Fuel for Thought
Down But Not Out
What to do when you know you have some downtime or maybe a 34 hour reset or a full weekend off duty while on the road? Some drivers like to kick back and watch TV or play video games. If that works for you, then by all means you can do that. But what if there were a more productive way to spend your down time? Well, it turns out there are many productive ways to use your down time on the road.
Last week I knew I would have a weekend layover coming soon, so I went to the parts store and stocked up on a few things. Regular maintenance is crucial for staving off breakdowns, so I always factor routine maintenance into my schedule, one way or another. Sometimes you just have to take time off to get certain maintenance items done, but many can be worked into your schedule. So rather than sitting and watching a TV (I don’t even have one in my truck), I planned to replace my engine belts and also replace my front shocks. For me the belts get changed annually, regardless of condition, it has just become a habit and it is just a small price for peace of mind. Belt changes only take a few minutes with a bare minimum of tools and effort. Every time I change my belts, I also keep the old ones for a backup just in case. Nothing worse than to be sidelined roadside for a simple belt.
Another thing to be done was replace the front shocks. This is a semi-annual maintenance item for me. Twice a year, shocks get changed unless one fails, then it happens sooner. Shocks are another easy to change item and also for minimum effort or cost. A proper sized wrench and proper sized socket along with either a breaker bar or ratchet (or both) and shocks can be changed in a few minutes. The cost of the tools are far less than one hour of shop time to replace such simple parts.
While you’re working on the truck, you also get the chance to look at areas you normally would not check during your pre-trip inspections. Usually whenever I perform some of the simple part changes, I inevitably end up also grabbing my grease gun and hitting all the grease fittings on the truck as well as the liftgate. And you might as well clean out your door lock(s) and lube any keyholes. Road grime gets into everything eventually, keeping locks cleaned regularly helps to keep them working properly and during the winter, a lubricated lock has less chance of freezing as the lubricant displaces the water that could freeze.
Other little maintenance items are more regular, like RainX or equivalent, on mirrors, side windows and headlamps. Refilling washer fluid and checking wiper blades. And often overlooked by many, just because you have an air dryer does not mean you don’t have to drain your air tanks. The air dryer can be doing its job, but the air tanks can hold condensation that needs to be drained.
Last but not least, especially when you have a lot of temperature changes, check and adjust the tire pressures. Properly inflated tires will save you money in the form of better mileage and less wear.
Stay productive.
Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.
- Paul J. Meyer
See you down the road,
Greg