Do you refer to your trailers as a forgotten asset? We hope not! They form the backbone of your operation. The problem is that trailers are often not the highest priority for fleet maintenance operations. Far too often shop technicians are more focused on the tractors than the trailers. The problem is that operating this way will generate problems down the road, both literally and figuratively.
By keeping a trailer in optimal shape, fleet operations can significantly reduce maintenance costs and maximize uptime, which are two crucial elements to keeping a fleet’s vehicles on the road, productive, and not creating a drag on the bottom line.
It’s About the Trailer
Sure, fleets are more likely to worry about their big rigs. A new tractor can cost up to $200,000, so it’s in the best interest of the company to keep this asset in peak condition. But a tractor by itself doesn’t bring home the bacon. No, it requires a trailer. More numerous than tractors and costing significantly less, trailers often become trailers are still critical.
That is why letting them turn into “forgotten assets” can represent a big problem for your trucking company. This oversight can be costly for a fleet. Inconsistent trailer maintenance can lead to unnecessary downtime, delays in deliveries and potential accidents — with the possibility of huge liability payments — all of which go right to the bottom line, never mind potential death or injury that could result from an accident.
As it is for your company’s big rigs, preventive maintenance is crucial in keeping a trailer up and running and prepared to haul the goods. However, because trailers far outnumber tractors and are spread across many more locations maintenance is harder to schedule on a regular basis. Smart shop technicians and fleet managers collaborate on technology and tools to help them keep track of trailer maintenance.
To accomplish setting up a solid trailer maintenance program, you want to take a three-step approach. First, ensure you are completing trailer maintenance to keep these overlooked assets up and running, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compliant, and generating profit for the company. It is really quite simple. Consider the following:
- Established trailer preventative maintenance guidelines.
- Regularly scheduled maintenance tied specifically to trailer tires.
- Established retreading guidelines to maximize operational savings over ultra-low-priced imported tires, which are not reliable.
Fleets must look at trailer maintenance by itself, but there are other pieces of equipment associated with your trailer, such as its tires. Are you benefiting from tire maintenance best practices?
Keep Your Trailer Tires in Mind
Trailer tires are subject to carrying varying loads over a variety of road and through various types of yard conditions. Just consider the stresses that trailer tires must undergo. Their job is actually quite varied. Often parked in remote trailer yards and warehouse locations and pulled by a variety of tractors operated by different truck drivers, the trailer wheel position is fraught with equipment danger.
Even more, trailer tires and wheels are often subject to less regular and thorough maintenance than their brother and sister wheels and tires in the steer and drive axle wheel positions. Fleets would do themselves a favor paying more attention to these fleet equipment workhorses.
To keep trailers up and running, motor carriers should make sure they are following tire maintenance best practices. What does this look like in real-time? Well, first it is important that you select the right tire for the application, then ensure and maintain proper cold tire inflation pressure. Always take time to inspect the tires and check tire pressure at regular intervals. And obviously never go over a tire’s stated speed and weight rating.
Also consider investing in a technological solution. Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) for tractors have been available for several years, but did you know that they are available for trailers as well? Truck drivers and fleet staff can be notified when a tire is under or overinflated.
An automatic tire inflation system (ATIS) automatically adds air to underinflated tires. It is important to note that having an ATIS on a trailer, does not mean fleets should just forget about those factors during servicing, maintenance, and repair programs. Truck drivers should still be checking tire pressure at the valve stem at regular intervals. Failure to regularly check and make necessary adjustments can be a large contributor to irregular tire wear.
What do the Numbers Say?
The data does not lie when it comes to ensuring proper and preventative maintenance on your fleet trailers. In fact, According to FMCSA Safety Measurement System data for the rolling 24-month period of September 2017 – August 2019, 62.4% of out-of-service violations were attributed to trailers. Those are big numbers.
In addition to preventive tire maintenance, there are other areas of the trailer that benefit from attention before a problem occurs. These include:
- Annual inspections
- Wend assemblies
- Trailer braking systems
- Suspension systems
- Electrical
- Air lines and connections
- Mud flap repair or replacement
- Minor body repair to trailers.
The positive impact of avoiding costly breakdowns that affect a fleet’s ability to meet customer commitments should be very obvious. Even more, your truck drivers will appreciate extra attention on the trailer before they head out to haul their load. Remember, they are the ones on the line to receive CSA violations if they are cited for a problem. These violations affect their driving record and, ultimately, their livelihood. They are the last people who you want to have as an unhappy customer.
While trailer maintenance is important from a safety and financial perspective, you also need consider it from a regulatory perspective. Trucking companies must operate in compliance. The question is: Are your trailers compliant?
Are You in Compliance?
In today’s hyper-regulated environment, staying in compliance is crucial to an efficient and productive trucking operation. Far too many trucking companies find themselves out of business because they were not paying attention to regulatory compliance. While the value of keeping tabs on a truck’s maintenance needs is well understood, fleets tend to overlook the compliance value as it extends to trailers. They get caught up in that all-pervasive forgotten asset syndrome.
But you have got to pay attention to FMCSA regulations. Specifically, Section 396.11 of the FMCSA regulations require that truck drivers inspect both their tractor and their trailer prior to operating the power unit and they must be satisfied that everything is safe for operation.
Compliance dictates that truck drivers must keep DVIRs updated. Truck drivers are required to complete a DVIR daily pre- and post-trip for the power unit and the trailer. Among the required items that must be checked are lights, tires, wheels, and other visual elements. Failure to complete a daily DVIR is a violation of the regulations, which could see the truck driver and fleet cited, and the vehicle pulled out of service. Problems usually cascade from there.
Many do not take trailer maintenance seriously, but the fact is, not maintaining them could create big problems for your trucking company. Consider this is about your reputation. Being compliant with all rules and regulations is a way to demonstrate that both the fleet manager and the company take well-maintained vehicles and safety seriously.
Not only will you keep your reputation intact by operating this way, but you will reap the financial benefits. This commitment is a strong sign to potential customers and the public at large that this is a safe, conscientious company that is both a good business partner and corporate citizen. Can you say that for your trucking company?
Prove it by refocusing your maintenance efforts on trailers. This way you are not only reclaiming what may otherwise be considered a “forgotten asset”, but you are also directly impacting your bottom line. How can fleets get ahead? By following a combination of preventive maintenance best practices and improved regulatory compliance. This way fleets will be able to avoid costly, unproductive downtime — both due to unnecessary breakdowns and unnecessary CSA violations.