7-Point Checklist to Winterize Your Truck

7-Point Checklist to Winterize Your Truck

Step-By-Step Plan For Truck Maintenance In Trucks

 

Winters are here, and the utmost priority of all truckers is to avoid accidents at all costs. It does not refer only to the safety of truckers but also to everyone else who is on the road driving alongside the truckers. Having vast experience and being a seasoned trucker does provide an added advantage over the new drivers who make common mistakes, especially in the winter. But then again, an accident can happen to anyone, and it is better to get your truck winter-ready with Road Dogs

 

Life for truckers is challenging, inspiring and sometimes not a very cozy life. As the weather has started to get chilly and everyone is about to be consumed with pumpkin-spice flavored everything, truckers and trucking company owners have something else on their mind: Winterizing their truck. 

Step 1: Prepare an Emergency Kit

After taking all the necessary precautions of not getting stranded in adverse weather conditions, there may still be a bleak possibility it happens. If god forbid it does happen, make sure you have adequate survival supplies in your truck, including:

  • Gloves
  • Scarves
  • Hats
  • Snow boots & Extra blankets
  • First aid kit
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • Canned food and bottled water
  • Snow shovel
  • Flares
  • Radio
  • Excess coolant, washer fluid, engine oil
  • An additional fuel filter and fuel filter wrench
  • Tire chains

Step 2- Inspect the Cooling System

The second step to winterize your truck is to obtain the services of the professional roadside assistance by Road Dogs for the proper maintenance of the cooling system. As the temperature drops, any issue with a part that is worn, damaged, or cracked will only worsen. Get a comprehensive inspection of the entire system; amongst the other checks and make sure to get a coolant test conducted to ensure that your coolant is at an optimum freeze point. 

 

Please note that it’s critical that you use the proper coolant for your truck and never use aerosol ether starting fluid.

 

Emergency Roadside Assistance in Winters

 

Step 3-Keep the Engine Warm

When the drop in temperature hits freezing levels in the cruel winters, diesel engines require a higher cylinder temperature than gasoline vehicles. Take it as a preventive step to install an electric block heater to keep the engine warm while it’s turned off if you live or make multiple trucking trips in an area with excessive cold climate. 

Step 4- Check The Battery

Before the winters set in:

  • Get the age and condition of your battery tested. The typical life cycle is 5-6 years, and if the battery is close to this cycle, it’s best to replace it.
  • If the battery has a lot of life cycle left, ensure it is securely mounted with tightened and clean connections.
  • Leave no room for damaged, loose or exposed wires this winter by getting a thorough inspection done as a part of your truck maintenance program.

 

Step 5-Inspect the Air Dryer

The air dryer plays a crucial role in the braking system. It is installed to remove contaminants from the air before entering the brake system and preventing the water from freezing in the brake lines. The braking system must work at its best thus, not maintaining your air dryer can lead to severe disasters.

Please Note- Make sure to drain the air reservoirs periodically. 

 

Step 6- Check the Tires

The roads in winters will be wet and slippery and while navigating through them, the truck’s tires must be in good shape. Get your tires inspected for proper air pressure. The tires must bear a good healthy condition. Make sure the tires are not worn or damaged and get them replaced if needed. Requirements for winter travel can be more challenging, and safety is the top priority. In general, the trucker must make it a point to follow this checklist before any trip:

  • Maintain proper tire pressure
  • Monitor tread depths
  • Watch for irregular wear
  • Inspect suspension components

Step 7- Prepare the Windshield Wipers

While trucking, it is inevitable for snow and ice to accumulate on the windshield, making driving difficult and dangerous. It is the wipers that remove the snow and ice to maintain clear visibility on the road. Thus before winters hit, get your windshield and wipers inspected or replaced if needed. 

 

Please Note- Make sure the windshield washer fluid is filled and that you have switched to a cold temperature blend. Keep extra bottles of windshield washer fluid in your truck in case you run out unexpectedly.

 

The Conclusion- Don’t compromise safety at any cost as it can cause severe damage to your truck, to you and also to others on the road. Get your truck winter-ready with truck maintenance services from Road Dogs. 

