equipment

Using Rental Equipment To Supplement Short- or Long-Term Acquisition Strategies

Acquisition planning is an essential part of fleet management, especially as carriers evaluate new model year offerings, changes in technology and sustainability goals. Selecting the right vehicles, determining capacity needs, and managing finances are all part of the process, but there are always multiple variables at play that can make it challenging to make a commitment. Rental trucks can be a useful tool to help ensure you’re not left unprepared or with underutilized assets.

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Summer-Specific Maintenance Tasks Keep Equipment Running

Temperatures are heating up across the country as summer approaches, and some components on Class 8 trucks need extra attention to prevent unscheduled downtime and maintenance expenses.

“Maintenance inspection points are primarily the same year-round, but there are certain maintenance items, especially the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and tire pressures, that require extra attention during the summer,” said Chris Hough, vice president of maintenance design and engineering at Penske Truck Leasing.

Air Conditioning System Maintenance: Inspecting the HVAC system, including circulation air filters, and ensuring the AC system is cooling as designed, is essential for driver comfort and safety, Hough said. Naturally, the demand for HVAC systems increases in summer, and a qualified technician must regularly inspect HVAC systems.

Technicians must ensure the engine fan/clutch is activated and adequately engaged when the A/C system calls for more airflow across the condenser. In addition, the A/C system typically interfaces with a vehicle’s electronic systems and controllers. As a result, abnormal operating conditions within the A/C refrigerant subsystem could trigger fault codes that must be diagnosed and repaired before placing the unit back into service.

Additionally, cabin filters need to be inspected, cleaned and replaced regularly.

Truck Tire Maintenance: Proper summer tire pressures improve safety, tire life and fuel economy, and tires need special care when temperatures increase. “Maintaining correct tire pressure during the summer months will help reduce over-the-road tire failures,” Hough said.

Tires tend to run hotter and wear faster in warm weather, and the tire tread portion becomes softer in higher temperatures. That makes tires more susceptible to punctures from road debris.

Fleets and drivers can improve uptime and increase tire performance by checking tire inflation pressure with an accurate tire pressure gauge when the tires have cooled. Because tire pressure increases as temperatures rise, there is a risk of overinflated tires in the summer.

When air pressures are inaccurate, tires tend to flex, changing the shape of the tire’s footprint. That decreases fuel economy, creates irregular wear patterns and reduces tread life. Also, underinflated tires build up excessive heat, potentially causing premature failure.

Cooling and Electrical System Maintenance: During the summer, it’s critical to ensure a truck’s engine radiator, EGR coolers and transmission cooler are operating properly to maintain the correct engine and transmission temperatures. Inadequate or improper service of cooling and electrical systems can lead to heat-related failures during hot weather. Penske checks cooling systems during every preventive maintenance (PM) inspection.

Electronic component failures can be caused by damaged or missing heat guards, heat shields or heat deflectors, especially within those components found near the exhaust system after-treatment devices. Excessive heat can also make the plastic electrical connectors brittle or cause them to melt, leading to electrical malfunctions caused by poor connections at the electronic control units, sensors and solenoids that control various vehicle systems.

APU Maintenance: Auxiliary power units (APUs) also require special attention during the summer. Diesel-powered APUs have belts, lines, and AC compressors that require scheduled maintenance checks. An electric, battery-powered APU is integrated with the cab air conditioning and should be inspected to ensure it functions properly.

Refrigeration Unit Maintenance: Warm temperatures mean the reefer units on refrigerated trailers face higher demand. Carriers should inspect them regularly to ensure they run correctly as outdoor temperatures increase.

Battery Maintenance: Battery maintenance is not seasonal; a solid, year-round battery maintenance program will pay dividends.

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Maintaining Filters Is an Essential Part of Service

Regular preventive maintenance drives uptime for Class 8 tractors, and filters play a crucial role in ensuring the engine and critical components operate at peak performance, reducing wear and tear on the engine and improving fuel efficiency.

“At times, filter replacement may be overlooked. It is important to know what filters each of your vehicles are equipped with, what the recommended replacement intervals are, and where filters are located,” said Chris Hough, vice president of maintenance design and engineering for Penske Truck Leasing.

As part of its PM service, Penske maintenance technicians change filters based on either meter readings or day intervals. Filters are also changed if there is an indication that they need to be changed ahead of schedule, Hough said.

Filters requiring maintenance include:

Fuel Filter: Fuel filters, including modular filters some engine manufacturers use, remove impurities, water and contaminants from the fuel before it reaches the engine. “It is extremely important that you utilize high-quality replacement filters and maintain fuel systems correctly. If fuel systems are neglected, you could end up with major fuel system issues,” Hough said.

Diesel Exhaust Fluid Filters: DEF systems have a filter that filters the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). These filters need to be changed at regular intervals to optimize the emission system performance.

Engine Air Filter: The engine air filter ensures clean air enters the engine’s intake system. A clogged or dirty air filter can restrict airflow, leading to reduced engine performance, decreased fuel efficiency and increased emissions issues. “Penske power units are equipped with LED vacuum indicators. These indicators will change from green to yellow and then red if the vacuum pressure exceeds a preset parameter, indicating that the filter has reached its capacity and needs to be changed,” Hough said.

Oil Filter: The oil filter is designed to filter the oil and remove contaminants to ensure only purified oil is circulated through the engine. “Like with the fuel filters, you want to utilize high-quality oil filters to maximize the oil performance,” Hough said.

Power Steering Filter: Power steering filters also need to be changed on a regularly scheduled interval to minimize power steering system issues.

HVAC Filter: HVAC filters clean the air before it enters the cab to remove dust, pollen and other particles. Inspecting these filters and replacing as needed during each PM is critical to the HVAC system performance. Most sleeper berths also have an HVAC filter that filters recirculated air. These filters should be inspected and replaced as needed during each PM. HVAC filters are crucial for maintaining a comfortable and healthy environment for drivers.

Air Dryer Filters: Air dryer filters remove moisture and contamination from the air supply produced by the vehicle’s air compressor. “Again, utilizing quality replacement filters will pay dividends. Many lower-quality air dryer filters on the market today do not utilize desiccant. Without the desiccant feature, moisture will bypass the air dryer and wreak havoc on the air system,” Hough said.

Replacing filters as needed improves engine performance, reduces the risk of roadside breakdown, and can ultimately reduce operating costs.

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Brake Safety Week 2022: How CMV Drivers Can Prepare

If you haven’t recently checked all the components of your truck’s brake system, now is the time to get it done to keep you and others safe on the road. Plus, you'll be ready for your next inspection.

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Alternative Suppliers, Creative Solutions Help Minimize Challenges Related to the Parts Shortage

Parts shortages continue to affect all industries, including trucking. To try and minimize maintenance-related delays, Penske has added new suppliers and is refurbishing parts for repairs while also drawing on its preventive maintenance program to help prevent problems before they occur.

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Supply Chain Challenges Extend Equipment Life Cycles, Increasing Maintenance Needs

Long backlogs and supply-chain constrained production have limited new Class 8 truck availability, extending equipment lifecycles throughout the industry. A strong maintenance program is always critical, but it is becoming even more important as trucks are remaining on the road longer.

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