8 essential tips for prolonging commercial vehicle life

If a warning light comes on, don’t ignore it – not only it can lead to mechanical damage, but it can risk your safety and the safety of others. Stop at a safe location at the earliest opportunity and examine the risks. If you are not sure what the light means check your manual or seek advice. The problem should be resolved as soon as possible, to avoid further complications.

Know the payload of your vehicle and the load you are carrying. It can be very dangerous if your vehicle is overloaded and if stopped you will receive a penalty and could even have your vehicle impounded. Extra weight puts pressure on the brakes, suspension and tyres, so know your vehicle’s limits and do not overload. Use a weighbridge to be sure, if you have on board weighing equipment fitted ensure it is calibrated and never ignore its warnings.

If you want to prolong the life of your brakes and engine avoid stop-start acceleration and braking. It’s harder to avoid it in congested cities, but whereas possible minimise it– neither is good for your vehicle nor for fuel efficiency.

If you don’t take your foot completely off the clutch when changing gears, you are wearing away your clutch. A clutch change can be very costly and cause avoidable downtime of your vehicle.

You should also avoid riding your brakes, as it can affect the brake pads and discs, overheating the brakes which will lead to longer stop distance, and cause costly damage to components.

Don’t forget to check the tyres’ condition, pressure, and tread depth regularly and to arrange a tyre change as soon as it’s needed. We have written a factsheet about Van Tyres and Your Safetydownload (pdf( (Opens in new window)download (pdf(, which I recommend you to read. Damaged/worn tyres are one of the biggest causes of road traffic accidents.

By cleaning your vehicle regularly, you won’t only avoid having the sign ‘Wash me’ on your windows but it can help you reduce the chances of rust, and help you identify issues with your vehicle easier. It will also be positive promotion for your company as it shows you care for your vehicle.

Unfortunately, vehicle breakdowns do happen so it’s important to be prepared for it, ensure you have a plan in place. Having the right breakdown cover will offer you a peace of mind that if needed, you will get a good assistance to get your vehicle back on the road quickly. If you do breakdown, try and position the vehicle in the safest place possible and be sure to move off to safety yourself.