How to Keep Your Sanitation Vehicles Running Smoothly
How to Keep Your Sanitation Vehicles Running Smoothly
Your customers rely on your waste management vehicles to collect their garbage, recycling, and other materials. If your sanitation fleet is unable to stay on the roads and complete routes on-time, your clients could take their business to another company. To avoid this, it’s important to keep your vehicles running safely and efficiently so you can complete your routes and keep your customers happy.
Follow these maintenance tips to keep your waste management fleet on the roads and out of the shop.
Perform Regular Preventative Maintenance on Waste Management Vehicles
One of the surest ways to keep your garbage, recycling and landfill vehicles running properly is to perform regular preventative maintenance services on them. Scheduling services at regular intervals (based on time or mileage) can ensure they get tuned-up regularly and have their fluids checked and refilled. Parts that should be inspected during routine PM services can include:
- Hydraulic systems
- Rollers
- Sensors
- Cables
- Oil (change the oil at regular intervals)
- Fluids (check the levels and look for leaks)
- Windshield wipers and fluid
- Engine
- Belts
- Air filters
- Transmission
- Steering system
- Braking system
- Lights
- Electrical components
- Tires
- Axles
- Battery
- Heating and cooling systems
- Trash compactor (if applicable)
- Lift
- Chassis
- Safety devices in and on the vehicle
Catch Safety, Performance Issues with Daily Vehicle Inspections
In addition to conducting scheduled PM services, it is also important to perform daily pre- and post-route vehicle inspections to catch smaller issues and ensure the vehicle is safe to operate. During these inspections – which involve drivers slowly and carefully walking around the vehicle to look for defects — they should look at the following:
- Make sure the lights work properly.
- Inspect the tires to make sure they have the proper air pressure.
- Check the fuel level.
- Look for any visible leaks.
- Clean the packer blade.
- Check the oil levels.
- Replace the hydraulic fluid filter and check the fluid levels.
- Check the compactor.
- Check the oil, coolant, and other fluid levels.
- Ensure the hydraulic systems work correctly.
Performing regular maintenance and vehicle inspections can keep your waste management vehicles on their routes – and your customers happy.