While pre- and post-trip inspections are always critical, drivers must perform additional audits when it comes to operating in the cold, to ensure they do not experience an unplanned maintenance event or accident.
- Ensure that lights are not covered with ice, snow or road film.
- Store cables in their holder when not in use.
- Check the snow load on top of the trailer as well as snow on the hood of the tractor itself.
- With today’s ADAS-equipped vehicles, it is important to ensure the radar unit is also free of debris for proper system operation.
