The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Everyday driving is one thing. Driving as a part of your job is a whole other world. Troubles are more likely to arise, so it’s necessary to take some precautions. Here are five things that can easily damage your work truck and what you can do to avoid them.
Driving While Distracted or Tired
Driving distracted or while you’re tired is one of the worst things can do while on the clock. It doesn’t matter whether you’re hauling goods across the country or driving a pickup truck to a construction site. This action puts your safety and others in danger.
Put your phone down. Avoid sifting through the radio or music on your phone as much as you can. If you need a break, have a discussion with your boss. There’s no need to wreck your truck because you were feeling exhausted or texting a friend.
Constantly Driving Through Potholes
Not all roads are paved smoothly. There are plenty of gravel roads with massive potholes and interstates with bumpy patch jobs.
Trucks are designed to withstand tough conditions, but they aren’t invincible. Driving through potholes constantly can damage the vehicle’s suspension system, wheel bearings, alignment, exhaust, and tires. It’s safest to veer around these dangerous areas or drive through them at a slow speed.
Parking in Direct Sunlight
The sun might seem not threatening, but it’s the first environmental factor to take a toll on your truck. Frequent UV exposure affects the vehicle’s clear coat. The material oxidizes and spreads to the paint job.
In return, the truck is susceptible to contamination in deteriorated areas. Pollen, dead bugs, bird droppings, dust, and water can possibly tarnish the metal and paint job.
An easy way to damage your work truck is to avoid maintaining the fluids. Antifreeze, transmission fluid, and oil are the three most important fluids vehicles require.
Since you’re driving a work truck, you’re putting plenty of miles on the vehicle hauling tools and traveling to jobsites. Insufficient fluids will lead to grinding gears, overheating, and a truck stranded on the side of the road.
Driving With Unsecure Cargo
Did someone mention transporting cargo? This is most likely an important component of your daily driving duties. One way to ruin your truck or injure others is to drive without securing the cargo.
Guarantee the hitch is properly installed on the truck, items in the truck bed are strapped down with ratchet straps or bungee cords, and anything attached to the hitch is tightly fastened.
