Prioritizing Equipment Trailer Maintenance
Fleet equipment trailers don’t always get the attention they deserve.
These hardworking assets haul heavy equipment, often across rough terrain, in all types of weather conditions. But because they don’t have engines, trailers sometimes find themselves pushed to the bottom of the maintenance priority list – a misstep that could lead to injuries, unexpected and unnecessary costs, and legal repercussions.
According to Nathan Uphus, sales director for Felling Trailers Inc. (www.felling.com), “Regular inspections and maintenance help ensure a trailer is operating as intended, and you can identify small issues before they become larger problems.”
Engaging in fleet maintenance best practices aids in the safeguarding of tow vehicle operators, members of the public, the equipment being hauled and the trailers themselves.
“Trailer failures not only lead to potentially costly downtime but can also pose dangers to other motorists in the vicinity,” said Scott R. Crimmins, technical director for the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (www.natm.com).
Additionally, should a crash occur, records demonstrating that fleet trailers and other assets have been appropriately cared for can assist in reducing an employer’s liability.
Get Back on Track
One of the greatest benefits of keeping up with routine maintenance, Uphus said, is “protecting the investment you’ve already made in your equipment. Addressing normal wear items and catching small concerns early can help prevent more expensive repairs, reduce unexpected downtime, extend the life of the trailer and keep the trailer working when you need it most.”
If your fleet trailer maintenance program has gotten off track, consider these four straightforward tips to get it back up to speed.
Tip 1: Reassess Your Current Maintenance Program
Periodically review your trailer maintenance program and make revisions as needed to align with industry best practices. At minimum, each trailer should be serviced according to its manufacturer’s recommended service intervals. A program that allows for preventive maintenance scheduling based on time (e.g., quarterly, annually), use or both “allows minimum but suitable maintenance on less-used trailers and more appropriate maintenance intervals on higher-use trailers,” explained Mike Donahue, fleet manager for Omaha Public Power District.
Uphus said the program should include routine inspections of key trailer components, including the braking system; tires; wheel ends; suspension; electrical components; structural areas; and air and/or hydraulic systems, if applicable.
“Every fleet operates a little differently, so having a structured plan helps ensure critical areas of the trailer are being inspected and maintained on a regular basis,” he shared. “Consistency is really the key.”
Tip 2: Conduct Pre-Trip Inspections and Track Maintenance History
Between shop inspections by technicians, pre-trip inspections can surface potential trailer concerns before they escalate. Develop a checklist for operators that includes visually inspecting tires, lights, brakes and safety equipment for signs of damage or wear.
“Many maintenance issues can be caught early just by being familiar with the equipment and recognizing when something doesn’t look or operate as it should,” Uphus said.
Crimmins agreed, recommending that fleets train tow vehicle drivers to complete their company-approved inspection checklist before every trip.
Accurate recordkeeping is nearly as important as the inspections themselves. According to Uphus, “Proper documentation helps identify trends, schedule preventive maintenance, and ensures every trailer in the fleet is receiving the attention it needs to remain safe and reliable. A good rule of thumb is that if something looks, sounds or feels different than normal, it’s worth taking the time to inspect it before it becomes a safety concern.”
Tip 3: Set Reminders for Easy-to-Forget Items
Some issues are easy to spot during an inspection – think loose wheel bearings or brake lights that won’t illuminate. Others aren’t necessarily as obvious. For instance, Crimmins said fleet personnel could forget to check a trailer’s tires for out-of-date codes, damage or proper inflation; they might also fail to consider seasonal impacts.
“Those in colder climates should be mindful of shifts in the weather, as low tire pressure and weather-checked tires have greater blowout risks,” he cautioned. “Corrosion from heavy road-salt use in cold climates might be another seasonal factor to inspect for.”
Uphus added that, in his experience, “Some of the most commonly overlooked maintenance items are brakes, wheel-end components and tires. These are critical areas of the trailer, but they’re items that may not always show obvious signs of wear until a larger issue develops. Heavy use during peak seasons may also require more frequent inspections.”
Tip 4: Emphasize Safe Trailer Use
“How a trailer is used day to day can have a significant impact on long-term durability and reliability,” Uphus said. Given that reality, operator training will ideally cover safe loading and proper securement practices, as well as guidance for staying within a trailer’s rated capacities.
Learn More
Utility fleet professionals can visit www.trailersafetyweek.com to learn more about trailer maintenance, readiness and safety. Information about proper loading techniques can typically be found in the trailer owner’s manual.
About the Author: Shelley Mika is the owner of Mika Ink, an Omaha, Nebraska-based branding and marketing communications agency. She has been writing about the fleet industry since 2006.