Trucker Equipment: Essential Maintenance for Cargo Trailers

Tom
May 2, 2024
1:22 pm

Cargo trailers play a crucial role in transporting goods efficiently and safely. To ensure their optimal performance, trailer maintenance should be an ongoing commitment for owners and operators. Preventive maintenance (PM) practices are especially vital during seasonal transitions when temperature variations, humidity, and road conditions can adversely impact trailers. This article explores key maintenance areas for cargo trailers, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures in lowering the total cost of ownership and ensuring uninterrupted operations.

Tire Pressure: Temperature fluctuations affect tire pressure, necessitating regular attention and adjustment. Higher temperatures increase tire pressures, while colder conditions decrease them. Properly inflated tires not only enhance safety but also contribute to fuel efficiency, minimizing operational costs.
Tire Tread: Maintaining sufficient tread depth is crucial year-round, with added significance during winter. As temperatures drop and snowfall becomes a concern, the tread depth of trailer tires becomes even more critical. Compliance with federal regulations, which mandate a minimum tread depth of 4/32 of an inch on steer tires and 2/32 of an inch on other tires, is essential. If tires are approaching these limits, considering replacement, before adverse weather conditions prevail, can be more cost-effective.
Braking System: The braking capacity of trailers assumes greater importance during winter months when roads become slippery due to ice and snow. Conducting a thorough inspection of brake hardware and the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ensures peace of mind and optimum braking performance during challenging winter conditions.
Exterior Maintenance: Road salt is both beneficial and detrimental to trailer performance. While it improves traction, it is highly corrosive. Regular visits to a truck wash during winter months are necessary to prevent premature deterioration of trailers. Additionally, visual inspections conducted during washes can help identify other underlying issues and remove debris lodged in hard-to-reach areas.
Trailer Lubrication: Consistent lubrication of trailer components is vital, particularly during winter, to prevent corrosion. Key components such as the kingpin, 5th wheel pivot and plates, main rail, and drag link should be checked every 12,000 to 24,000 miles to ensure proper lubrication and functionality.
Moisture Management: Seasonal changes bring variations in temperature and humidity levels, posing potential issues, especially for refrigerated trailers. Moisture accumulation can lead to the breakdown of insulating materials within the walls, negatively affecting thermal efficiency. Regular inspections are necessary to identify any damage, such as rips or punctures, to the trailer’s inner or outer walls. Holes that allow moisture penetration into the walls, ceiling, or floor can cause significant problems.
Climate-Controlled Efficiency: Compromised trailer walls increase the workload on refrigeration systems, resulting in increased fuel consumption and additional wear and tear. Monitoring the trailer’s weight at regular intervals helps identify any moisture accumulation, condensation, or leakage into the walls, floor, or ceiling. Additional areas to inspect for potential issues include air leaks, door seals or locks, vents, side doors, and refrigeration units. Ensuring proper seals and inspecting rear doors, panels, frames, and hinges is crucial.

Trailer maintenance is an ongoing responsibility that ensures the smooth operation and longevity of cargo trailers. By adhering to preventive maintenance practices, owners and operators can minimize the total cost of ownership, optimize fuel efficiency, and reduce the risk of preventable maintenance issues that can cause delayed shipments. As the seasons change, it is essential to prioritize trailer maintenance and regularly inspect tire pressure, tread depth, braking systems, exteriors, lubrication, moisture management, and climate control efficiency. By doing so, cargo trailers will continue to play their vital role in keeping goods moving and sustaining the income of transportation businesses.

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