Driving Under Different Road Conditions, Maintenance Methods Should Be Adjusted Accordingly

Many fleets of maintenance trucks are accustomed to conducting unified inspections based on fixed mileage. In fact, different road conditions have a significant impact on vehicle wear and tear, and maintenance plans need to be adjusted accordingly to reduce malfunctions, extend vehicle service life, and lower long-term operating costs. When driving on a highway plain section, the vehicle should run at a constant speed for a long time, with a focus on the cooling system and tires. Before driving, check the tire pressure, and during breaks, pay attention to the tire temperature. Do not splash water directly at high temperatures for cooling. Regularly clean the air filter and check the coolant to avoid engine overheating caused by long-term high-speed driving. At the same time, pay attention to the brake air circuit to prevent brake attenuation caused by long-term continuous driving. Vehicles that frequently run downhill in mountainous areas have significantly faster brake pad and disc wear rates. After each mountainous section, it is necessary to additionally check the thickness of the brake pads, check whether the water spray device is normal, and recheck and tighten the suspension, steel plate springs, and transmission shaft bolts. Do not use the maintenance cycle of flat road conditions, shorten the inspection interval of the braking system appropriately, and rely on engine braking as much as possible when going downhill to reduce the damage caused by frequent braking. When driving on sandy and bumpy roads on construction sites, stones and mud can easily scratch tires and penetrate chassis gaps. After running, it is necessary to wash the chassis in a timely manner, clean the gravel in the tire pattern, check whether the oil pan and fuel tank are damaged or leaking, pay more attention to steel plates, shock absorbers, and chassis connectors, tighten loose bolts in a timely manner, and increase the frequency of air filter inspection and replacement in areas with large sand and dust to prevent mud and sand from entering the engine and causing internal wear. When encountering muddy or waterlogged roads, do not immediately drive at high speed after crossing the water. Lightly apply the brakes a few times to drain the water from the brake drum to prevent brake slippage. Rinse off the mud attached to the chassis in a timely manner to avoid long-term dampness and rust. Also, check whether the circuit plug has water ingress to prevent short circuits in the circuit. Overseas operating fleets often alternate between running on various road conditions. It is recommended that drivers keep a brief record of the vehicle's condition after each special section of the road. Fleet managers should adjust maintenance plans flexibly based on the main road surface of the vehicle, rather than using a set of standards to the end. Targeted maintenance can not only avoid delivery delays caused by mid way breakdowns, but also reduce overhaul expenses, allowing trucks to operate stably in complex road conditions and better support cross-border freight business.