 

Make Road Dogs a part of your emergency breakdown and maintenance team!

 

Stay safe out there this winter with Road Dogs, Transport’s Best Friend!

How to Get Roadside Assistance in Mississauga?

How to Get Roadside Assistance in Mississauga

Simple, Seamless, Solution

Mississauga is the second most populous city in the Greater Toronto Area and is one of the hubs for various commercial activities. The commercial activities are supported by truckers who deliver almost all kinds of freight to all sectors. Truckers are fantastic and in no way do we want their awesomeness to fade off because of an unforeseen breakdown. Roadside assistance by certified professionals at Road Dogs is just a call away to serve all your trucking needs in no time. 

How To Get Roadside Assistance In Mississauga?

 

Let us say it is a bright sunny morning and you are all set to go on a trucking spree to deliver the essentials before the stipulated delivery time. All of a sudden, your truck breaks down in the middle of the road. Oh no!! Not one of us could even fathom the sinking feeling that a trucker could have with a loaded truck. At this point, we want you to do either of the following two things:

 

  1. Register yourself here: www.roaddogsmobile.com 
  • Create A Customer Account and Login

Use your phone to visit our website www.roadogsmobile.com, click on ‘Create Customer Account’ and become a Road Dogs customer at no cost. Yes, being our customer is free!

Once you have created your customer account, log into your account by clicking on the ‘Customer Portal‘ button in the options menu at the top of the website.

  • Receive An Instant Quote Of The Service You Select

Successfully logging into your account makes you view all the available services and select the service you currently require as per the cause of the breakdown. Based on the type of service requested and the time of day of the service call, an instant quote is generated for your approval.

  • Track the Status

With Road Dogs, you get the option to track the status of the service call through the customer portal. You will receive automated notifications by text or email every step of the way to inform you of the status of the call.

  • Hassle-Free Payments Online

Once the service call is over, you are automatically sent your invoice with all the details of the service call. Our payment gateways are easy and secure for you to instantly pay for your service call and immediately receive confirmation of your payment.

  • Rate the Service Provider

The power is with you as you get the opportunity to rate the service provider after the service call is completed. Our customers’ feedback is crucial as the service providers must maintain a high star rating to work for us.

 

  1. Call Us On- 289-724-2114

Once your service call has been received, the service professionals shall be dispatched to your location in the shortest possible time. On average, we take less than one hour and a half hours to get our customers’ equipment back on the road. We assure you of fast and prompt delivery of our emergency roadside assistance services in the GTA.  

 

We have created an easy-to-use platform where all the service providers, trucking firms, and drivers can easily connect while maintaining mutual respect to get equipment back on the road as quickly as possible and at a lower cost.

 

Roadside assistance in Mississauga by Road Dogs aims to provide efficient repairs that are both cost and time effective to get your truck or trailer fixed in and ultimately reducing downtime. Our team of licensed and skilled mechanics have versatile experience and the right set of skills to accurately diagnose the truck or trailers fault and determine the steps to get it back to its running condition as quickly as possible.

 

Road Dogs mobile truck repair in Mississauga offers fleet maintenance services to keep your fleet’s trucks and trailers in service at all times. Our certified technicians specialize in all kinds of repair services dealing with diesel engine repairs, trailer repairs, reefer/heater repairs, and more. Be it an electrical or suspension issue that has gotten your truck to a complete halt, Road Dogs can handle it. We provide roadside assistance services to meet your needs and requirements and we deliver quality services in the Greater Toronto Area to anyone with a truck or semi-trailer.

 

Make Road Dogs a part of your emergency breakdown and maintenance team!

 

Road Dogs, Transports Best Friend!!!

Why Are Regular Truck Checkups Essential For Trouble-free Driving?

Mobile Truck Repair Service

Truckers and trucks have been a vital part of the transportation industry since the late 1800s and they have witnessed tremendous changes because of advancements in the truck manufacturing industry. The machinery has become more sophisticated and advanced which has helped the trucking industry evolve in a better way to manage the high pressures of modern times. The significant change has been the improvement in the internal combustion engines. The engines have become more powerful, run more efficiently and have raised the need for regular truck maintenance and roadside assistance. The cabs have become way more comfortable for truck drivers and the trailers have improved so that truckers can transport just about any load that they have to.

