As much as the hot weather is welcomed after a wet and miserable winter season, the heat can be hard to deal with. This isn’t just the case with humans, but the heat can also lead to issues with vehicles, including HGVs.
As an HGV driver, you’ll want to keep an eye out for some of the common problems that may occur – especially considering that you’ll likely be making long distance journeys in the hot weather, making it all the more likely that an issue will crop up.
If you are the owner of a commercial fleet, then you’ll also want to keep an eye out for these, as well inform your drivers to do the same, for the sake of fleet safety.
Read on below to find out more about the issues you should be looking out for.
Tyres
Hot weather can be a nightmare for tyres. When everything heats up around them (i.e. the road surface, the metal, the air), then the heat and pressure inside the tyre will quickly build up, increasing the risk of a tyre blowout.
This is especially important with HGVs since they are so often carrying changing loads. This is why it’s important to always check the tyre pressure before making a journey and ensure that it is properly inflated according to the manufacturer’s specifications. It is a good idea to then periodically check the tyres every 100 miles or so, as under or over inflated tyres can increase the risk of blowouts.
Brakes
When your brakes are activated, they cause friction, which produces heat as a result. When the outside temperatures are already hot, this can make the heat produced by your brakes far more significant and harder to reduce.
This can lead to your breaks becoming unpredictable and less effective, or in the worst case scenario even brake failure. Always check that the brake fluid in your vehicles isn’t too low or too old and that the brake pads are in good condition, as ensuring these can help to avoid the aforementioned issues from developing.
It’s also important that you leave plenty of time and space to slow down before braking when possible, getting the brakes checked out straight away if you notice that they are losing their effectiveness.
Cooling System
If your cooling system isn’t in top working condition, then it may cause the engine in your HGV to overheat. When this happens, the engine can sustain serious or even permanent damage, making it unsafe to drive.
Before setting off on a journey, check that there is enough coolant in the system and top it up if there is not. If the temperature warning light comes on whilst driving, then you should always pull over when you can, turn the vehicle off and exit the vehicle while it cools down.
Commercial Vehicle Maintenance
If you own a fleet of commercial HGVs, then you’ll want to ensure that these are in their best condition before they hit the road. Here at Transcare we offer lorry servicing, so that you can rest assured that your vehicles are regularly maintained and in safe working order ready for the road.
Contact us today to learn more about the services we offer and how we can help you with your commercial vehicle maintenance.
