Maintenance is a must for trucks in the festive season
Trucks should be serviced as per the truck manufacturer’s schedules.
With an increase in spending and a demand on supply over the festive season, there’s no doubt that more trucks will be on the road.
“Trucks provide a vital service for consumers.
“Unfortunately, poorly serviced trucks or trucks not being serviced at all, are a major contributor to road deaths at this time of year,” said Dewald Ranft, chairperson of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), a constituent association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI).
Ranft is appealing to all truck owners to ensure their vehicles are in top condition as the December rush begins.
Derick Horrmann, the owner of Don-Der Truck Repairs, said the regular servicing of trucks ensures good fuel consumption, prevents the oil filter from clogging up and collapsing and is an opportunity to check if the oil is diluted with diesel which would point to a faulty injector solenoid.
“All internal moving parts that are oil dependent for lubrication, as well as brakes and clutch, are subject to the most wear and tear,” he said.
He explained that trucks should be serviced as per the truck manufacturer’s schedules.
“Most trucks are serviced at 30 000km intervals, others have extended intervals when using a synthetic oil.
“These intervals are usually 40 000km,” Horrmann said.
Ranft said it’s important to use an accredited repairer, and Horrmann agreed.
“An accredited servicing workshop will ensure peace of mind as they will be using premium quality oil and good replacement parts,” Ranft said.
Over and above regular servicing, he urged truck owners to also keep tyre pressure in accordance to specifications and to check cooling systems and intake piping for leaks and cracks.
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Ranft is also appealing to all motorists to be patient and courteous to truck drivers on the roads.
“Motorists need to realise that trucks are not cars.
“The handling of a truck, the speed, and how the truck is affected by external forces is vastly different to that of a car,” he said.
“While it can be frustrating to be stuck behind a truck, respect the road rules and only overtake when it is appropriate.
“Give a truck room to manoeuvre and keep a safe following distance.
“We all need to do what we can to reduce accidents on our roads over this season with the increased volume of traffic on our roads.”
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