 

Mobile truck repair by Road Dogs is at the service of truckers who work at different hours and sometimes even at odd hours to ensure that shipments arrive before the businesses start operating. Trucks have become sophisticated but at the same time remain complex and require regular repair and maintenance by a professional team of mobile truck repair mechanics that go to wherever you and your truck are. 

Why A Trucker Needs Truck Maintenance?

Good Investment for Your Delivery Business

Truck maintenance serves many purposes and by taking preventative measures, you are making a good investment in your trucking business. By carrying out regular maintenance routines, chances of a mechanical failure resulting in an emergency breakdown significantly reduce and give you the confidence that the shipment will be smooth and seamless. 

With Road Dogs’ mobile truck repair and maintenance services, truckers will get the most cost-efficient solutions. With our regular checks, the performance of the truck remains high, leading to considerably low chances of procuring expensive parts for your broken down truck.

Regular Truck Checkup Tips From Road Dogs

 

Protecting The Truck’s Body From Corrosion

The truck’s body gets damaged the most when driven in different regions of the country, leading to corrosion and deterioration. It makes trucks retire earlier, way before their expectant life.  Different kinds of chemicals can cause corrosion. How to prevent it?

  • Every ten days, a good truck wash is needed to prevent contaminants from consuming clear coat paint and clean metals. While driving, be watchful of big muddy puddles on the road as the dirty water is contaminated, which can cause heavy corrosion to the undercarriage and truck’s body. 
  • Though a good wash is needed every ten days, high quality primer and paint is required on the trucks under carriage; trucks have metal frames and premium quality primer and paint makes them look attractive and protects the metal body of the truck.
  • Wash your truck immediately after rain. It can quickly erode the chassis as rain collects pollutants and deposits them as “acid rain,” damaging the protective finish.

 

Mobile Truck Repair

 

Maintain A Truck Repair Service Log

Keeping a historical record of your vehicle’s condition and repair work is imperative. Having a maintenance log will help the trucker to track and identify which part could be at risk. This record shall serve as a to-do list to help you organize all the preventative checks and maintenance schedules accordingly.

Periodic Inspections By Road Dogs

Unhealthy and inefficient truck parts with underlying issues must undergo a regular stringent inspection process where problems are addressed with immediate action and proper diagnostics to make prompt repairs.

Engine

How to keep your engines in good working condition is a must for every trucker. An engine is a complex part of the truck and therefore needs more tests like monitoring engine coolants, oils and boost pressures to ensure the engine runs in excellent condition. A regular compression test that shows the status of your engine’s valves and its valve seats and piston rings IS A MUST. 

Brakes

A brake failure is never suitable for the truck at any time. A brake failure in the middle of the highway can prove to be catastrophic and may result in injuries, lawsuits and damage to the truck. Without delay, make sure to get the brakes checked periodically. 

Tires

Your truck is running on tires and defective tires can ultimately bring to a halt your loaded truck resulting in loss of time and money. All this puts your trucking business’s reputation at stake as it affects your business performance. 

It is suggested to get the tire pressures checked regularly, especially before the beginning of a truck trip. Checking tire pressures is essential that the tires are not overinflated, leading to premature tread wear. Tire tread wear affects the overall tire performance; it produces friction that keeps our driving safe while underinflated tires consume more fuel. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressures.

Electrical Systems

A truck’s electrical system comprises of a motor, battery and alternator. Every electronic part of the truck should be inspected for loose wires and cables and to make sure that do not show any signs of wear. If you find any electrical snag in a DIY inspection, immediately call the team of highly skilled technicians at Road Dogs Mobile to address such issues as early as possible. 

Oil Change

Severe engine failure can happen if attention is not paid to engine oil. Engine oil has to be replaced at regular intervals to prevent early wear. An optimum engine oil level is required for maintaining lubrication as it is needed to cool engine components. Oil’s efficiency breaks down over time; as it fails, friction on the engine increases, resulting in a high risk of severe engine failure.

