Part of successfully insuring your truck is making sure that you avoid accidents. Obviously, the reason you choose premium commercial truck insurance is so that you do not have to worry about getting out of a sticky situation when you do need it.
But there are precautions you can take that will help prevent an accident from ever happening, so that you will not have to deal with filling out forms, getting your truck repaired, having your claims checked, or recovering from an injury.
Here are some common truck maintenance procedures that will help relieve long-term stress.
1) Change the oil: Sometimes, the simplest things cause the most trouble. While every automobile requires its oil to be changed, it is often ignored. And commercial vehicles are pushed even harder than private ones, making this trivial task even more essential. A good rule of thumb is to change the oil every 2 to 3 thousand miles with high quality motor oil.
2) Rotate and replace tires: One of the most dangerous accidents occurs when large semi-trucks blow a tire and skid off the road. Without proper traction, it is difficult for the truck driver to control, and semis can cause a lot of damage to fellow drivers. Rotate tires every 3,000 miles, which will give the auto-mechanic an opportunity to check the brakes and brake pads as well. In addition, you can check the air pressure on a weekly basis to ensure it meets standards. When tread gets worn down, replace the tires before an accident happens.
3) Change the transmission fluid: When hauling a load, transmissions wear out faster than a normal car, nearly ½ the rate. Changing the transmission fluid and filter are an important procedure to prevent this from occurring. It is recommended that you change fluid every 25,000 miles, in order to prevent having to replace the entire transmission.
4) Check coolants: Commercial trucks run more frequently without stopping, making them overheat more regularly. Automatic transmissions require even more attentions. Check your coolants on a normal basis.
5) Do not rely on computers or scheduled maintenance: Modern truck have computers on-board that tell you when situations arise, fluids must be changed, and the engine needs to be checked. But don't let a blinking light on your dashboard dictate when you perform truck maintenance. Also, some drivers wait for scheduled appointments with mechanics. This may let a problem sneak through the cracks, only to rear its ugly head at an unfortunate time. Don't rely on schedules or computers, perform regular maintenance.
Commercial Truck Insurance
With these tips, hopefully you can take better care of your truck maintenance and prevent a major accident that may raise your cost for commercial truck insurance. Speak to your truck insurance provider for more details.
Patrick Winchester is a freelance writer with info about commercial truck insurance. For more details on trucking insurance policies, visit http://royaltytruckinsurance.com/ to learn about coverage options.
