Failing electrical components, stuck liftgates, and jammed roll-up doors are difficult to predict, frustrating, and time-consuming. Performing your daily inspection will keep you on top of your truck and trailer’s health, but surprises can still pop up.
If you have worked in the shipping industry long enough, you are bound to run into this kind of trouble, but there are ways to prevent yourself from encountering these setbacks. Let’s explore a few common causes of semi-trailer machinery failure and how you can spot and avoid these issues.
Stuck Liftgate
A liftgate is a very useful tool, but if it breaks, it can put an immediate stop to your operations. There are several ways for a liftgate to get stuck, from a broken motor to electrical issues to leaking hydraulics. It may break without warning, but there can also be warning signs and ways that you can address the problem early.
If you see wet spots on the hydraulic lines, notice strange movements, or hear unusual noises, you should get your liftgate inspected before it breaks down completely. To reduce the frequency of issues, make sure that the moving pieces are well-lubricated, keep an eye on the wiring and battery for signs of corrosion and damage, and let the motor cool down between periods of heavy usage.
Jammed Doors
On a semi-truck, barn-style doors don’t become jammed unless some serious damage has occurred, but roll-up doors have an unfortunate tendency to. Because they don’t take up floor space when opened, roll-up doors are a very popular choice for semi-trailers, but their multiple moving parts and more complex mechanics mean that you should be alert to signs of a potential jam.
Excessive noise is the most obvious sign of trouble for a roll-up door. It can be a sign of rust, wear, or warping and misalignment of the tracks. Scratches or missing paint can be a sign of components scraping against each other in unintended ways.
Some problems can be remedied outside of a shop; make sure everything is screwed or bolted in tightly, clean the door mechanisms thoroughly, and realign the guides with the track.
Nonfunctioning Lights
If your semi-trailer’s lights are fading, flickering, or simply nonfunctional, it can’t legally get on the road. It goes without saying that this is an enormous inconvenience for any trucking business. Unfortunately, there won’t often be signs of trouble before a light becomes unsafe to drive with, so the best measures to take are preventative ones.
Make sure that your semi-trailer keeps up with its maintenance schedule; the professionals will be able to look into the inner workings safely to check for trouble. Ask your mechanic how often your wiring should be checked and your lights replaced, and follow their advice. If your company has testing equipment for your electronics, use them as recommended. Finally, keep your pigtail clean and stowed properly when not in use to prevent corrosion.
Repairs & Maintenance at Kingpin
You can do plenty of things to check for issues with your trailer, but you can’t beat a professional inspection. The maintenance experts at Kingpin can discover and fix small problems before they become more time and money-intensive.
When the day finally comes for something to break, Kingpin also offers repair services, including 24/7 mobile repair for any semi-trailers in the Edmonton area.
Contact us today to discuss a maintenance plan; we’ll be happy to keep your trailer or fleet functioning and road-worthy!
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