How different fleets prepare
With most of the equipment at Lily Transportation under a full-service lease, the carrier holds vendors accountable for meeting all maintenance requirements, including federal and state inspections and annual certifications, said Rusty Stevens, Lily VP of maintenance and fleet services.
Jerry Griener, VP of operations, procurement & fleet management at Transervice, noted that with a mix of full-service lease and contract maintenance agreements for their fleet, the emphasis is on following federal and state inspection requirements. “Additionally,” he said, “we need to make sure trucks are ready for the extreme temperatures that we can get in both winter and summer.”
At Greenbush Logistics, Matthew G. Kelly, director of maintenance, recommends four inspections per year. That includes a dry service at 20,000-mile and a wet service at 40,000-mile intervals. “Those are guidelines,” he said. “Each manufacturer is going to be different, and each technician will have learned a different way. The most important thing is that it was inspected thoroughly, referencing the recommended practices.”
At Blaine Brothers, a comprehensive approach is based on the belief that when it comes to preventive maintenance, going beyond the annual DOT inspection ensures customers’ equipment remains in peak condition, Trailer Service Manager Nick Richardson noted.
“A thorough inspection catches any potential issues before they become costly problems,” he said.
Blaine also schedules seasonal PMs to winterize trucks. “This includes checking and servicing the charging and electrical systems, inspecting the differential fluid, and addressing moisture in the air system by servicing the air dryer,” Richardson said. “We also check the block heater, test battery performance, and ensure coolant protection is sufficient.
“As spring rolls around, we shift our attention to services that prioritize cleaning the radiator and air cleaners, checking the air conditioning system, and making sure any upcoming DOT inspections are scheduled,” Richardson went on. “Trailer services during this period also include checking tarps and tarp covering systems, ensuring proper lubrication of moving parts, and inspecting trailer floors for wear or damage.”
For Dave Forgie, VP of maintenance at Leonard’s Express, performing annual PMs should be done not just to meet DOT requirements but also to strengthen general maintenance practices as well.
“We exceed recommended annual inspections,” he said. “We also perform DOT inspections at a PM interval, although our inspection covers more than just DOT items.
“For example, we do the same inspections at each 20,000-mile interval on trucks whether the oil is dropped or not,” Forgie continued. “We have found that a deeper inspection is a better option, even on a low mileage interval while drain intervals are being extended.”
At Leonard’s Express, trailer DOT inspections are completed every 90 days. “We never know where our trailers will end up across the country so we try to stay ahead of this each time we can,” Forgie related.
