Welcome to our latest installment of The Technician’s Log, the QuickTSI blog deep dive into topics that fleet technicians will benefit from. In today’s blog, we are going to look at a couple different factors both related to big rig maintenance. First up, we are going to examine how to conduct rapid maintenance diagnosis. Because the last thing you need or want is a broken-down rig because you did not catch something fast enough.
No matter what you order, a truck ships it or hauls it, including people. From food to public transportation and medical supplies – commercial vehicles carry the lifeblood of the nation from city to city. With so many miles on the road, how do you quickly diagnose a problem before it turns into something major?
A Closer Look at Rapid Diagnosis
When it comes to maintenance, just about any fleet technician’s goal is to ensure quick, efficient, and effective service. For a fleet that runs its own shops, the question of maintaining an efficient maintenance program is critical. Even those who outsource must hold their vendors accountable.
When it comes to the trucking sector, the phrase “time is money” is never more appropriate. The fact is this: For every second that your rigs are not hauling freight is revenue lost. A lot of your maintenance-related needs are causally related to downtime, and unplanned maintenance specifically. And when unplanned maintenance occurs, and your truck must be taken into the shop, the best result is a proper diagnosis, a complete repair, and an efficient process from beginning to end.
The problem usually starts from the diagnosis. Imagine all the hours wasted in your shop on an incorrect diagnosis. And this is wasted time even before the repair has begun. So, you are already incurring costs even before a wrench has been picked up. Now, the ultimate question is, how do you ensure a quick and correct diagnosis.
The key is to keep a complete accounting of truck repair information. The last thing you want to do is just throw parts at a problem. If there is any definition of wasted money, that is it. The good news is modern trucks have advanced diagnostic systems that remove human error from the equation. Still, they must have the right tools to do the job.
Take electrical issues as one example. Trucks are more complex than ever before, especially in the electrical systems. This makes wiring diagrams even more difficult to assess and diagnose. If you must trace a circuit out in the diagram, it may take you a while. Fortunately, vendors exist that provide interactive wiring diagrams. This allows technicians to click on specific components within the wiring structure. From pop-up menus to interactive selections, you no longer must rely on a paper and pencil.
Follow a Set Process
Efficient shops go through a series or proper steps once a problem is identified. The problem is, in heavy duty shops, repairs may take quite a long time, from a couple hours to a few days. Efficient shops utilize triage lanes to prioritize repairs.
The most important repairs are the first to leave the shop. Jobs that take less than a couple hours to complete should have their own stall. This ensures those jobs are moving through the shop quickly and not getting stuck behind trucks that may have gotten there sooner but will take days to fix. The last thing you want is a bottleneck in your shop.
Also consider the repair software you are using. With so many technological solutions available to modern trucking companies, your shop should be taking full advantage of them. You can use advanced repair software to take the guesswork out of a job. Consider that guesswork adds up over the course of a day, week, or month.
Repair software make repairs easier to line up. Once a root cause is identified, a shop technician can immediately begin the correct repair procedure based on what is input into the system. Repair software can also be used to ensure a repair is done directly. You can pull up diagrams, switch out parts, and assess what needs to be done first.
Shop technicians can access images and photos of components and their locations. Augmented reality provides a 3D image technicians can use to investigate the problem and find a solution. Technicians can assess testing procedures and potential repair timelines. User-friendly interfaces provide intuitive ways for technicians to diagnose tough problems. This way they can better plan their day.
Being able to look up repair procedures in advance is critical to getting the job done right the first time. This allows shop technicians to assess what tools, skill level, or equipment is needed to get a job done. Do you need a wheel or a brake disc? Knowing ahead of time prevents bottlenecks. Fleet owners should seriously ponder investing in rapid diagnostic software to save both time and money.
The Importance of Your Drivetrain
Next up in our latest entry in our Technician’s Log series, we are going to discuss whether you should consider a preassembled driveline assembly in your heavy-duty trucks. The drive train is the workhorse of the vehicle, providing the foundation for the torque that spins the wheels. Shop technicians needs to be sure they service and rebuild drivetrains in as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Consider that there are many different components that make up a drivetrain. From the driveshaft to the universal joints and other related components – the drivetrain is not a simple piece of machinery. To keep your commercial motor vehicles on the road and your business humming, you need to prevent the failure of any one of the parts that comprise the drivetrain.
Most tractors and buses run in a rear-wheel drive configuration. This is the most common type of drivetrain used in the trucking and transportation sectors. Rear-wheel drivetrains are composed of a long drive shaft that connects via universal joints to the transmission on one end and extends along the full length of the vehicle to a rear differential on the other end. As this driveshaft turns, the rear wheels turn.
This may all seem like common knowledge to a technician reading the Technician’s Log, the drivetrain should be looked at from a nuanced perspective. The driveshaft and rear differential are important, but how about the universal joint? Have you taken a moment to consider how important the universal joint is in avoiding unnecessary downtime and keeping your truck drivers safe?
Shaking and vibrations that come from underneath the truck could be a sign of worn out universal joints. Of course, tires can also be a source of unwanted vibrations, but tire vibrations can generally be associated with the speed of the vehicle. When a universal joint is worn out, the vibrations will be constant no matter the speed.
Keep a Keen Eye
Technicians needs to keep a keen eye and ear on signs of drivetrain damage. In many cases, truck drivers will be the first to report these problems. Listen for the dreaded clunking noise. That could represent driveshaft or universal joint damage. If a tractor gives a good shudder when under hard acceleration, a loose universal joint could be the problem.
You also need to pay attention squeaking noises at low speed. This could mean you have insufficient grease levels in your universal joint. Low grease levels generate more problems down the driveline. Not only could a broken drivetrain put a vehicle out of service, it represents an unnecessary safety risk to your truck drivers, other drivers on the road and your equipment.
Contamination is also a big risk. Since it is not practical to take apart a universal joint and lubricate it, you want to keep contamination at bay as much as possible. The problem is that it is quite common for water and mud to get past the seal in the universal joint an degrease fitting. When contamination occurs, the joint is likely to fail.
If you want to ensure you aren’t spending a ton of time and money on failing universal joints and other drivetrain components, you need to ensure proper preventative maintenance. Also keep in mind the conditions the vehicle is operated in. Teach your truck drives how to be alert for potential drivetrain problems. If they know the warning signs, technicians can keep the trucks on the road! Whether it be through rapid response maintenance software or proper drivetrain repair and analysis, shop technicians have many tools at their disposal!