How to Properly Conduct Semi Trailer Maintenance?
Across the United States and many areas of the world, semi trailers are used for the transportation of goods and materials across long distances. From box trailers to live bottom trailers, semi trailers serve a variety of industries and applications with their capabilities. As such, semi trailers are a crucial aspect of transportation for many businesses, and ensuring that they can function properly can prevent mishaps, delays in deliveries, and much more. In this blog, we will discuss some of the common ways in which one can conduct truck trailer maintenance for their vehicle, ranging from driver practices to common service procedures.
On a typical semi trailer, eight or more tires may be used to properly accommodate the weight and size of the vehicle. As tires can be a major expense of semi truck operation, it is highly recommended that one always ensures that they have proper air pressure and material integrity. A major way in which one can inspect and maintain their tires is to regularly check the supply hose connection to see if system pressure is set. Additionally, inspectors or drivers should also check the system shut-off valve and the auxiliary battery switch or power fuse, as they may affect the operation of various warning lights. If a tire is properly filled with air but has major wear to its surfaces, the issue may not be caused by a lack of pressure. In such cases, tire wear may be the result of issues caused by the shock absorbers, suspension, axle alignment, or undercarriage.
As suspensions can affect the health of various truck parts and accessories, having such components undergo regular inspection and maintenance is critical. With the inspection of suspensions, one should always be observant for heat cracks and tears on the air springs or for components that may be obstructing the movement of the suspension. When air is affected, whether there is too much or too little in the suspension, safe operation of the truck cannot be guaranteed. With too much air, the truck may not be able to travel under overpasses safely, and too little can cause excess weight on the bumpers which may lead to damage and fatigue.
With all moving parts, proper lubrication should be supplied to prevent damage and wear. Depending on the type of components that are present within the semi truck and the vehicle’s application, different grades of lubricants may be used to ensure correct performance ratings. As greases tend to be either lithium complex based or calcium based, one should never mix the two to prevent a loss in performance.
Another major recommendation for proper maintenance that can be conducted by the driver is to always be adamant about keeping the entire trailer and its equipment clean. Depending on the materials and environments that the semi trailer is exposed to, contaminates and sediment that are left to sit can eventually cause the deterioration and corrosion of parts. With fluids such as de-icing chemicals, electronic components and metal parts may even be damaged if not washed off properly. As such, pre- and post-trip inspections are highly recommended to ensure that parts are free of debris, and trailers should receive regular washing every 45 days or so.
Last but not least, drivers and owners of semi trailers should always maintain the safety and security of their vehicle the best that they can. With straps, chains, winches, ratchets, and other security components, checking for any damage or loss of integrity is important for safety. Additionally, cleaning and lubrication should be done carefully around security parts, as some components may be adversely affected, such as fibers and nylon.
With reliable and robust truck parts and accessories, ensuring that your semi trailer operates correctly and efficiently can be easy. At AOG Purchasing, we can help you secure the semi trailer and military truck parts that you need with competitive pricing and rapid lead-times. Explore our expansive part catalogues at your leisure, and our team of industry experts are readily available 24/7x365 to assist you through the purchasing process as needed. Get started today with a personalized quote when you fill out and submit an Instant RFQ form through our website.
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