What are the categories of maintenance for road transport vehicles?
3 Answers
Maintenance for road transport vehicles is divided into daily maintenance, primary maintenance, and secondary maintenance. Daily Maintenance: Performed by the driver before, during, and after daily trips. The main tasks include cleaning, replenishing supplies, and safety inspections. Primary Maintenance: Conducted by maintenance enterprises. In addition to daily maintenance tasks, the focus is on cleaning, lubrication, tightening, and inspecting safety components related to braking and control systems. Secondary Maintenance: Also conducted by maintenance enterprises. Beyond primary maintenance tasks, it primarily involves inspecting and adjusting safety components prone to wear or deformation over time, such as steering knuckles, steering arms, brake shoes, and suspension systems, as well as tire inspection and rotation.
As an experienced long-haul truck driver, I've seen too many accidents caused by improper maintenance. Road transport vehicle maintenance is mainly divided into three categories: daily maintenance, periodic maintenance, and overhaul. Daily maintenance is the most basic, including pre-trip checks of tire pressure, lighting systems, brake fluid levels, and coolant - these are simple and quick operations that can immediately identify potential issues. Periodic maintenance is typically performed by professional technicians, such as changing engine oil and filters every 5,000 to 10,000 kilometers and inspecting the drivetrain to ensure core components operate healthily. Overhauls are comprehensive repairs conducted when serious faults occur, like engine rebuilds or chassis refurbishments, often being time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive. Developing these maintenance habits not only saves money but also significantly reduces breakdown risks, especially during long-haul transportation, giving you greater peace of mind while driving.
Having managed a transportation fleet for many years, I understand how maintenance categorization directly impacts operational costs. Vehicle maintenance is typically divided into preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, and predictive maintenance. Preventive maintenance is like regular health check-ups, involving comprehensive monthly servicing to inspect the engine and air conditioning system, preventing minor issues from escalating into major failures. Corrective maintenance acts as an after-the-fact patch, such as immediate tire repairs when a blowout occurs, but this disrupts schedules and incurs additional expenses. Predictive maintenance is more intelligent, using vehicle sensors to monitor component wear and scheduling replacements in advance to avoid sudden breakdowns. Efficient maintenance reduces fuel consumption and parts wear—last year, our fleet saved 15% in costs through this approach, with team efficiency also improving significantly. For transport companies, integrating these three maintenance types effectively is key to profitability.
