Prepping your truck for the cold weather and bad roads in the winter may be a matter of routine, but did you know it’s equally 
important to prepare for summer trucking? At PRIME Inc., we want our drivers to be productive and safe on their routes this summer. Here’s everything you need to know to get ready for summer trucking.
Clean the Undercarriage: The end of winter brings clean, clear roads, but a bit of winter might still be clinging to the undercarriage. Before summer trucking begins, give your rig a thorough cleaning to get rid of sand, salt and snow-melting chemicals that have managed to stick around. Don’t forget to have your radiator, ac condenser, and charge air cooler cleaned out as well, a quick run through the truck wash with a steamer wand will make quick work of this job.
Clean Up the Entire Truck: The undercarriage is one thing, but the entire truck could use a good cleaning. By removing dirt and debris from the side of the rig, you can actually improve fuel mileage by improving the aerodynamics.
Tune the Engine and Check the Fluids: Safe summer trucking requires a well-tuned engine. Check the fluid levels—especially the engine coolant—checked every 20,000 miles or three months, whichever comes first.. A quick inspection of all the belts, hoses and wiring connections is also recommended to keep the engine system in smooth working order.
Inspect the Electrical Systems: Check wiring, batteries and cables to ensure nothing is frayed or corroded. Pull the seven way pigtail, clean the connections, and put a small amount of dielectric grease in the connection area Double check the state of the air conditioner so you are sure to stay nice and cool in the cab no matter how relentless the summer sun becomes.
Check the Tires: Make sure tires are properly inflated, and perform a detailed visual inspection of the tread and sidewalls. Tires filled according to the manufacturer’s recommendations help you save fuel, improve traction and braking capabilities, and make the tires last longer. Tire pressure monitoring systems are available at all of the terminals, this system constantly monitors your tire pressure, and will help maximize tire life.
Stay Cool and Hydrated: Preparing your rig for summer trucking is one thing, but you also need to take care of yourself! Keep a few bottles of water with you so you can stay hydrated and alert behind the wheel.
Safety: Make sure you wear the right shoes! Even though the temperatures have changed, don’t be tempted to put sandals on when you load and unload. You need the proper protective gear and that includes the right shoes.
Keep you and your rig safe this summer! Be sure to check our blog regularly for more useful summer trucking tips from PRIME Inc.
