Maintaining a fleet of rigs is no easy task. In fact, it could very well be said that truck maintenance is one of the biggest jobs fleet managers must keep an eye on. We have talked a lot in the past about the importance of preventative maintenance, and there’s a reason for that. The last thing an effective fleet manager wants is having trucks regularly pulled out of service for a routine repair. Such situations negatively impact both productivity and profitability.
Of course, having to pull trucks out of service for unexpected maintenance is a short-term problem. But when downtime results from predictable, scheduled maintenance, this has a positive impact on uptime and the bottom line. It also keeps safety metrics in the green.
Yet, far too many fleets are failing in one of the most important areas of truck maintenance: brakes. During the recent Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Roadcheck event, far too many trucks were pulled out of service by inspectors for having neglected key aspects of their brake maintenance program.
When you neglect your brake maintenance program, you open yourself up to crashes and major safety problems. Not only do you risk getting pulled out of service, but you also risk bigger problems if a crash occurs. Fortunately, fleets are not without the tools and procedures necessary to ensure braking systems on their fleet vehicles are in proper working order.
Costs Associated with Brake Maintenance
Having a vehicle pulled out of service for brake problems is a signal that the truck driver or trucking company in question might not take safety as seriously as they should. These lapses could occur anywhere from the maintenance program to the daily driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR).
And when we talk about safety, we are talking about simple science. Without a properly functioning brake system, truck drivers cannot bring their vehicles to a safe stop. And if you are running a fully loaded, 80,000-pound big rig, you need at least 525 feet of space to make a stop. Without properly functioning brakes, there is no way that can be accomplished.
With huge nuclear verdicts crippling trucking companies, fleets simply cannot afford to let their brake maintenance program lapse. But beyond high-cost lawsuit verdicts, trucking companies also risk major damage to their brand reputation and the potential loss of their own customers and truck drivers.
Keeping Truck Drivers in Mind
Truck drivers who are cited for brake problems will also be assessed CSA points. These points will stand on their record for up to 2 years following the violation. This impacts a fleet’s ability to retain truck drivers or even acquire new business. Why? Because the fleet’s CSA status is posted publicly on the FMCSA website. If your fleet appears there, you might have a problem winning new business or drivers.
Even though the points value of a braking system violation isn’t the highest you can get, one violation could be a sign that others will follow. In a worst-case scenario, a fleet can be caught up in a time-consuming and expensive audit by federal regulators, simply because improper brake maintenance was discovered by an inspector.
Finally, CSA points violations for brake problems could not only negatively impact a fleet’s customer acquisition process and recruiting, violations can also bring with them expensive fines that hit the fleet’s bottom line. Depending on the seriousness of the violation, faulty brakes could net a fleet a fine of $26,000 or more. These are not small dollar amounts. Something as simple as faulty brakes could have serious impact on your fleet’s profitability, no matter the size.
A Proper Brake Maintenance Program
We all know the consequences of an inadequate braking maintenance program can be catastrophic. So, what is a shop technician or fleet manager to do to ensure their brake maintenance program doesn’t cause bigger problems for the overall operation? The good news is, implementing a proper brake maintenance program is pretty straightforward and does not require a lot of heavy lifting to put into place.
On the maintenance side, technicians and fleet managers need to ensure they have a strong preventative maintenance program in place. This should include regular inspection and service of all brake components and standardized practices throughout the fleet. When conducting preventative maintenance focused on brake safety, consider the following factors:
- Whether manually or using automatic slacks, correct brake adjustment and assure adjuster rates of travel are correct.
- Ensure your antilock brake system warning light is fully functional.
- Ensure your low air warning system light operates properly.
- Inspect all air hoses and tubing while the brakes are being activated.
- Check all associate hardware, nuts, screws, and bolts to make sure all your brake hardware is in place and functional.
- Double check all brake lining and drums to ensure they are not too thinned out.
- Ensure there are no air leaks in your tires.
- Collect all data to track the wear and tear of your brake components.
- Put benchmarks in place to know when something needs to be replaced or repaired.
It is also important that fleet technicians consult the CVSA Inspection Level 1 guidelines to ensure their preventative maintenance program aligns with the factors inspectors are looking for when they inspect the vehicles in the field.
In the end, truck drivers are really one of the key players to keeping braking systems in working order. Proper DVIRs are critical to this effort. It is important that fleet managers have policies in place so that their truck drivers are not simply checking a box after a cursory look.
Should You Outsource Brake Maintenance?
Maintenance outsourcing is a big topic for fleets these days, especially during the pandemic. Even more, trucking companies are facing a technician hiring crisis as Baby Boomers retire. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, trucking companies will need approximately 75,000 diesel technicians by the end of 2022. As a result, many operators are looking to outsource their maintenance programs.
Of course, outsourcing isn’t the final answer to a proper maintenance program. Problems can arise when fleets use multiple vendors. And if there is not proper communication between a trucking company and their maintenance partner, the consequences could be catastrophic.
Fleets need to conduct proper due diligence to ensure the third-party vendor they utilize shows proper quality of workmanship, timeliness of repairs, and adherence to their particular fleet standards. Maintenance outsourcers must conform to the way their clients work, and not the other way around.
Managed well, maintenance outsourcing can maximize and buttress fleet operations. These providers can provide the same superior quality and meet the expectations for internal fleet maintenance. The most important thing is choosing the right vendor to help you plan and budget properly. As long as your partner can provide clear visibility, repair status, and completion rates, you’ve found the right vendor.
Truck Drivers Are Key
Here is a fact: Most professional truck drivers already understand that proper brake maintenance is important. After all, they don’t want to end up in a crash themselves. It is simply in their best interest to conduct proper inspections and brake checks. Fleet managers must ensure they promote a culture of safety throughout the organization.
The direct benefit of an effective safety culture isn’t just a well-maintained fleet, it is also an important retention tool. And during a time when finding an experienced truck driver is harder than ever, fleet managers need to make sure they are employing every retention tool they can to keep their good truck drivers.
Ensuring your truck drivers don’t have to deal with constantly breaking vehicles, you need to ensure you are properly maintaining them. Because if your truck drivers do not think their vehicle are safe or reliable, they will look elsewhere for employment. And with so many trucking companies looking for good men and women to put in their cabs, it won’t be hard for your people to shop around.
This all should come down to training. Ongoing training, benchmarking, and accountability will help reinforce the best practices you put in place. Sure, it may seem like a big job, but it is certainly worth it. You will keep your vehicles and truck drivers safely on the road and operate a fleet of well-maintained trucks. Your reputation and bottom line will thank you. Keep your brakes in check, and you’ll surely operate a respected, successful, and profitable trucking company.