Key Takeaways
- Follow a regular semi-truck maintenance schedule.
- Service intervals depend on mileage, usage, and operating conditions.
- Prioritize oil, brakes, tires, fluids, and filters.
- Use A, B, and C-level PM services for different maintenance needs.
- Follow manufacturer-recommended service intervals to help prevent breakdowns.
Semi-trucks are heavy duty pieces of equipment requiring regular maintenance. Here are our recommendations for planning your fleet’s semi truck maintenance schedule and semi truck maintenance intervals for different types of trucks and usage.
What Should My Semi Truck Maintenance Schedule Look Like?
Regular semi truck maintenance is essential to the safety of your fleet, and a well-maintained truck will last much longer and require fewer expensive repairs. A general rule of thumb for semi truck preventive maintenance scheduling is:
- Oil changes every 15,000-25,000 miles
- Brake inspections every 10,000 miles
- Tire rotations every 25,000 miles
However, it’s important to note that weather conditions, the amount of usage, and the environment that the trucks are operated in can impact the amount of preventative maintenance. The majority of fleets will schedule semi truck maintenance every 10,000-15,000 miles, with significant semi truck service every 100,000 mile intervals. Following manufacturer recommendations is key – simply by doing so, fleet managers can prevent 80% of roadside breakdowns, reduce the need for emergency semi truck repair and extend truck life by 200,000+ miles.
What Does A Basic PM Schedule Look Like?
Preventive truck maintenance starts with engine oil and filter changes. Modern diesel engines can typically last 15,000-25,000 miles before needing an oil change, but severe duty operations involving extreme temperatures, stop-and-go city driving, or heavy hauling require changes every 10,000 miles. These are all factors to take into account when planning a semi truck maintenance schedule.
Along with engine oil and filter changes, technicians also do a general inspection during basic commercial truck maintenance. This include:
- Checking fluid levels
- Testing battery voltage
- Inspecting hoses and belts
A standard diesel truck maintenance session typically takes 2-3 hours and costs $300-$500 depending on the filter types and the size of the oil pan. Trucks with higher oil capacity (15-16 gallons) will cost more to change than standard 11-gallon systems.
Different Types Of Preventative Maintenance
A-level PM Service
A-level PM services are part of a semi truck maintenance schedule involving safety-critical systems which could result in breakdowns or DOT violations. During an A-level PM service, technicians inspect:
- Air brake system operation
- Parking brake hold
- Brake lining thickness
- Steering components
- Suspension bushings
- Exhaust system integrity
- Lighting systems, including taillights, headlights, turn signals, and clearance lights
B-Level PM
A B-Level PM should be part of a semi truck maintenance schedule every 25,000-50,000 miles. This involves deeper inspections of drive train components, along with everything from A-level inspections:
- Differential oil changes every 50,000 miles
- Transmission service intervals, depending on manufacturer
- Fuel filter replacement
- Air filter replacement, depending on operating conditions
C-Level PM
C-level preventative maintenance involves major component overhauls and replacements such as the cooling system:
- Cooling system service is necessary every 100,000-150,000 miles to flush the radiator, inspect the coolant hose, and replace the thermostat
- Brake drum and rotor inspection, with drum turning every 200,000-300,000 miles, depending on conditions.
Schedule Your Semi Truck Maintenance Today
Truck Masters is a trusted semi truck repair service operating in the crucial Central Texas trucking corridor. Our firm offers 24/7 roadside assistance to get your truck back on the road as soon as possible as well as roadside tune-ups to keep your truck in tip-top condition without losing driving time. Call Truck Masters for semi truck repair or to schedule regular maintenance today.
FAQs
How often should you service a semi truck?
How often should a semi truck be serviced varies depending on road conditions, but a basic PM should be happening every 15,000-25,000 miles.
What does a semi truck preventive maintenance schedule involve?
A basic semi truck PM schedule involves:
- Oil changes every 15,000-25,000 miles
- Brake inspections every 10,000 miles
- Tire rotations every 25,000 miles
Further B-level and C-level inspections of critical systems should happen every 25,000- 100,000 miles depending on road conditions and manufacturer.
How Should I Schedule Semi-Truck Maintenance?
You should schedule semi truck maintenance based on manufacturer guidelines and operating conditions.
