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Today’s trucks contain literally thousands of moving parts, many of which are subject to wear and tear that can cause them to fail at any moment in time. Even components with no moving parts are likely to fail due to constant vibration and motion of the truck. And what many drivers fail to think about daily is that failures of random components can cause accidents that can prove deadly for a driver and anyone else on the road at the time.
A driver’s only defense against deadly crashes is to drive with great care and awareness of everything around, including what’s in front, behind, and beside their truck and pay attention to how all crucial systems are functioning. If anything is not feeling right, it’s up to the driver to get the trouble investigated by a professional. The driver should not continue with the trip if a problem is detected.
Pre and Post Inspections can eliminate many of the trip problems if they are performed properly. Unfortunately, these inspections sometimes become too routine for drivers. We’ve heard comments such as “Aw, I checked it yesterday and everything was fine.” Or “Today’s trucks are so well built they last for years.” “Once a week is fine, this rig is in good shape.”
But as we mentioned earlier, components fail at any time, often without warning even when inspections are done conscientiously. That’s because many parts’ life expectancy is not often reached in the real world of pounding the pavement. Trucks wear out over a period of years. Components wear out long before the truck.
It is extremely important for a fleet to inform its drivers how important it is to perform their daily inspections with objectivity and great care. Anything in doubt must be reported on to the fleet and looked at by an expert before taking to the highway. Even new vehicles experience sudden issues.
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6450 Kitimat Road, Mississauga, ON, Canada, L5N 2B8