 

Our wide array of services for your truck and trailer are provided to keep your trucking trips running smoothly. In case there is a breakdown, we want to get your truck rolling as quickly as possible.

Make Road Dogs a part of your emergency breakdown and maintenance Team!

Road Dogs, Transport’s Best Friend!!!

On-demand roadside assistance with no membership fees

Roadside Assistance

Quick & Cost-Effective Roadside Assistance 

Heavy-duty vehicles like trucks and trailers cannot afford unexpected downtime on the road. Trucks are running the Canadian economy and when on the road, there should be zero chances of a breakdown to ensure smooth and seamless deliveries. A twist comes into effect when the trucker realizes that something is not going right with the truck’s vital parts. It can be a non-stop red/yellow blinking light on the dashboard, any peculiar sound coming from the engine or just a complete halt of the truck resulting in an unforeseen breakdown. 

 

In any of these scenarios, no matter what kind of trucks you or your company is using, Road Dogs emergency roadside assistance shall be there in no time to repair your truck at the earliest. Whether you are trucking across the country or just across town, our certified technicians shall provide complete truck roadside assistance as quickly as possible and at the most affordable prices.

 

Why Get Emergency Roadside Services From Road Dogs?

A truck or trailer breakdown is never planned and almost always unforeseen. During any roadside emergency, the trucker finds himself helpless and anxious about getting the truck repaired quickly and to get it moving again. The anxiety and fret that comes while watching a loaded truck’s untimely breakdowns makes every trucker immediately get connected to the most proficient emergency roadside services. 

 

An unexpected breakdown of a truck or trailer is in itself a big-time hassle that needs to be handled expeditiously by resorting to the experts of roadside assistance- Road Dogs. We do our best to make everything easy and hassle-free for the trucker after a cumbersome breakdown. 

 

Our Roadside Assistance services extend over weekdays, weekends and holidays and cover a range of services to repair and service any of your truck, trailer or reefer during unforeseen events of breakdown or emergencies.

 

As a roadside emergency service provider, we wish truckers a smooth journey and not be disrupted due to engine failures, dead or drained batteries or any other mechanical failure that just halts the truck to move a further inch. It indeed leads to immense panic and anxiety and makes the trucker feel that the breakdown will have to be handled independently or single-handedly. A big No!! Our wish is for truckers across the Greater Toronto Area to rely on the comprehensive Emergency Roadside Services of Road Dogs Mobile to help them get back on the road as quickly as possible.

 

Obtain the following benefits once you become a customer with us:

Becoming a customer is FREE:  You are important to us, and for this, you being our customer is FREE. All you need to do is visit www.roaddogsmobile.com and create an account. Creating an account is free of cost and entirely seamless. Once you have made your account, you can choose the service you require and pay online if required.

 

  • Automated Notifications & Instant Quote Generation-

Once you have booked the service call, just sit back and relax as you shall receive automatic notifications throughout the service call such as ‘We are on the way’, ‘We have arrived’ and ‘Call has been completed’. With us, you get an instant and fair quote before you book the service call, including the cost of additional charges if required.

emergency roadside assistance

 

  • Live Service Call Tracking: 

When your truck or trailer breaks down, you certainly want prompt help that is seamless. With Road Dogs roadside assistance, you can live track the service provider through GPS Tracking. 

 

  • Rate the Service Provider: 

How? We give you the power to rate the service provider. At the end of the service call, you can rate the service provider. Service providers must maintain a high star rating to do work with us. 

  • Communication

We value our customers by giving them direct access to the mechanic. We provide them with the platform to communicate directly with the mechanic through voice calls, texts, or email.

 

  • Safe and Secure

Being stuck with a loaded truck in the middle of nowhere can be very taxing and stressful. With Road Dogs emergency breakdown services, it all gets eased up once you are our customer. Our service providers meet the highest standards for which our company stands for.

 

A sigh of relief to all the owners of trucking companies or to the truckers who themselves own trucks. Road Dogs emergency breakdown services are provided professionally while keeping in mind the aim of repairing or servicing the truck, trailer or reefer at the earliest. 

 

Make Road Dogs a part of your emergency breakdown and maintenance Team!

 

Road Dogs, Transports Best Friend!

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