Luck or Unlucky 13 - Part 2

Some superstitious people don’t think the number 13 is lucky.  But keep reading and I’ll show you how it can be your lucky number.

In Luck or Unlucky 13 - Part 1 I talked about maintaining steer tires, lug nuts, wheel bearings,  steering components, suspension components, brakes, and fifth wheels.  If you missed it, look for Part 1 in the articles list.

Like I said in Part 1, having a brand new truck with warranty does not protect you from things going wrong.  Spending a little time and money now to fix things as they come up or spend more time and lots more money for repairs later.  It’s your choice and your money and time

With that said, let me continue on……

Wheel seals - Getting oil on the brake shoe lining reduces your braking power and if the brake lining gets too hot it could catch fire.  Not a good thing!  If you see a shiny layer of oil on on your brake shoes, you have a leaking wheel seal and time to get it fixed.

Lights and reflectors - Everyone wants to be seen on the road, especially in bad weather.  Check all your truck and trailer lights and reflectors to be sure they are not broken and working.  Replace burned out bulbs as needed along with broken / damaged reflectors.  The DOT required a certain number of working lights and reflectors on your truck and trailer and could cost you if you are in violation.

Wheel Bearings - If wheel bearings run dry or are out of adjustment a couple things could occur; they could catch fire resulting in serious damage to the axle spindle, or worse case scenario is the wheel comes completely off in traffic.  We’ve all seen the news reports and film footage of these accidents.  Some with minor to no damage and some resulting in a fatality.  Check the wheel bearing by jacking up the axles and release the brake.  If there is any play in the tire when you lift up on the outside of the wheel with a heel bar.  If there is play, your truck needs to be fixed before you go anywhere.  If you have hub oilers, check the oil level daily and pay attention to any metal shavings or debris that could be problem indicators.  If your hub oiler has a plastic window and it’s bulging outward, this may be caused by wheel bearings getting overly hot.  This should be checked now.

Seat belts - It’s the law to wear them.  If stopped by a law enforcer and you are not wearing one while a driver or passenger, you’ll get a ticket.  Every vehicle has them and you should be using them.  Pretty basic and simple.  Same goes for bunk restraints.  They are there for a purpose.  Nothing like the feeling of flying as you are jolted from your peaceful sleep by your team driver jamming on the brakes to avoid an accident.  The flying doesn’t hurt, it’s the stopping.  Ouch!

Fifth wheels - Sometimes overlooked until too late.  If you have problems connecting to a trailer or if after connecting to the trailer there is free play, get your vehicle in to a good shop to get checked out.  You wouldn’t want to be responsible for your trailer disconnecting on a highway.

And last but not least…..

Mirrors - Not just something to check out the really hot car coming up on your left.  You rely on these all day every day out on the road, when making turns and backing up.  Having cracked mirrors can distort what you see and what is actually there.  Replace broken mirrors and clean off the ones you have to see clearly.  If you are like most truckers, your cab mirrors are also heated for keep off the sleet and snow.  Check the heating elements to make sure your heaters are doing their job before you get into the nasty weather.  Stay safe and see clearly.

Like I said earlier, the list of things in Part 1 & 2 can be minor fixes if done as they occur.  Save yourself some money in the long run by fixing as you go.

Taking care of your paperwork as you go is another fix for paperwork headaches and I just happen to have the solution for that.  Get your FREE download of Easy Trucking Software.  Try it and see for yourself if this isn’t the easiest trucking software you have ever used plus no hidden fees.  

Easy Truckin is brought to you by Easy Trucking Software. We hope you enjoy it.