Let’s face it: Trailers are often the ugly ducklings in a fleet. And when it comes to trailer maintenance, few can argue that it is often the last thing on a technician’s mind. When they have big rigs that need to be serviced, those will always take priority. And then what happens? They end up forgetting about it when the next rig comes in. But this is the wrong way of thinking.
Trucking companies would not exist without trailers. They carry the very items that keep the trucking company going. Yet all too often they go overlooked. Perhaps it’s because a fleet’s investment in a trailer represents only 25% of its investment in a tractor. There are also usually way more trailers in the yard than there are rigs. Many fleet managers expect that a percentage of their trailers will spend time gathering dust.
But Why is It Important?
Motor carriers can gain great insight into what is going on in their fleet, as well as avoid unfortunate downtime, by ensuring their trailers are properly maintained. Not only does this mean truck drivers are happier, but so is the company’s bottom line.
For those trucking companies that do pay close attention to trailer maintenance, amassing critical maintenance information about their trailers is a rewarding endeavor. Still, the problem for these fleets lies in making sure the information they do gather about their trailers makes it to the right people or is used in the right system. Far to often fleets are trying to combine antiquated systems with outdated processes. This usually ends up in failure.
When motor carriers rely on outdated means of communicating and are not properly keeping an eye on their maintenance needs, can lead to breakdowns in the maintenance chain, leaving even the most well-prepared fleets at risk for broken down vehicles or costly regulatory violations. The best trucking companies know that updating technology is critical.
If a trucking companies wants to ensure long life and fast profits, there are two things they must do. First, they must put together insightful data from their trailers and use advanced systems to provide an integrated system to manage trailer maintenance. The health of a motor carrier’s trailers is critical. Taking these things into account will ensure a company gets long life out of its trailers.
It’s All About the Money
Trailers are more than just boxes on wheels. These are expensive fleet assets that provide a necessary service to the fleet. And if they are not properly maintained, they wind up being way more expensive then a fleet may initially realize. When unscheduled repairs happen costs can rapidly spiral out of control.
Take as one example, a trailer that has an underinflated tire. If you aren’t staying on top of those types of things you wind up with lower fuel efficiency. Even worse, it can lead to a major safety issue out on the road if the tire blows. The last thing any trucking company needs is more downtime. Here is another example for you to consider.
If you don’t monitor, fix, or maintain tire pressure, a truck driver may arrive to pick up a trailer and find it has a flat tire. Will he or she be prepared for that delay? It’s an unproductive use of the truck driver and trailer’s time — not to mention frustrating for the driver themselves. The same goes for dead batteries, fading brakes, broken lights, liftgate problems, or other parts on the trailer, devices or equipment.
Your CSA Scores Are at Stake
When you don’t pay close attention to trailer maintenance, you may wind up with more than financial losses. You could see major hits to your CSA scores. For smaller trucking companies, this can be crippling. There are many examples of this.
While out on the road, trailer lighting is the most oft-cited violation. Just a few years ago, lighting-related violations were the number one type of CSA violation, making up more than 25% of the total violations. There really is no excuse when it comes to trailer lighting. If a light is out, it won’t take long for a patrol car or inspector to notice it. From there, the truck driver can expect a full-on trailer inspection.
While a malfunctioning light may only be a three-point violation, you could find yourself in a situation one wise man called, “death by a thousand cuts.” Once pulled over, the ensuing inspection can often yield serious nonrelated violations. From there the problem could snowball. Might you find yourself on the receiving end of an onsite audit as a result?
If you are not properly maintaining your trailers, the CSA inspections can lead to them being taken out of service. Trailers that sit in the weeds are not producing any benefits for the trucking company in question. Even worse, CSA violations can have a ripple effect of negative consequences: Higher CSA scores can lead to higher insurance premiums, deductibles, or even denial of coverage. They could cripple your company.
Never look at trailer maintenance as a minor thing you don’t have to worry about. Maintenance may seem minor, but when a simple flat tire leads to lost revenue, that’s a major problem. Furthermore, safety issues and truck driver frustration pay a big part in how satisfied your employees are.
Remember, a damaged reefer door results in useless product and unhappy clients; furthermore, a malfunctioning light cold trigger an inspection that result in high CSA scores. It should be easy to see how important it is to stay on top of keeping your trailers properly maintained.
Trailer Telematics to the Rescue
Now the question is: What can you do? When it comes to unscheduled repairs, unnecessary downtime, and rising CSA scores associated with overlooking maintenance, you can actually do quite a lot! The key is to focus on emerging technologies and new methods for managing trailer maintenance. Consider adopting trailer telematics.
You may be surprised, but trailer telematics have actually been around for some time. They have existed for decades. After all, a lot has changed over time. Are you still using paper or other outdated methods? Upgrading to trailer telematics might be just what you need.
Originally, this technology focused on helping fleet managers locate equipment. But as technology has advanced, as it always does, the way trailer telematics are used has changed dramatically. The evolution of this technology allows fleets to monitor and report on a variety of things beyond location, such as tire pressure, box temperature, reefer condition, and battery levels. Even more, the data provided can be accessed in real-time, providing a clear window into what is going on with the trailer. When fleet managers have a window into what is going on while the truck driver is out on the road, they can react faster. They get the most out of their vital assets and avoid unnecessary costs.
The Evolution of Telematics
There are some interesting examples of just how this technology is meant to work. Fleets typically utilize tire pressure monitoring to make sure their tires are properly inflated. But are they getting any historical data out of the exercise?
Consider that modern telematic systems can do a lot more. Today’s systems can tell you if that tire pressure problem is a onetime event or a constant problem. This helps fleets understand if there’s a specific issue with a specific tire. When you are proactive about maintenance and know whether a tire should be replaced before causing significant problems, you’ll be a lot happier about the state of your fleet.
Advanced telematics on trailers is about more than just tires. Did you know that you can also monitor wheel-end condition, bearings, and wheel temperature? Modern trailer technology can also inform fleet management about wheel-end condition, including bearings and wheelend temperature. If heat is increasing on the wheel end, the home office can contact the truck driver and have them pull over before something bad happens.
Telematics systems can also proactively provide a projection on when a bearing might wear out. So instead of a bearing wearing out while on the road or having to replacing it before it needs to be replaced, telematics allows fleet technicians to use predictive maintenance to prevent these problems from happening in the first place.
The fact is, there are far too many advanced technologies at a fleet’s disposal. Today, you can purchase and install integrated systems for just about any piece of equipment you own. And what piece of equipment is just as important as your rigs? Your trailers. Treat them well.