Spring is finally here, and it’s time to start getting ready for the busy rush of work that comes in with the warmer weather. After the long winter months, your trucks are sure to be in need of a little attention, whether they’ve been used for plowing and spreading salt or they’ve been sitting dormant. Being a fleet manager in charge of keeping your vehicles in top condition is a stressful job, so to give you one less thing to worry about, here’s a basic list of the things you should be checking on your landscaping body trucks this spring!

Tires

Worn-down tire treads pose a major problem on any vehicle, but especially on a truck. Slipping and skidding is always a risk when the treads get too low, so make sure to check them out during your inspection. Look for the wear indicators, which will help you determine if the treads are too worn down and the tires need to be replaced.

You should also double check your tire pressure with a pressure gauge. Keep in mind that cold weather can be a contributing factor to tire pressure and if it’s still fairly chilly where you live, you might even end up getting a false low reading. It’s a good idea to wait until the day warms up a little bit or to take your vehicle for a quick spin before checking the tire pressure, just to make sure that low temperatures aren’t skewing your results.

It’s also important to make sure your tires are rotated and aligned every so often, and spring is a great time to take care of that task!

Brakes

You don’t need to be told how important the health of your brakes is, so spring is a great time to check out the brakes on all of your trucks and ensure that they are in good working order. Take a look at your brake pads, and when the truck is being driven, keep the music off and listen for strange noises and note any vibrations in the brake pedal or the steering wheel. You should also check to ensure the brake light isn’t on on the dashboard, which might indicate low brake fluid.

Undercarriage

This one is especially important if your trucks have spent the winter spreading salt and other road treatments. The underside of your vehicles can take a serious beating from road chemicals during the wintertime, and rust or corrosion might go unnoticed, since you probably don’t pay too much attention to the underside of your truck. Now is the time to get under there and take a look around for any wear.

Wipers

After weeks of driving around in the snow and rain, your wipers can get seriously worn out by spring. A quick visual inspection will let you know if the wiper blades on a particular truck are fine or if they need a bit more attention. The ones that have you suspicious should be tested in practice. As with the brakes, turn the radio off and look and listen for how the wipers are performing. Are they squeaking, skipping, or missing spots? Does the motion look smooth or rough? Are they cleaning the windshield well, or is it still wet or dirty afterwards? The wiper blades might just need a cleaning, or they may need to be replaced altogether.

Wash Up

Your trucks might do a dirty job, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t at least start the season with a clean slate. Take this opportunity to rinse off the salt and road chemicals of winter and blast that old mud out of the nooks and crannies. Taking care of your tools and equipment is a natural part of being professional and proud of the work you do, so don’t neglect spring cleaning as part of your spring maintenance! 

If you have other questions about truck maintenance and repair for spring or any other time of year, Levan Machine and Truck Equipment can help you. Contact us here to learn more. We’re ready to use our years of experience to help you and give your business the support it needs.