Keeping a close watch on your tires is great for driver safety, fuel economy, and increasing the lifespan of your tires. Here’s your crash course in tire safety – what to keep a close eye on and how you can ensure your safety on the road!
Vehicle diagnostics have a long and useful history, but never have we had more information at our fingertips than with today’s tools. Truck diagnostic software can make a huge difference in repair times and truck performance, and our team can diagnose issues almost anywhere. Learn five benefits of truck diagnostic software and how they can help you!
Whether you’re an independent driver or managing a massive fleet, you’re going to need to make truck repairs. Who should you trust to do this work? Many people out there are offering quality services at low prices, but what are they really selling?
The best decision you can make is to examine the credentials of the person performing your repairs. You should only hire certified technicians when you need a truck or trailer fixed, and here’s why!
The governments of Ontario and Canada as a whole have taken quite a few measures in support of the trucking industry. Some of these supports include classifying trucking as an “essential service” so they can keep driving, reducing weight and municipal by-law restrictions, and allowing goods to continue moving over the border with the United States.
All this is to keep the delivery of goods going round-the-clock to all corners of the country. However, more can and should be done to help drivers and the industry as a whole.
Diesel engines are durable, fuel-efficient and provide the necessary power and torque for moving big loads. As these engines have become more powerful, they have become cleaner! Recent improvements in technology have reduced emissions, made exhaust cleaner, and improved the fuel efficiency of trucks, even as the loads have become larger.
Now, commercial semi-trucks no longer expel black smoke, leave a lingering diesel stench as they pass, or sound loud and aggressive. Pound for pound, they are some of the cleanest vehicles available. Two major advancements went into making diesel engines cleaner than they have ever been before: better fuel and exhaust after-treatment technologies.
Diesel engines are the lifeblood of shipping around the world, and as such, these engines need capable doctors. A diesel mechanic has to diagnose any problems with the engines, treat these issues, and make sure the truck hits the road running at peak performance.
Your trucks are more than pieces of equipment – they’re the lifeblood of your business. Proper, consistent maintenance is a must if you’re going to keep the fleet in top shape, and the best way to do that is with a fleet service mechanic.
Going with an outside provider for regular fleet maintenance has amazing benefits. It can save your company money, boost productivity, and give you expert insight from an outsider’s perspective.
In mechanics, OBD is a technical term that stands for “onboard diagnostics.” It refers to the high-tech system that diagnoses and reports engine problems in the vehicle. The system will alert the driver of issues and store the code related to the issue, which tells the scan tool of the technician what’s going on with the engine. As a driver, you’ll see it at work when the “Check Engine Light” or “Service Engine Soon” light turns on. Of course, this only works when the driver pays attention to those pesky lights and takes their vehicle in for repairs!
Since the 1990s, onboard diagnostics has changed from the OBD system to OBD2. This was a big advancement for mechanics, and it has made the diagnosis of engine problems easier and more reliable.
Semi-trucks are built to work: their engines are six times bigger than the average car engine, letting them get over a million kilometres more on average. But can you get bigger than an 18-wheeler here in Ontario? Across Canada, weight standards are pretty uniform, give or take a tonne or two, but the length of the truck can vary.
One of the most important pieces of equipment for our team, both in the shop and out in the field, is the scan tool. The on-board diagnostics or OBD system is the truck’s ability to self-diagnose and report. It informs the driver of problems through dashboard alerts, but these are often just general messages. Scan tools help the mechanic pinpoint the exact problem.
But we can’t just plug in the same tool an auto mechanic would use. Heavy-duty trucks have bigger, more complex engines, and thus they need the right scan tool to meet their diagnostic needs.