Optimum fleet performance requires optimum maintenance

Every commercial load represents money. It is therefore imperative that you adhere to the maintenance schedules of your fleet vehicles – tippers in particular.

“While FAW’s range of tippers are designed especially for the conditions in which they are required to operate, the way vehicles are used and looked after can make a big difference. If you treat your vehicles well, they will reward you with many trouble-free kilometres, a lower cost of ownership and less downtime,” said Yongjun Li, CEO of FAW Trucks South Africa.

Avoid overloading

Overloading is one of the quickest ways to shorten the life of your vehicle and is best avoided at all costs. The maximum load weight is carefully calculated, taking into consideration, axles, suspension and tipper construction, and it is best adhered to if you hope to get many reliable kilometres from your truck as well as remain within the law.

Overloading will also have a detrimental effect on running costs, as it is sure to result in increased fuel consumption and tyre wear.

Keep it clean

Commercial vehicles in the tipper configuration often operate in less than ideal conditions. Cleaning vehicles on a daily or weekly basis is important to ensuring their longevity. Moving parts like axles, brakes and tipper struts should be washed clean of dust and mud. If they are not, it could have a serious effect on these sensitive yet vital components.

The cabin is the driver’s office and should be kept clean just like a normal office is. All loose items should be removed on a daily basis, touch surfaces wiped down and seats and flooring vacuumed. The accumulation of dirt will accelerate wear and tear, and a dirty truck is not conducive to a good corporate image.

Use telematics

Telematics is vital to running an efficient operation, whether your fleet consists of two or 200 trucks. These advanced systems are able to give fleet managers real-time updates on a variety of factors, including location and speed. They are a great way to monitor and improve driving behaviour and productivity.

Telematics is an excellent tool for managing loads, as it can assist by preventing overloading, ensuring vehicles are kept in predetermined zones by means of geofencing and even preventing the load from being tipped in unauthorised locations. In this way, it ensures the safety of vehicles, drivers and the load.

Stick to the maintenance schedule

For vehicles like tippers that operate in extreme conditions such as high temperature or dusty environments, regular maintenance is key.

FAW has carefully calculated the recommended service intervals required to ensure the longevity of your purchase, and adhering to these is critical. In addition, vehicles that continuously operate in extremely dusty conditions might require more regular maintenance of items like air filters.

Telematics systems are able to help fleet managers stay on top of maintenance and servicing by monitoring hours used and kilometres driven, allowing for the planning of periodic maintenance in a manner that minimises the impact on productivity.

A solution for every need

FAW offers tippers ranging from three cubes to 18, all with the appropriate axles and engines to back up this load-carrying ability. Thanks to this wide variety of tippers, there is one for every need.

“Thanks to FAW’s manufacturing facility in Coega, Gqberha, we are in a unique position of being able to offer our customers a turnkey tipper solution that is built in Africa for Africa and is ready to work, with no aftermarket alterations required,” concluded Li.

Source: QuickPic